Politics

JOINT DECLARATION OF FRENCHGERMAN MINSTER of FOREIGN AFFAIRS OVER COVID19 CRISIS

LIFTING SOME RESTRICTIONS


Minister for Foreign Affairs Logo (Source: Ministry for Foreign Affairs )
COVID-19
(Source: pediatronline)
USPA NEWS - At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic poses a historic challenge to the international community, we must actively pursue our efforts to end the ongoing violent conflicts. With regard to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, France and Germany call on all parties to assume their responsibility in the face of major threats to human health.
We call on all parties to the conflict in eastern Ukraine to implement the appeal by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a comprehensive ceasefire in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic .
ICRC Logo
Source: ICRC
France and Germany are deeply concerned by the restrictions imposed since March 21, 2020 on members of the OSCE Special Observer Mission in Ukraine (MSOU) by members of armed groups in territories not controlled by the government. The COVID-19 epidemic cannot be used as a pretext to restrict the mission's freedom of movement and to impede the implementation of its mandate. The MSOU must have safe, secure and unhindered access to the whole territory of Ukraine, including areas not controlled by the government. Russia must use its influence and guarantee its passage in complete freedom and security. France and Germany also call for the lifting of restrictions on access to areas not controlled by the government for UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and the International Committee of the Red Cross. THE ICRC MUST HAVE FULL AND UNINDERED ACCESS TO DETAINEES IN CONFLICT AREAS---------------------- The ICRC must have full and unhindered access to detainees linked to the conflict in areas not controlled by the government, in accordance with the conclusions of the last Normandy format summit of heads of state and government. France and Germany welcome the resumption of operations at the Donetsk filtering station, which supplies water to hundreds of thousands of people. They call on all parties to take all necessary measures to guarantee safe working conditions for employees of critical infrastructure, so that the continuity of their activities can be ensured. We once again call on the parties to implement the joint conclusions of the last Normandy format summit (December 9, 2019), in particular concerning the agreements still pending on new crossing points, disengagement zones, demining and a new exchange of prisoners. France and Germany continue to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. We remain committed to a peaceful and lasting settlement of the conflict through the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. Source : French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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