OSCE monitor: work continuing to organize meeting of contact group on Ukraine
ODESSA, Ukraine. Dec 11 (Interfax) - Work is still underway to organize the next meeting in Minsk of the contact group on Ukraine, though it has been put off indefinitely after being planned for December 9 and then being moved back to December 12, the chief monitor in Ukraine of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said on Thursday.
The head of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Ertugrul Apakan, told a briefing in Odessa he knew that there were discussions underway currently about the meeting and that an organization process was in place.
Responding to a question from Interfax, Apakan said he knew of no obstacles to the meeting.
He credited the Ukrainian government with doing everything within its power to help civilians who have fled the conflict-stricken eastern Ukraine but urged the international community to provide its support as well.
This week's canceled meeting in Minsk was planned to approve a schedule for the implementation of the Minsk agreements to cease fire, withdraw heavy weapons and organize truce monitoring by the OSCE.
A new ceasefire has been in effect since Tuesday.
