Russia hopes new OSCE representative on Ukraine will work on ending violence
MOSCOW. June 9 (Interfax) - Russia is hoping that Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini, who has been appointed to the post of representative of the OSCE chairperson-in-office on Ukraine, will be working on halting violence in Ukraine and the implementation of the "roadmap" on the settlement of the crisis in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter has announced the appointment of Swiss Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini to the post of his representative on Ukraine," the ministry said in a report posted on its website.
"Russia has always backed the 'roadmap' for the settlement of the crisis in Ukraine proposed by the Swiss chairman of the OSCE in line with the Geneva accords of April 17. We are working on the assumption that Heidi Tagliavini will be actively involved in the implementation of the key provisions of the said 'roadmap,' primarily the development of steady agreements on immediate cessation of violence and the creation of conditions for the beginning of true dialogue in Ukraine involving all political forces and regions of that country," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov is taking part in various consultations in Kyiv to support the efforts taken by the OSCE to fulfill this 'roadmap.' This position taken by Russia was confirmed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in a phone conversation with Didier Burkhalter on June 9," the report says.
