company:trilateral contact group

Ukraine wants to engage OSCE/ODIHR experts to discuss elections in Donbas
▻http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/ukraine-wants-to-engage-osceodihr-experts-to-discuss-elections-in-donbas-4

Ukraine proposes engaging experts from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) in the Trilateral Contact Group’s talks in Minsk to analyze proposals on holding elections in Donbas territories that are still not under Kyiv’s control, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin has said.

(intégralité de la brève)

Ça bougerait (un peu) ?

French diplomatic plan to permit elections in eastern Ukraine | News | DW.COM | 02.10.2015
▻http://www.dw.com/en/french-diplomatic-plan-to-permit-elections-in-eastern-ukraine/a-18756787

The dispute over elections in Donbass in eastern Ukraine has threatened to undermine the Minsk agreement signed between Ukraine and pro-Moscow rebels. As the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine meet in Paris, veteran French diplomat Pierre Morel has presented a plan which could allow the elections to take place.
Until now, the government in Kyiv has insisted that local elections due to be held on October 25 should be held according to Ukrainian law in Donbass.
But the self-proclaimed “People’s Republic of Donetsk and Luhansk” has set a different date, and does not intend to consult Kyiv on the vote.

Morel is chairman of the working group on political affairs of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), consisting of representatives from Ukraine, the Russian Federation and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). It is engaged in finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in Donbass.
Morel’s plan proposes that elections would be held in compliance with Ukrainian law, as Kyiv wishes, but that the “People’s Republic” would have the possibility of staging them according to their own rules. The diplomat believes this would free the way to implementation of hte Minsk Protocol. It stipulates that Donbass remain part of Ukraine and that Kyiv restores its sovereignty over the region.

Kyiv is not enthusiastic about Morel’s plan. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said that he considers it to be nothing more than “Morel’s personal opinion.”
Oleksiy Makeyev from the Ukrainian foreign office was less dismissive when he told Deutsche Welle that Ukraine does not reject the “Morel Plan” out of hand, and that it could consider it as one among several proposals. Nevertheless, he went on to emphasize, that for Kyiv, the Minsk Protocol remains the guiding document.
But other participants in the “Normandy format,” a diplomatic group consisting of senior representatives from Germany, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and France, view things differently.
The German foreign office stated that Berlin considers the “Morel Plan” to be the basis for a further step towards a solution to the Donbass conflict. That statement reflects the sentiments that German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed after talks with the foreign ministers of the “Normandy format” in Berlin, on September 12.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also proposed supporting Morel’s idea. In a statement to DW and the French foreign office indicated their approval of the plan as well.

In Ukraine the “Morel Plan” is seen as an ultimatum. Maria Solkina of the “Democratic Initiatives Foundation,” a Kyiv based research center, told DW that Western partners were forcing Kyiv into a compromise and using the leverage of economic and political dependency on the West to that end.
Solkina warned that if the Ukrainian leadership were to go along with the “Morel Plan” the “quasi republic” would automatically be recognized. “Ultimately, we would have to support the region economically, but would have no say there politically,” she said.

Minsk Agreement : Full text in English
▻http://www.unian.info/politics/1043394-minsk-agreement-full-text-in-english.html

List of measures to fulfill the Minsk Agreement

February 12, 2015

1. An immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in individual areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine and its strict implementation starting at 0000 (Kyiv time) February 15, 2015.

2. The withdrawal of all heavy weapons by both parties at equal distances in order to create at least a 50 kilometer security zone for 100mm or larger caliber artillery systems, a 70 kilometer security zone for Grad multiple rocket launcher systems and a 140 kilometer security zone for the Tornado-S, Uragan, and Smerch multiple rocket launcher systems and Tochka (Tochka-U) tactical missile systems:

– for the Ukrainian troops: [withdrawal] from the actual contact line;

– for the military units of individual areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine: [withdrawal] from the contact line in accordance with the Minsk memorandum of September 19, 2014

Withdrawal of aforementioned heavy weapons shall begin no later than the second day of the ceasefire and end within 14 days.

The OSCE will contribute to this process with the support of the Trilateral Contact Group.

3. Starting the first day of such withdrawal, ensuring the effective monitoring and verification by the OSCE of the ceasefire and the withdrawal of heavy weapons with the use of all necessary technical means, including satellites, UAVs, radar systems, etc.

4. On the first day after the withdrawal, to begin a dialogue on the procedures for holding local elections in accordance with Ukrainian law and the Law of Ukraine “On a temporary order of local government in individual areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions,” as well as on the future regime of these areas, according to this Act.

Immediately, no later than 30 days from the date of signing of this document, to adopt a resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine with the specification of a territory subject to the special regime in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On temporary order of local government in some regions of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions” based on the line set in a Minsk memorandum of September 19, 2014

5. To provide pardons and amnesties by the enactment of a law prohibiting prosecution and punishment of persons with regard to the events that took place in individual areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine.

6. To ensure the release and exchange of hostages and illegally detained persons based on the principle of “all for all”. This process must be completed no later than the fifth day after the withdrawal.

7. To provide secure access, delivery, storage and distribution of humanitarian aid to the needy on the basis of an international mechanism.

8. Determination of the procedure for the full restoration of the socio-economic relations, including transactions of social payments, such as pensions and other payments (takings and income, timely payment of all utility bills, renewal of taxation within Ukraine’s legal framework).

To this end, Ukraine shall regain control over the segment of its banking system in conflict-affected areas, and an international mechanism to facilitate such transfers will probably be created.

9. Restoration of full control over the state border of Ukraine by Ukraine’s government throughout the whole conflict area, which should begin on the first day after the local elections and be completed after a comprehensive political settlement (local elections in individual areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions on the basis of the Law of Ukraine, and a constitutional reform) by the end of 2015, on condition of implementation of paragraph 11 - with consultations and in agreement with the representatives of individual areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the framework of the Trilateral Contact Group.

10. The withdrawal of all foreign armed forces, military equipment, as well as mercenaries from the territory of Ukraine under the supervision of the OSCE. Disarmament of all illegal groups.

11. Conducting constitutional reform in Ukraine, with the new constitution coming into force by the end of 2015, providing for decentralization as a key element (taking into account the characteristics of individual areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, agreed with representatives of these areas), as well as the adoption of the permanent legislation on the special status of individual areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in accordance with the measures specified in Note [1], until the end of 2015. (See Notes)

12. On the basis of the Law of Ukraine “On temporary order of local government in individual areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions” the questions regarding local elections shall be discussed and agreed with the individual areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the framework of the Trilateral Contact Group. Elections will be held in compliance with the relevant standards of the OSCE with the monitoring by the OSCE ODIHR.

13. To intensify the activities of the Trilateral Contact Group, including through the establishment of working groups to implement the relevant aspects of the Minsk Agreement. They will reflect the composition of the Trilateral Contact Group.

Notes:

Such measures, in accordance with the Law “On the special order of local government in individual areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions,” include the following:

– Exemption from punishment, harassment and discrimination of persons associated with the events that took place in individual areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions;

– The right to self-determination with regard to language;

– Participation of local governments in the appointment of heads of prosecutors’ offices and courts in individual areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions;

– The possibility for the central executive authorities to conclude agreements with the relevant local authorities on economic, social and cultural development of individual areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions;

– The state shall support socio-economic development of individual areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions;

– Assistance from the central government to cross-border cooperation between the individual areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and regions of the Russian Federation;

– The creation of people’s militia units [police] upon the decision of local councils in order to maintain public order in individual areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions;

– The powers of local council deputies and other officials elected in snap elections, appointed by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine according to this law, cannot be terminated.

The document is signed by the members of a Trilateral Contact Group:

[OSCE] Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini

Second President of Ukraine L.D. Kuchma

The Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Ukraine M.Yu. Zurabov

A. V. Zakharchenko

I. V. Plotnitsky

Statement by the Chairmanship on the Trilateral Contact Group consultations in Minsk
▻http://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/op-ed/osce-statement-by-the-chairmanship-on-the-trilateral-contact-group-consult

The participants in the Trilateral Contact Group came to Minsk for consultations with the representatives of certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The TCG had prepared a detailed plan for the concrete implementation of the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum, which continue to be the indispensable basis for any peaceful settlement.

Unfortunately, the signatories of these documents from Donetsk and Luhansk did not participate, although they had been personally invited by the Trilateral Contract Group. Their representatives who were present were not in a position to discuss the proposal put forward by the TCG. In fact, they were not even prepared to discuss implementation of a ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons. Instead, they called for revision of the Protocol and Memorandum. The meeting was adjourned.

The TCG remains open to continuing consultations at any time. In view of the seriously deteriorating situation and growing numbers of casualties, the TCG calls on all actors involved to engage responsibly in the comprehensive implementation of the Minsk documents with no further delays.

Communiqué diffusé par l’OSCE

Échec des pourparlers de Minsk. Dû au refus des séparatistes ; ils seraient en train d’achever la conquête de Debaltseve et en profiteraient pour augmenter leurs exigence.