The meeting’s participants discussed the current state of the negotiation process and prospects for further development of the dialogue between the conflict sides. They also exchanged their thoughts on the results of the recent round of negotiations in the “5+2” format that took place on the initiative of the Ukrainian OSCE Chairmanship on 23-24 May 2013 in Odessa.

International experts emphasized the need for a more active engagement on the part of all the participants of the negotiation process and underlined Ukraine’s important role as a guarantor and a mediator in the peaceful settlement as well as the current OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office in sustaining the positive dynamics in the negotiation process towards achieving the final settlement of the conflict.

On his part, the Minister welcomed the initiative of the expert community aimed at achieving a deeper understanding of the conflict as well as promoting the trust between the conflict sides.