OSCE secretary general: Ceasefire generally respected

OSCE secretary general: Ceasefire generally respected

BELGRADE -- OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier said on Wednesday in Belgeade that the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine is "generally respected."

"Now the key stage should be used to set up working groups and step up negotiations and implementation of the Minsk agreement," Tanjug quoted him as saying.

Zannier "observed that it was necessary to strengthen technical capacity of the OSCE monitoring mission in eastern Ukraine, given the mandate extension and the number of its members increasing."

"The agenda is complex, and coordination between all key actors and activities is one of the crucial things," Zannier told a press conference in Belgrade after meeting with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.

Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine Heidi Tagliavini warned that a lack of direct dialogue could result in the situation escalating.

Dacic held consultations with Zannier and Tagliavini and Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Ertugrul Apakan.

Dacic and Zannier stated on Wednesday the situation in eastern Ukraine was "showing signs of progress."

They agreed that efforts to stimulate political process in Ukraine should be consolidated and added that working groups would be created to address security, political, economic and humanitarian issues.

Dacic said he would appoint coordinators for those working groups, and that he would ask the opposing sides in Ukraine to start work next week.

"Financial and technical resources for the OSCE observation mission in Ukraine are needed and Serbia, as the country chairing the OSCE, has prepared a...