OSCE special representative on Ukraine resigns – media
Ischinger was appointed negotiator a little less than a month ago. He was responsible for organizing a series of roundtables between the Kyiv authorities and representatives of the South-East, as it was provided for by the “road map” on the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. Earlier, this road map was presented by Burkhalter to President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
Ischinger organized three such round tables: in Kyiv, Kharkov and Nikolaev. One of the main goals of the “road map” – the elections of the President of Ukraine – was successfully achieved. Nevertheless, the process of national reconciliation was not launched.
The newspaper reports that Wolfgang Ischinger was the figure, which satisfied all the conflicting parties, and notes that it will not be easy for the OSCE to find a new suitable candidate for this role.
Russia’s permanent representative to the OSCE has said a new negotiator on maintaining the dialogue in Ukraine will be appointed within a week.
One can expect Wolfgang Ischinger to leave his post, Andrei Kelin has said.
He quoted Ischinger as saying earlier he “will only work till presidential elections” in Ukraine.
The OSCE secretariat also confirmed that Ischinger had decided not to extend the mandate, Kelin told Itar-Tass on Saturday.
“Now a new mediator is being searched for. There are candidates from several countries,” he said.
The next roundtable for national dialogue in Ukraine was scheduled to be held in Chernovtsy, Ukraine’s south-west. However, the date has not been specified yet, Kelin said.
The new OSCE negotiator should prepare the meeting, he added.