OSCE: Conflict in the Donbas is main source of instability in Europe
OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier said that the conflict in eastern Ukraine remains the main source of instability and tension in Europe.
"The crisis in Ukraine and around it continues to be a major source of tension and instability in Europe, unfortunately. It has meant a return of geopolitics to the agenda of the OSCE, and it is a challenge to our model of cooperation," he said on Tuesday during an open Cabinet-level debate on the topic of "Maintaining international Peace and Security: Conflicts in Europe.”
The Secretary General also noted that the recent escalation of violence in the Donbas is a reminder that in spite of all efforts to resolve the conflict in the east of Ukraine, it is still far from peaceful resolution. "The key step is the withdrawal of heavy weapons. We are ready to contribute to this," the Secretary General stressed.
Zannier also noted the work of the observers of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in the Donbas. "We have created and continue the work of the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM); it is civil, not armed, but it performs the functions of peacekeeping - monitoring of the cease-fire verification and the withdrawal of heavy weapons. This is a new milestone in the peace-keeping operations," he said.
As reported, Ukraine began its presidency of the UN Security Council on February 1. With the Ukrainian presidency in mind, the Council plans to discuss the issue of regulating the European Conflict including the protection of critical infrastructure, on February 21.