“Norman Four” again discussed the crisis in Ukraine – BBC Russian

• 14 April 2015

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Laurent Fabius, Klimkin, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Lavrov held talks for five hours

At the talks in Berlin on the crisis in Ukraine, the foreign ministers of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France reaffirmed their commitment to the implementation of the Minsk Agreement, as well as agreed to consider the question of disqualification of the conflicting sides of tanks and weapons caliber of less than 100 mm.

Minsk agreement signed last fall and revised in February 2015, suggested removal of 50 km from each other heavy weapons of the parties, in particular, artillery systems caliber of 100 mm and above.

Thus, preliminary agreements reached in the negotiations in the format “Norman Quartet” in Berlin, extend the Minsk Agreement.

” We all know that we have come a long way – said the owner of the meeting – German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. – But we will do everything in our power to continue driving “.

Meanwhile, on Monday in the region of Donetsk and Mariupol were recorded new cases of ceasefire violations. At the headquarters of Ukrainian anti-terrorist operation stated that for Monday Ukrainian army positions came under fire 25 times, including 15 times – from mortars.

In turn, the Ministry of Defence in the breakaway republic DNR stated that they themselves became the target of attacks on the Ukrainian side.

Four working groups

At the meeting of the Foreign Ministers’ Norman Quartet “, which lasted about five hours, also discussed the implementation in the south-eastern Ukraine contingent of peacekeepers.

On the necessity of this step earlier said the president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. However, in the course of consultations between the Foreign Ministers of the idea, apparently, was not supported.

“Our Ukrainian colleague [Klimkin] mentioned about it but any development of this idea was not, and the other colleagues did not comment on it, “- said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

However, Klimkin, commenting on the results of the meeting in an interview with Ukrainian TV channel” 24 “, said that the participants were still willing to discuss the idea of ​​bringing the peacekeepers.

“I clearly outlined the areas where the mission could be and should be useful. And we continue the discussion, “- the minister said.

In addition, the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and his German counterpart urged Ukraine and Russia to support financially the OSCE mission operating in the region. This proposal was not objections nor someone.

Another outcome of the negotiations was an agreement on the establishment of four working groups, which will follow the resolution of the crisis: security, political process, humanitarian issues and economic issues.

The armed conflict in the eastern regions of Ukraine continued for a year and during that time has killed, according to UN estimates, about 6,000 people.