Ukraine promises to open new crossing point in eastern region

Ukraine will open a new checkpoint to civilian traffic and shipment of humanitarian goods on the frontline in the country's eastern region of Luhansk.

That was disclosed by Martin Sajdik, special envoy in Ukraine for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) after a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group held in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, Wednesday. It will be the second such crossing point in Donbas, which covers both Donetsk and Luhansk.

Sajdik said the Ukrainian side had declared readiness to open the checkpoint in the Luhansk region on the frontline by Feb. 12, the anniversary of the Minsk Agreements.

Participants in the security subgroup at the meeting in Minsk focused on the issues of mine clearance and the ceasefire, which was still being breached, said Sajdik.

"The participants in the security working group shared information on the progress of mine-clearing efforts. Special attention was given to the security of people who are engaged in these efforts. The issue of working out joint mechanisms to ensure security of mine-clearing efforts and the prevention of ceasefire violations in general were discussed. You have also seen these violations, this is deplorable," said Sajdik, adding the parties still cannot agree on the next swap of prisoners in Donbas.

The self-proclaimed Donbas republics had submitted the proposals regarding the amendments into the Ukrainian Constitution. The modality of local elections in the self-proclaimed republics was discussed, but special attention was given to the role of political parties, media, the administering of elections and security issues, Sajdik said.

Darya Olifer, the spokesperson of Ukrainian representative -- the second Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma -- in the Trilateral Contact Group, said that the position of Kiev to resolve the situation in the east of Ukraine remains unchanged.

"Elections in the uncontrolled part of Donbass must be held under the Ukrainian legislation and with the participation of Ukrainian parties, Ukrainian journalists and international observers," she said.

The ceasefire and the pullback of heavy weaponry remain prerequisites to solve humanitarian, economic and political issues, as well as for the implementation of the Minsk agreements in general, she said.

According to Sajdik, the Ukrainian side participated in the discussion on initiatives of Russian representative in the Contact Group Boris Gryzlov on the issues of political settlement in Donbas.

Earlier Gryzlov told journalists that Donbas should legislatively be granted a special status on a permanent basis under the formula offered by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The Contact group was scheduled to meet on Feb. 10, but the date of the meeting was still preliminary, according to the OSCE special envoy. Endit