OSCE calls on all parties to ensure the safety of SMM observers
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) stated that there are "threats and use of force against the observers" in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine, according to the joint statement made by the Foreign Ministers of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Serbia, Ivica Dačićта and Sebastia Kurz from Austria, which was published on the organization’s website on Tuesday, April 12th. Germany currently chairs the organization previously chaired by the Serbian representative; the chair will pass to Austria in 2017.
The Secretary General of the OSCE, Lamberto Zannier, who also was present at the meeting in Berlin, called upon the parties to the conflict to implement the Minsk Agreements and ensure free and unrestricted access for the OSCE observers to the whole conflict zone and the Ukrainian-Russian border.
German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in turn, referred to the "alarmingly huge number of ceasefire violations" in eastern Ukraine. The politician called for the resumption of peaceful negotiations and expressed hope for the quick formation of the new government in Kiev.
Earlier, the Foreign Ministers of the G7 countries called for elections to be held in the Donbas under the supervision of the OSCE and in accordance with Ukrainian law. In their view, this also includes the withdrawal of all foreign armed groups from Ukrainian territory.