Minsk Agreements

• Vaid's ICS, Lucknow
• 26, Feb 2022

Why in  News?

MINSK I:

• Ukraine and the Russian-backed separatists agreed on a 12-point ceasefire deal in the capital of Belarus in September 2014.

Its provisions included :

• prisoner exchanges,
• deliveries of humanitarian aid and
• the withdrawal of heavy weapons

• The agreement quickly broke down, with violations by both sides.

MINSK II :

• Representatives of Russia, Ukraine, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the leaders of two pro-Russian separatist regions signed a 13-point agreement in February 2015 in Minsk.
• The leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine gathered there at the same time and issued a declaration of support for the deal.

The 13 points were, in brief :

• An immediate and comprehensive ceasefire
• Withdrawal of all heavy weapons by both sides
• Monitoring and verification by the OSCE
• To start a dialogue on interim self-government for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, in accordance with Ukrainian law, and acknowledge their special status by a resolution of parliament.
• A pardon and amnesty for people involved in the fighting
• An exchange of hostages and prisoners.
• Provision of humanitarian assistance.
• Resumption of socio-economic ties, including pensions.
• Restore full control of the state border by the government of Ukraine.
• Withdrawal of all foreign armed formations, military equipment and mercenaries.
• Constitutional reform in Ukraine including decentralisation, with specific mention of Donetsk and Luhansk.
• Elections in Donetsk and Luhansk on terms to be agreed with their representatives.
• Intensify the work of a Trilateral Contact Group including representatives of Russia, Ukraine and the OSCE.

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)

• It is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 countries across the world.
• Established in: 1949
• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
• India is not a member country of NATO.

Facts for Prelims:

Sea Cucumber

In Context

• Indian Coast Guard seized live Sea Cucumbers about 120 nautical miles off Kavaratti Island in Lakshadweep.

What is a Sea Cucumber?

• They are an important constituent of the marine ecosystem as they play an important role in maintaining the health of the ecosystem.
• It has no limbs or eyes, or blood.
• There are some 1,250 known species, and many of these animals are shaped like soft-bodied cucumbers.
• Demand: Sea cucumbers are in high demand in China and Southeast Asia, where they are consumed as food and used in medicine.
• This endangered species is primarily smuggled from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka.