JOINT DECLARATION OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF FRANCE & GERMANY OVER FORMAT NORMANDIE

USPA NEWS - "France and Germany welcome the establishment of two new crossing points on the contact line, bringing the number of crossing points to seven over a total length of around 450 kilometers. Ukraine is thus honoring its obligations under the conclusions of the Paris Summit of December 9, 2019 on which Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany agreed in the Format Normandie. Ukraine is thus creating the conditions to improve the deplorable conditions at the crossing points before winter and to alleviate the plight of the inhabitants of eastern Ukraine. We welcome the support given by the European Union to the development of the infrastructure of the new Zolote and Chtchastia crossing points." Source French Foreign Affairs Ministry

"France and Germany welcome the establishment of two new crossing points on the contact line, bringing the number of crossing points to seven over a total length of around 450 kilometers. Ukraine is thus honoring its obligations under the conclusions of the Paris Summit of December 9, 2019 on which Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany agreed in the Normandy format. Ukraine is thus creating the conditions to improve the deplorable conditions at the crossing points before winter and to alleviate the plight of the inhabitants of eastern Ukraine. We welcome the support given by the European Union to the development of the infrastructure of the new Zolote and Chtchastia crossing points.We welcome the efforts of Ambassador Heidi Grau, OSCE Special Representative in the Trilateral Contact Group, and Ambassador Toni Frisch, Coordinator of the Humanitarian Working Group, to facilitate this opening. We call on Russia and the separatists to reopen without delay all existing crossing points on the contact line in the Donetsk region. Thousands of men and women wishing to see a doctor, collect their pension or visit a relative are currently denied crossing the contact line. The conflict cannot continue to the detriment of the populations, the divisions must not be further exacerbated. Despite an agreement within the trilateral contact group, the separatists failed to honor their obligations to allow the Zolote and Chtchastia crossings to open on November 10. We urge Russia to use its influence to ensure that these agreements are implemented. As a member of the trilateral contact group, Russia negotiates directly with Ukraine and therefore assumes co-responsibility for the effective implementation of the conclusions of the Paris Summit. France and Germany maintain their objective of the full implementation of the agreements resulting from the December 9 summit. (format Normandie Meeting at Elysee, On 9 December 2019)"----------------------------------------------------------------- "On December 9, 2019, the President of the Republic gathered at the Élysée Palace, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. One goal is to relaunch the peace process in Donbass, Ukraine. “The conflict in Ukraine has claimed more than 13,000 lives since it began. It continues to claim victims every week. We met yesterday - Germany, France, Russia, Ukraine - to achieve a just and lasting peace. Disengagement, release of prisoners, cease-fire: for the first time in more than 3 years, our discussions have allowed progress on crucial points for the peace process in Ukraine.--------------------------------------------------------------- "No miracle solution to this conflict, but concrete progress for its inhabitants who are suffering the consequences. " had explained President Emmanuel Macron, during the Format Normandie summit which took place on 9 December 2019 at the Palais de l'Elysee, French Presidency. At the end of the meeting, measures were agreed to stabilize the situation in the conflict zone and relaunch the implementation of the Minsk agreements. Source: Elysee, French Presidency, French Foreign Affairs Ministry"