MINSK, 17 May (BelTA) – The Working Group on Security of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on Ukraine is expected to hold a videoconference concerning the situation in the Donetsk Filtering Station area next week, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, Ambassador Martin Sajdik, told the media after the meeting of the TCG and its Working Groups in Minsk on 16 May, BelTA informs.
“At the TCG meeting, it was decided to hold a videoconference of the Working Group on Security concerning the situation in the DFS area next week,” Martin Sajdik said. He called on the sides to provide all the required security guarantees to allow for the uninterrupted operation of the station and to ensure security for DFS employees and SMM monitors.
Martin Sajdik stated that despite the sides' security guarantees and the reinforced patrolling by OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM), further ceasefire violations near the Donetsk Filtering Station occurred. The diplomat reminded the media that the Donetsk Filtering Station provides water for several hundred thousand people on both sides of the contact line. These issues, among others, were considered in the Working Group on Security.
The increase in civilian casualties in April raises a major concern, the OSCE special representative noted. In this respect, he once again called on the sides to do their utmost to avoid civilian casualties. “I am determined to repeat these calls to ensure that the interests of the conflict zone residents are properly voiced,” Martin Sajdik said.
The Working Group on Economic Issues continued its discussion of further steps to restore and improve Vodafone-Ukraine mobile communication in certain areas of Donetsk and Lugansk regions. Moreover, the group considered the topic of water deliveries in Karbonyt system as well as the crucial environmental issues.
The Working Group on Humanitarian Issues continued its discussion on the topics of detainees exchange and the conditions of their detention, missing persons, as well as improving conditions for the contact line crossing via the entry-exit checkpoints.
The Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine will next meet in Minsk on 30 May.
