On February 7, the Head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Viktor Nazarenko held a meeting with the Head of OSCE Special Monitoring Mission Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan.

On February 7, the Head  of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine Viktor Nazarenko held a meeting with the Head  of OSCE Special Monitoring Mission Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan.

The parties discussed topical and perspective cooperation issues in the framework of current military-political situation between the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission. Andriy Kuzmenko -   representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Ambassador on special missions, also attended in the meeting.

During the meeting,  representatives summed up the  results of joint cooperation in 2016. Also, it was noted, that last year was a time of changes, constructive relations, comprehensive cooperation and strengthening of mutual trust. All these  helped to strengthen the  border security on the eastern border of Ukraine, where the situation is still difficult.

During the 2016, the SBGS and OSCE SMM have established constructive cooperation on the central and local levels.

During the meeting, Viktor Nazarenko emphasized, that the  State Border Guard Service worked systematically in order to execute tasks, that was set by the  leadership of the state. Besides, SBGS was trying to restore the control of temporarily uncontrolled area, even  by using the potential of the OSCE SMM.

In his turn, Ertugrul Apakan assured, that despite the unpredictable and tense situation on the east of  Ukraine, the SMM would continue to concentrate its efforts on the separation line. Furthermore, during the 2016, OSCE SMM revised the technology activity concept and made all efforts in order to improve technical and operational capacities for ensuring effective monitoring and verification of the implementation of Minsk agreements.

Also, during the meeting, Ambassador on special missions Andriy Kuzmenko emphasized, that the border control issues were an integral part of the restoring state sovereignty concept and the only way to resolve the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The parties confirmed that restoration of the borders were impossible to get off the ground without providing unimpeded access OSCE SMM to all areas of Ukrainian-Russian border.

At the end of the meeting, the parties expressed their gratitude, hope for further cooperation and optimistic confidence in achieving peaceful goals.