MINSK, 10 January (BelTA) – The New Year's ceasefire in Donbass should become unlimited, Special Representative of OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Martin Sajdik said in a statement posted on the website of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, BelTA informs.
“On 27 December 2017, the first exchange of detainees since September 2016 proved that, with political will, solutions to difficult problems can be found. I urge the conflict sides to build on this positive gesture and work further together to strengthen mutual trust. In view of Orthodox Christmas and the upcoming Old New Year, I appeal to them to strictly observe the comprehensive, sustainable and unlimited ceasefire," the statement runs.
The ceasefire in the conflict zone was introduced on 23 December. As one of the heads of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine Alexander Hug said to ONT TV channel, the security situation in the region improved during the holidays, with only 64 cases of ceasefire violation taking place on 24 December against some 3,500 registered on 19 December.
The trilateral contact group on Ukraine is set to meet in Minsk on 18 January.
