OSCE: New Minsk agreements have to ensure long-term truce

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Kyiv, February 12, 2015. A long-term ceasefire in eastern Ukraine should follow the results of negotiations between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, as well as among members of the Trilateral contact group. Thus residents of the Donetsk and Luhansk region would finally be able to return back to peaceful life. Alexander Hug, Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, told this during the press-briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

 

Alexander Hug emphasized the critical urgency of restoring ceasefire more innocent people were killed in the aftermath of the Kramatorsk and Donetsk shelling. “We hope that the new agreements may help to prevent such incidents from happening in the future,” Mr. Hug said.

 

Currently the OSCE monitors participate in solving a variety of issues linked with a peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The most numerous group made up from 431 observers are monitoring the security situation across Ukraine. International observers also facilitate the evacuation of civilians from the frontline cities. According to Hug, OSCE representatives contributed to the organization of the “green corridor” on Friday, February 6, that allowed to evacuate 753 civilians, including 81 children from Debaltseve and Avdiivka.

 

Alexander Hug said that the OSCE may use radars and satellites to monitor the security situation in Donbas. “It might take some time in order to get experienced specialists onboard. But this would enable the mission to become more efficient,” Mr. Hug explained.