Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement to promote peace process in Donbas - OSCE
KYIV. June 27 (Interfax) - The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group Martin Sajdik, has welcomed the beginning of the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces and hardware from Stanytsia Luhanska in the Luhansk region.
"I hope that the successful implementation of this operation at Stanytsia Luhanska will serve as a catalyst for further steps towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the east of Ukraine," Sajdik said in a statement posted by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
"Let me express my deep appreciation to the sides for having taken the necessary decisions for this important development," Sajdik said.
"I urge them to take all the efforts for completing this process successfully," he said.
"My profound gratitude also goes to the staff of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine and personally to the Chief Monitor, Ambassador Yasar Halit Cevik, as well as his deputy, Mark Etherington, for their active involvement in the disengagement process," Sajdik said.
The Joint Forces Operation (JFO) Staff said on June 26 that the first stage of Ukrainian forces' withdrawal from the Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoint took place on Wednesday afternoon under the observation of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM). JFO Commander Lieut. Gen. Alexander Syrsky observed the disengagement personally.