Brussels, 30/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Sunday 29 June, the European Union learned “with relief” that the remaining four monitors of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine - three men and one woman - have been released. They had been kidnapped in Lugansk (Eastern Ukraine). The four monitors were released during the night of 26-27 June. “We expect further hostages detained by illegal armed groups in Eastern Ukraine to be released without delay”, added the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.
During the European Council on Friday 27 June, the EU heads of state and government made the release of all hostages, including the OSCE observers, one of four crucial steps to be undertaken by 30 June, under threat of new European measures (see EUROPE 11110).
Ashton's spokesperson also reiterated the EU's “firm support” for the work already undertaken by the Special Monitoring Mission, as well as for the OSCE monitoring the implementation of the peace plan of Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko. (CG)