OSCE calls for strictly observing ceasefire in eastern Ukraine

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has called on all parties to strictly observe ceasefire in order to open a new crossing point on the contact line in southeastern Ukraine.

"In order to avoid further delays in opening a new crossing point, it is necessary to strictly observe the ceasefire," OSCE Special Representative Martin Sajdik told journalists after a regular meeting of the trilateral contact group on Ukraine on Friday in Minsk, capital of Belarus.

"We are talking about the area near the village of Zolotoye in Lugansk Oblast," said Sajdik, who represents the OSCE in the contact group which also includes Ukraine and Russia.

Sajdik also said that the exchange of prisoners of war will remain on the agenda, adding that the participants of the meeting focused on continuing releasing of those who are still being held in captivity, and mentioned search for missing persons.

Sajdik believed that allowing the access of the International Committee of the Red Cross to all prisoners in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions would accelerate this process.

The representative reminded that a few days ago the meetings of all four subgroups of the contact group were held in Minsk.

Sajdik said the economic subgroup discussed infrastructure reconstruction, water supply and environmental protection, adding the reconstruction of infrastructure was complicated by the ceasefire violations and delays in the work of demining.

In January, Sajdik said that Ukraine would open a new checkpoint to civilian traffic and shipment of humanitarian goods on the frontline in Ukraine's eastern region of Lugansk, and it would be the second such crossing point in the Donbass region, which covers both Donetsk and Lugansk.

The next meeting of the trilateral contact group on Ukraine is scheduled for March 23 in Minsk. Endi