Ukraine proposes engaging experts from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) in the Trilateral Contact Group's talks in Minsk to analyze proposals on holding elections in Donbas territories that are still not under Kyiv's control, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has said.
“We stressed that the future modalities of the elections in Donbas should be based on Ukrainian law and meet international standards, particularly those of the OSCE/ODIHR. And I insisted that such experts be always present at the meetings in Minsk and clearly analyze whether the proposals meet democratic standards,” Klimkin said in an exclusive commentary for Interfax-Ukraine following a Normandy Quartet ministerial meeting in Berlin on Friday.
Klimkin said he made it clear to his counterparts from France, Germany and Russia that the ceasefire in Donbas has not been observed strictly, as “we have had instances of shelling from the uncontrolled territory this week, and five of our people have been injured.”
“To achieve a permanent ceasefire, it is necessary to complete the withdrawal of tanks and artillery smaller than 100mm. Surely, we have to work on a new efficient procedure for withdrawing heavy weapons, as we all know how many such weapons are hidden in Donbas in coalmines and at plants,” Klimkin said.
The foreign minister said it is very important to start mine clearance work.
“But a key precondition for improving security is full access of OSCE monitors to all districts of Donbas. Therefore, increasing the number of bases from which they can monitor the situation, including bases not far from the Ukrainian-Russian border, was key for me. Without such absolute access, there can be no certainty that security can be improved,” Klimkin said.
There are several problems in the humanitarian dimension concerning primarily the exchange of captives, “which is not moving ahead,” and humanitarian missions have no access to Donbas, Klimkin said.
Despite the fact that there is no progress in providing humanitarian aid and achieving a stable ceasefire, Ukraine is opening new passage points, particularly in Luhansk, he said.
“We will work to make sure that the people can buy products at Ukrainian prices rather than at the speculative prices existing in the occupied territory,” Klimkin said.
