Minsk Agreements provide basis for negotiated & peaceful settlement in Eastern Ukraine situation: India at UN

“We welcome the efforts underway for implementation of the “Minsk Agreements” including through the Trilateral Contact Group and under the Normandy format. We believe that the “Minsk Agreements”, provide a basis for a negotiated and peaceful settlement of the situation in Eastern Ukraine,” India’s UNPR TS Tirumurti said at the “UNSC Briefing Minsk-II Agreements”

“Accordingly, we urge all parties to continue to engage through all possible diplomatic channels and keep working towards the full implementation of the “Minsk Agreements”, he said, adding, “We also believe that meetings under the Normandy Format will further facilitate the implementation of the provisions of the “Minsk Agreements”, including its key security and political aspects. In this context, we welcome the recent meetings of Political Advisers of Normandy Format countries in Paris and Berlin.”

“We also welcome the unconditional observance of the July 2020 ceasefire, the reaffirmation of “Minsk Agreements” as the basis of work under the Normandy Format and the commitment of all sides to reduce disagreements on the way forward. Any steps that increase tension may best be avoided by all sides in the larger interest of securing international peace and security.”

Quiet and constructive diplomacy is the need of the hour and India has been in touch with all concerned parties, Tirumurti pointed out. “It is our considered view that the issue can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue. India’s interest is in finding a solution that can provide for immediate de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long-term peace and stability in the region and beyond.”

More than twenty thousand Indian students and nationals live and study in different parts of Ukraine, including in its border areas. The well-being of Indian nationals is of priority, the envoy noted. “…we reiterate our call for the peaceful resolution of the situation by sincere and sustained diplomatic efforts to ensure that concerns of all sides are amicably resolved through constructive dialogue.”