MINSK, 16 January (BelTA) – Running water and electricity are now available in Lugansk Oblast, BelTA learned from the OSCE's special representative in the trilateral contact group on resolving the conflict in Ukraine's east Martin Sajdik on 16 January.
The previous session of the trilateral contact group took place on 21 December. “Since then some positive events have happened in the peace process. In particular, I would like to note that water delivery of and power supply were resumed in several areas of Lugansk Oblast at the beginning of the year,” said Martin Sajdik.
The OSCE special representative stressed that a more stable scheme to deliver water and pay for it will be needed in the future.
Speaking about humanitarian affairs, Martin Sajdik mentioned goodwill gestures in the exchange of prisoners of war on both sides. By the end of the year the Ukrainian government side had released 15 POWs while several areas of Donetsk Oblast and Lugansk Oblast had released three people, including two women. A video conference of the working group on humanitarian affairs is supposed to take place this week to discuss the problem.
The next session of the trilateral contact group on resolving the conflict in Ukraine's east is scheduled for 1 February.
