KYIV, 4 February 2021 – In his online address to the OSCE Permanent Council today, Ambassador Çevik stressed that “the continuation of this fragile ceasefire depends on political will and productive discussions at the negotiating table.”
The Chief Monitor highlighted that the lack of full compliance with written commitments by the sides, together with mines, unexploded ordnance, and other explosive devices have a heavy toll on the lives of civilians. With the onset of the pandemic, civilians, particularly the elderly, have faced additional hardship, with freedom of movement across the contact line severely restricted. The Line of Contact is becoming a Line of Separation, he warned.
Impediments to SMM monitoring of the security situation remained, said the Chief Monitor. Chronic restrictions on its freedom of movement, primarily in non-government-controlled areas, continue; and electronic interference with, and live-fire targeting of SMM unmanned aerial vehicles persist.
As the dangers of COVID-19 remain acute, Çevik said the Mission would continue operating flexibly and adaptively to steer itself through the pandemic crisis. Mitigation measures successfully implemented to protect staff and the local population they serve have not substantively affected the SMM’s ability to monitor the security situation, with the Mission offsetting the reduced number of patrols with a greater reliance on technical means.
