Klimkin and Steinmeier: we need full access SMM OSCE in the Donbass

Special monitoring mission of the OSCE should have full and unfettered access to monitor the discharge of weapons in the Donbas and surveillance over the Russian-Ukrainian border, told the head of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Germany Pavlo Klimkin and Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

"Special emphasis was made on the need to ensure full and unhindered access for the OSCE special monitoring mission to monitor the diversion of weapons and surveillance over the Ukrainian-Russian border ", - informs the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the results of the meeting of Ministers in Kiev on the Last working day of the week.

According to the Ukrainian foreign Ministry, the sides also expressed hope for a constructive approach of Russia to the key issues of the Minsk process - the withdrawal of heavy weapons, de-escalate around Shirokino, intensification of the exchange of hostages ".

The Ministers stressed the lack of alternatives to the Minsk agreements to restore peace and stability in the Donbas." An important element of this process is the holding of free and transparent local elections ", - informs the Ministry of foreign Affairs.


The Ukrainian authorities began in April last year in the Donbass military operation against dissatisfied with the coup d'etat of residents of the region. According to the summary data of the UN, the victims of the conflict began more than 6, 2 thousand people. The settlement of the situation in the Donbass is discussed, as well as among them, during meetings in Minsk contact group, which since September of last year already took 3 of the document governing the steps to de-escalate the conflict.

The last document is dated 12 February - in addition to the ceasefire, withdrawal of heavy weapons and creating a security zone, obliges the Authorities of Ukraine to engage in direct dialogue with the authorized DND and LNR, for example, on the issue of conduct in local elections, entering into the Constitution of Ukraine of change, involving the decentralization of Power, as well as on the issue of legislative recognition of special status of separate districts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions ".

the results of the last meeting of the contact group 6 may present turned out to form four sub-working groups on specific aspects of de-escalation of the conflict.


sections: Politics