Serbia condemns use of heavy weapons in civilian areas

VIENNA - The OSCE Permanent Council held a special meeting on Monday concerning the deterioration of the situation in eastern Ukraine, especially the clashes in the civilian parts of Mariupol, and Serbia condemned the use of heavy weaponry.

Serbia, as the OSCE chair, condemned the use of heavy weaponry in civilian areas and called for an immediate stop to hostilities on the ground.

Serbia reiterated its strong support for the work of the Trilateral Contact Group and the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine.

The council expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

Head of the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Ertugul Apakan and special representative of the OSCE chairperson Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini informed the members of the council about the situation on the ground.

They expressed deep concern over the escalation of violence in the regions of Donetsk and Lugansk and its spreading to other cities.

They stressed the need to bring all sides back to the negotiating table in order to a sustainable peace and implement all the provisions of the Minsk agreement.

AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka