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OSCE regrets Contact Group’s failure to declare new ceasefire

Kiev had refused to take additional measures to strengthen the ceasefire

OSCE special representative of the Contact Group Martin Sajdik EPA/TATYANA ZENKOVICH

OSCE special representative of the Contact Group Martin Sajdik

© EPA/TATYANA ZENKOVICH

KIEV, April 19. /TASS/. Special Representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Martin Sajdik regrets that the Contact Group on resolving the situation in eastern Ukraine has failed to declare an Easter ceasefire in Donbass, as he himself said in a statement.

According to Sajdik, "the sides discussed several proposals with a view to agree a joint statement of the TCG [Trilateral Contact Group], with the participation of representatives of certain areas of Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine, confirming their recommitment to ceasefire on the occasion of the upcoming Easter festivities." "Various compromise texts were proposed by the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office with the same view. Unfortunately, no consensus could be found at this stage. The sides only agreed to continue their discussions during the next regular meeting of the TCG and its Working Groups in Minsk, on April 24," the OSCE envoy added.

Russian Permanent Representative to the Contact Group Boris Gryzlov said following the Group’s Thursday meeting that Kiev had refused to take additional measures to strengthen the ceasefire, "which are meant to ensure sustainable security and pave the way for the launch of a political process."

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