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Urgent implementation of Minsk agreement urged

Xinhua, April 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

The trilateral contact group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) met in Belgrade on Tuesday, calling for the urgent implementation of the agreement that was achieved in Minsk and establishment of the political dialogue in Ukraine.

The meeting was attended by Ivica Dacic, foreign minister of Serbia, the country that holds the chairmanship over the OSCE this year, and foreign ministers of Germany and Switzerland Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Didier Burkhalter.

Dacic, current OSCE Chairperson-in-Office said that the chance for achieving peace in Ukraine mustn't be missed, and announced that a working group will soon be formed to deal with humanitarian, security, political and economic issues.

He said the political dialogue must be initiated as soon as possible, because that will make an additional pressure to secure peace in Ukraine.

Burkhalter said that the work of the trilateral contact group, known as the "OSCE troika", is essential in order to calm down tensions in that country, urging conflicted sides to establish demilitarized zones. Steinmeier called for the establishment of economic relations between the central and Eastern Ukraine.

Talking about sanctions imposed on Russia, Steinmeier said that the future moves will depend on the full implementation of the Minsk agreement.

The agreement in Minsk, achieved in February 2015 between leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, foresees immediate and full ceasefire and the pull-out of all heavy weapons from districts of Donetsk and Luhansk. Enditem