OSCE meeting in Basel brings Kerry and Lavrov face to face over Ukraine
- 10 years ago
Although not the main event, a sideline meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry in Basil later today ( Thursday ) is being viewed as crucial with relations strained over the Ukraine crisis.
The two men are among 57 OSCE diplomats meeting in the Swiss city to focus on the spiraling tensions between Kyiv and rebels and Moscow’s involvement.
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe is overseeing a shaky cease-fire agreed in September.
Didier Burkhalter, OSCE Chairperson anticipated Thursday’s discussions would throw up some difficult issues:
“There are some positive signs when it comes to finding an agreement between Russia and Ukraine and there are also some positive signs with our efforts to exchange prisoners. There are however, some negative elements like the breach of cease fires and that is why we have to continue the work.”
Illustrating that point the OSCE claims a ceasefire starting on December 6 has been agreed in Luhansk. Both Ukrainian forces and rebels have worked out a draft schedule for disengagement in the region and a withdrawal of heavy weapons.
A similar truce in Donetsk has had limited success.
The two men are among 57 OSCE diplomats meeting in the Swiss city to focus on the spiraling tensions between Kyiv and rebels and Moscow’s involvement.
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe is overseeing a shaky cease-fire agreed in September.
Didier Burkhalter, OSCE Chairperson anticipated Thursday’s discussions would throw up some difficult issues:
“There are some positive signs when it comes to finding an agreement between Russia and Ukraine and there are also some positive signs with our efforts to exchange prisoners. There are however, some negative elements like the breach of cease fires and that is why we have to continue the work.”
Illustrating that point the OSCE claims a ceasefire starting on December 6 has been agreed in Luhansk. Both Ukrainian forces and rebels have worked out a draft schedule for disengagement in the region and a withdrawal of heavy weapons.
A similar truce in Donetsk has had limited success.