MINSK, 27 July (BelTA) – Certain progress on the matter of restoring railroads in the conflict zone in Ukraine was secured during a regular round of talks in Minsk on 27 July, BelTA learned from Martin Sajdik, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office's special representative in the trilateral contact group on Ukraine.
According to the source, the working group on economic affairs once again thoroughly discussed the restoration of the railway infrastructure. Matters concerning the restoration of the railway control system and the payment of salaries to railway workers are being slowly but positively resolved, said the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office's special representative in the trilateral contact group on Ukraine.
The restoration of overhead power lines was also discussed in Minsk on 27 July. Further talks on the matter will be held at the level of the relevant ministries of Ukraine and Russia for the sake of expediting the process.
Some progress was also secured with regard to water supply. The Ukrainian national commission on power engineering and utility services made its own proposals regarding the rates that will have to be agreed with the relevant administrative agencies of Ukraine.
Martin Sajdik also informed reporters about the operation of other working groups. The group on humanitarian affairs continued discussing the release of prisoners of war and the problem of missing persons. The matter of civilians, who need to cross the conflict line, was also mentioned. Opening more checkpoints and improving the operation of existing checkpoints is the idea. The group's coordinator Toni Frisch encouraged participants of the talks to tightly cooperate with the International Red Cross Committee. In particular, the coordinator spoke in favor of letting Red Cross personnel access the locations where the prisoners are held. The coordinator informed participants of the meeting about his trip to several areas in Lugansk Oblast and Donetsk Oblast. The coordinator was made familiar with the situation on both sides of the conflict. “The coordinator shared his impressions about the fact that civilian population in the conflict zone desires only the restoration of peace and the ability to return to their homes,” emphasized Martin Sajdik.
During the talks in Minsk on 27 July UNICEF representatives presented their roadmap on protecting children's rights.
In turn, participants of the working group on political affairs continued discussing the modality of organizing municipal elections in several areas in Lugansk Oblast and Donetsk Oblast. Close attention was paid to the role of mass media during the election campaign and to financing problems.
The working group on security affairs continued discussing ways to ensure solid ceasefire. Close attention was paid to picking the locations for separating the forces, said the OSCE special representative.
