MINSK, 19 September (BelTA) – The Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on Ukraine is working on the Steinmeier formula taking into account the consensus principle, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, Ambassador Martin Sajdik told the media on 18 September, BelTA has learned.
Martin Sajdik stressed that he would not like to go into the details of the positions of certain delegations. As for the Steinmeier formula, the TCG efforts are consensus-driven, he said. Despite not being part of the Minsk Agreements, the Steinmeier formula proceeds from them. The matter pertains to the deadline for the special status of certain areas of Donetsk and Lugansk to come into effect, the diplomat explained. In his words, the Political Working Group focused on the discussion of the ‘Steinmeier formula' and its place in the implementation of the Minsk agreements.
Summarizing the result of the talks, Martin Sajdik noted the progress in the implementation of the TCG decision concerning the repair works on the bridge at Stanytsia Luhanska, where preparation for the restoration is successfully going on.
The current ceasefire agreed by the TCG, and in force as of 21 July 2019, is the most sustainable one since the beginning of the conflict. According to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, in recent days there have been several significant spikes in ceasefire violations. “I firmly remind the sides about their political responsibility and urge them to fully comply with their commitments,” the diplomat said.
Along with ceasefire and security issues, the Security Working Group focused on the prospects of renewal of the disengagement of forces and hardware in Zolote and Petrivske. “I hope that the sides will soon come to a consensus on this question, since in fact their positions are close to each other,” Martin Sajdik said.
The Humanitarian Working Group focused on the questions related to the exchange of detainees and the repair works on the bridge at Stanytsia Luhanska. With the participation of ICRC representatives, the Economic Working Group paid particular attention to current water supply issues in certain areas of Donetsk and Lugansk regions as well as pension payments.
The next meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group is scheduled for 1 October.
