OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, upon request of Ukrainian President, appoints Swiss diplomat to accompany talks between Ukraine and Russia
Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini (c), seen here at a press conference as head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission to the 2012 presidential election in the Russian Federation, Moscow, 26 January 2012. (OSCE/Egor Tilpunov) Photo details
BERN, 8 June 2014 - Didier Burkhalter, OSCE-Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister, today confirmed his agreement to send seasoned Swiss diplomat and Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini to accompany talks between Ukraine and the Russian Federation aiming at ending violence in Ukraine. Tagliavini has arrived in Kyiv.
Burkhalter welcomed Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s initiative to launch talks on stopping violence rapidly. He underlined that the silencing of weapons would significantly improve conditions for meaningful dialogue, which is key for stabilizing the situation in Ukraine and resolving the crisis.