OSCE SMM Chief Monitor Calls for Full and Sustainable Ceasefire

KYIV, 12 July 2016 – Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), today expressed his unease following a recent sharp increase in fighting in eastern Ukraine. He said a ceasefire is a KEY step towards the restoration of stabilization, normalization and ultimately, peace. Adherence to a full and sustainable ceasefire is a basic requirement of the Minsk documents. It is a political and moral obligation, he added.

The Chief Monitor drew attention to the human cost of the continued ceasefire violations. “Ceasefire violations particularly affect the most vulnerable, women, the very young and the old,” he said.  He noted in particular the deaths in recent weeks – in two separate incidents in Donetsk region – of five young boys, three of them brothers.

The Chief Monitor called on the sides to adhere to a full and sustainable ceasefire as already agreed.  As an immediate first step, withdrawal of weapons in accordance with the Minsk Agreements and disengagement are needed. These efforts, he said, would represent a significant development towards the peace the people of Ukraine need.