国际英语资讯:OSCE again calls for conflicting sides in Ukraine to avoid casualties

MINSK, Sept. 5 -- Martin Sajdik, special representative of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), on Wednesday urged again the conflicting parties in Ukraine to make every effort to avoid human casualties, local media reported.

"I strongly urge the parties to do all they can to abide by the ceasefire and avoid human casualties," Sajdik said following the Contact Group meeting in Minsk.

The diplomat said that all members of the Contact Group reiterated their full commitment to the Minsk agreement.

The OSCE's special representative said that this summer was the calmest since the beginning of the conflict. Thanks to the harvest truce and school truce agreed by the parties, the level of ceasefire violations has reduced significantly, he added.

Sajdik also said the Contact Group is planning to discuss the proposal for launching an international investigation into the death of the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) Alexander Zakharchenko, who was killed on August 31 as a result of an explosion in the center of Donetsk.

The Contact Group on Ukraine will hold its next meeting on September 19.