Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen noted as a positive fact that the Humanitarian Working Group “returned to substantial discussions on the issues on the agenda.”
“Today’s meeting took place one day before the non-extension of the OSCE Observer Mission mandate on the Russian-Ukrainian border by the Russian Federation. Since 2014, this mission has been an important confidence-building component of the OSCE’s agreed conflict resolution efforts,” Kinnunen said in a statement released on September 30 morning following the regular videoconference of the TCG and its Working Groups.
The OSCE Special Representative said the security situation is volatile with an average of over 250 ceasefire violations per day during September. “Of special concern is the high number of civilian casualties by shelling and shooting, which in September 2021 reached the highest number since July 2020 ceasefire measures,” the official said in the statement.
During the last two weeks, OSCE SMM’s freedom of movement has been violated 39 times of which 31 in ORDO, six in ORLO, and two in government-controlled areas. Another impediment to the work of SMM is the continued shooting and jamming of the SMM UAV flights.
The discussion in the Security Working Group allowed the participants to voice their views of the security situation but regrettably, it was not possible to agree on concrete measures.
The Political Working Group continued its discussions related to the elaboration of a draft action plan in full compliance with the Minsk agreements and its way forward.
“I welcomed the positive fact that the Humanitarian Working Group returned to substantial discussions on the issues on the agenda. It is encouraging that participants are trying to find ways to remove the remaining blockages for the opening of the new crossing points near Zolote and Schastia of Luhansk region,” Kinnunen said.
The Economic Working Group dealt in particular with water issues. “With regard to ecological questions, the Working Group discussed steps towards a possible IAEA inspection in CADLO and welcomed the upcoming second session of the expert group on flooded mines close to the contact line,” Kinnunen said in the statement.
