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"Highest number" of ceasefire violations in months in eastern Ukraine: OSCE monitor

Xinhua, April 28, 2016 Adjust font size:

Chief monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) on Thursday said that in the past weeks, the SMM registered the highest number of ceasefire violations in months.

Speaking to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) permanent council, chief monitor Ertugrul Apakan said many weapons that were previously at permanent storage sites and holding areas are now back in use at the contact line.

"Action needs to be taken to make travelling across the contact line safer, including through de-mining, and to enable civilians to cross the contact line in more locations," the chief monitor said. "A sustainable ceasefire is of central importance to the further implementation of the Minsk agreements. Now is the time for the sides to show visible and decisive action to restore it," Apakan added.

"The ceasefire violations are a blatant disregard of the Minsk agreements and risk undermining our common peace efforts. Ahead of the holidays in the beginning of May, the sides need to fully respect the ceasefire," said special representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office in Ukraine, Martin Sajdik.

"I continue to believe that implementing the political elements of the Minsk agreements is extremely important for conflict resolution and for rebuilding trust," said Sajdik. Endit