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Negotiators on Ukraine fail to reach consensus on release of captives

Xinhua, March 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Participants in the Minsk talks on Ukraine have failed to reach a consensus on the release of captives, Martin Sajdik, Special Representative of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), said here Wednesday.

The participants have agreed to lay out a "roadmap" on the release and handover of the persons detained due to the conflict in order to speed up this process, Sajdik said.

The special envoy said the working group on economic affairs discussed matters related to the restoration of the water supply system, railway infrastructure, and power transmission lines.

"As I said earlier, there is one unsettled issue concerning the payment of water bills. The sides will try to reach an agreement on the matter by the end of the month," he added.

Sajdik stressed once again the importance of respecting the ceasefire, which is particularly important for the restoration of infrastructure.

Touching on security matters, the special representative said that the parties "agreed that the activities of the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of the cease-fire regime is useful, but it is necessary to increase its effectiveness."

He also revealed that the issue of security during local elections in some area of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions was discussed at the joint meeting of the security and political subgroups.

Sajdik informed the next meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine will be held in Minsk on April 6. Endit