SEIMAS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
STATEMENT
ON THE SECURITY AND HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN AVDIIVKA,
EASTERN UKRAINE
3 February 2017
Vilnius
The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,
expressing its concern over
the substantial deterioration of the security situation in eastern Ukraine
in recent days and renewal of active military operations in Avdiivka, with several dozens of killed
or injured Ukrainian soldiers and civilians and the recorded use of heavy weaponry;
stressing
that another highly worrying fact is a complicated humanitarian situation when artillery
shelling has destroyed or damaged infrastructure, disrupted the supply of electricity, water, and
heating and forced people to flee their homes;
having regard to
the Resolution 2132 (2016) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe “Political consequences of the Russian aggression in Ukraine”;
states
that the Minsk agreements constitute the major instrument today for settling the Russia-
Ukraine military conflict, and therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the ceasefire under the
agreements is observed in order to avoid new victims, suffering of the civilians and a humanitarian
disaster in eastern Ukraine;
calls for
ensuring the access of the OSCE Observer Mission to the territory controlled by the so
called separatists supported by the Russian Federation in order to ensure the provision of unbiased
information to the international community about the current situation;
is of the opinion
that the renewed active military operations in eastern Ukraine, as well as the role
and responsibility of the Russian Federation in ensuring the implementation of the Minsk
agreements has to be extensively discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 6 February 2017;
invites
the political leadership, governments and parliaments of the EU and NATO Member States,
the European Parliament, international organisations and their parliamentary assemblies to give a
proper focus on the settlement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in their political agendas, to enhance
their efforts aimed at resolving the security crisis in Europe as the result of this conflict, and to
prevent similar situations in the future.
Juozas Bernatonis
Chair of the Committee