MINSK, 23 December (BelTA) – The number of victims in the conflict zone in Ukraine significantly decreased in autumn 2015, OSCE special representative in the trilateral contact group on Ukraine Martin Sajdik said on 22 December, BelTA has learned.
“According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the number of civilian casualties dropped more than three times in September-November as against the three summer months,” Martin Sajdik said to the media.
He also pointed out that the security situation has considerably improved as the ceasefire has been more or less holding from early September. Besides, an additional agreement to the set of measures on the withdrawal of tanks, artillery under 100mm in caliber and mortars under 120mm in caliber was signed. The withdrawal of heavy weapons from the contact line has started.
Summing up the results of 2015, Martin Sajdik noted that twelve priority demining zones have been identified and 80 illegally detained persons have been released. Moreover, the conditions for the provision of humanitarian aid to the victims of the conflict have been improved. A number of projects to restore the vital infrastructure of the region have been prepared, which is another achievement.
The work to improve the accessibility of banking services, in particular, for retired persons continues. “There is a substantial exchange of opinions on political issues, such as for example the organization of local elections in some districts of Donetsk Oblast and Lugansk Oblast,” Martin Sajdik added.
