Kazakhstan and the OSCE continue its work in circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic

On April 23, 2020, the OSCE Permanent Council resumed its work in Vienna in digital format as a result of undertaken restrictive measures in Austria due to the coronavirus pandemic.

During the meeting, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office to Ukraine and the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Heidi Grau and the Head of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in Ukraine, Ambassador Halit Cevik presented their reports.

The speakers informed about the current activities of the TCG and SMM as well as undertaken protection measures because of the spread of COVID-19. In particular, H.Grau pointed out the achieved success in the humanitarian sphere and the first exchange of detainees between Kiev and Donbass this year. In addition, within the framework of the TCG, discussions on additional disengagement areas and demining plans are underway. An important issue is ensuring uninterrupted water supply for the population.

In turn, H.Cevik emphasized that due to the coronavirus outbreak, SMM monitors are forced to work in difficult conditions and some employees work remotely. Unfortunately, civilians and unmanned aerial vehicles of the SMM are still under shelling, which poses a threat to the safety of the population and the SMM.

Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the OSCE Kairat Sarybay called upon all parties of the conflict to ensure the safe work of monitors to fulfill the mandate of the SMM in Ukraine. The timely adoption of a decision by the OSCE participating States to extend the mandate of the SMM, that is tasked to monitor the situation in Ukraine, was emphasized as important step. It was noted that the implementation of the Minsk Agreements is currently the only mechanism for resolving the situation in Ukraine.

During the discussion, OSCE participating States expressed support to the SMM and urged the conflicting parties not to make efforts related to coronavirus as an obstacle to the implementation of the mandate of the SMM.

 

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Vienna