Federal Department of Foreign Affairs expresses its great concern about the deteriorating security situation in eastern Ukraine
Bern, 25.01.2015 - The Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Didier Burkhalter sharply condemns the shelling of residential areas in Mariupol resulting in at least 30 civilians killed and a very high number of injured persons. He calls for the immediate resumption of talks.
As violence has continued to escalate in Eastern Ukraine in recent days, the Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Didier Burkhalter sharply condemns the shelling of residential areas in Mariupol resulting in at least 30 civilians killed and a very high number of injured persons. The Swiss Foreign Minister thanks the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine for their swift and impartial report, including their indication about the origin of shelling and commends the SMM for its continuous efforts to fulfill its mandate under challenging circumstances.
Burkhalter expresses concern regarding the recent escalation of violence in Eastern Ukraine, including attacks on densely populated areas in Donetsk, Debaltseve and other places along the contact line which have caused numerous civilian victims. “The death of innocent men, women and children is inacceptable” said Burkhalter and added: “Switzerland calls on all sides to strictly adhere to the principles of International Humanitarian Law.”
Burkhalter repeated that in view of Switzerland there is no military solution to the conflict and called all actors to make use of all diplomatic instruments which are currently in place. He welcomes the convening of an urgent meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group with all signatories of the Minsk arrangements. He appeals to all those involved to implement their commitments made in the two relevant documents, i.e. the Minsk Protocol and the Minsk Memorandum of September 2014. An end of violence, urgent talks and measures of de-escalation would be the basis of a sustainable political solution of the conflict, Burkhalter said.
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