MINSK, 6 September (BelTA) – The school armistice in the Donbass area has helped reduce the number of ceasefire violations by 67%, BelTA learned from the OSCE's special representative in the trilateral contact group on Ukraine Martin Sajdik on 6 September.
The diplomat noted that during the previous meeting participants of the contact group on Ukraine once again confirmed their adherence to ceasing fire for an indefinite period of time due to the start of the new academic year. “I would like to point out changes in the local situation according to the OSCE's special monitoring mission to Ukraine. If we compare the period from 25 August till today with the same period prior to that date, we can see that the number of ceasefire violations has dropped by 67% while the number of disruptions has dropped by 74%,” stated Martin Sajdik.
In his words, protecting civilians in the conflict zone is a priority for the trilateral contact group on Ukraine. “I am happy that in this time we've managed to nearly completely avoid the loss of civilian lives. I am pleased to note that thanks to these efforts and, certainly, the so-called harvest armistice this year we've managed to avoid a repeat of the hot summer of 2015 and 2016,” stated the OSCE's special representative.
Martin Sajdik assured that the contact group on Ukraine will continue doing everything for the parties to the conflict to observe the ceasefire. With this in mind the subgroup on security affairs discussed practical aspects of the ceasefire, in particular, requirements to publish orders and their consequent implementation.
The sides also discussed prospects and methods of separating forces and assets near Stanitsa Luganskaya and Zolotoye and the possibility of doing the same in new zones. The negotiators talked a lot about the protection of vital civilian infrastructure installations.
