OSCE chairperson-in-office calls on conflict sides to cease fire, ensure monitor safety

11:34, 19.01.2015 1 min read

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic strongly condemned the use of force and urged all sides in Ukraine to use maximum restraint.

"This cycle of violence and further escalation of hostilities cannot continue," Dacic said in a statement posted on the OSCE official website.

The report states that Dacic has called on all parties in Ukraine to work towards achieving a sustainable ceasefire.

"All sides should refrain from belligerence, intimidation, and provocative actions," the statement says.

"I urge all sides involved in the conflict to immediately invest their efforts into de-escalating tensions, to respect the ceasefire and to proactively engage with the OSCE on achieving full implementation of the Minsk documents," Dacic said in his statement.

"All the points of contention need to be addressed by the Trilateral Contact Group, not on a battleground," Dacic said.

He also called on all sides to fully respect safety and security of OSCE monitors.