MINSK, 28 February (BelTA) – It is imperative that the parties to the conflict take urgent steps to improve the throughput capacity of checkpoints located along the line of contact, OSCE's special representative in the Trilateral Contact Group on resolving the situation in Ukraine's east Martin Sajdik said during the Trilateral Contact Group meeting in Minsk on 27 February, BelTA has learned.
“An increasing number of people cross the line of contact through the available checkpoints. In this regard I urge the parties to take immediate action to improve the throughput capacity, first of all, in some areas of Donetsk Oblast and Lugansk Oblast,” Martin Sajdik said.
The diplomat recalled that he reiterated on numerous occasions that last year saw the lowest number of casualties since the beginning of the conflict. “This trend remains in place this year. However, unfortunately, on 23 February two civilians were killed and another man was injured as a minibus hit a landmine near the checkpoint in Donetsk Oblast. This tragic event is another testimony to indisputable importance of removing mines, in particular, along the roads in the vicinity of checkpoints,” he said.
These matters along with the efforts to maintain a sustainable ceasefire were top on the agenda during the session of the Trilateral Contact Group's Security Working Group. The Humanitarian Working Group discussed ways to improve conditions of crossing the line of contact and the exchange of persons detained as a result of the conflict. The Economic Working Group discussed water provision, including the audit of the Voda Donbassa water supply system. They also discussed payment of pension benefits to people living in some areas of Donetsk Oblast and Lugansk Oblast. The Political Working Group took forward its exchanges on the implementation of the ‘Steinmeier formula', amnesty and the modalities of local elections in some areas of Donetsk Oblast and Lugansk Oblast.
Martin Sajdik thanked Head of the Mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Ukraine Alain Aeschlimann for attending the sessions of the Trilateral Contact Group. “Unfortunately, his mission is coming to an end. I would like to express my personal gratitude to him for all that support we received from him and his team,” the diplomat noted.
The next session of the Trilateral Contact Group is scheduled for 13 March.
