OSCE in Talks Over New Envoy to Ukraine - Spokesperson

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) holds consultations on the appointment of a new representative to Ukraine following the resignation of OSCE envoy Heidi Tagliavini, a spokeswoman of the organization told RIA Novosti Saturday.

VIENNA (Sputnik) — Tagliavini's resignation was reported in Swiss national media late Friday.

"Consultations on the new Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman in Ukraine are held at the moment," Saule Mukhametrakhimova told RIA Novosti.

Earlier in the day, a source close to negotiations stated that Tagliavini resigned over disagreements between the sides involved in Contact Group talks on Ukrainian reconciliation.

On Tuesday, closed door meetings of the working groups of the trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine began in Minsk, Belarus. The source said some of their participants "extremely upset" Tagliavini with nonconstructive behavior and low negotiability.

Tagliavini is an experienced Swiss diplomat. She began her diplomatic career in 1982. She served as the UN Observer Mission in Georgia's (UNOMIG) deputy chief in the late 1990s, then headed it from 2002 to 2006.

In June 2014, Tagliavini was appointed as an OSCE representative at the talks. She was also among the signatories of the February Minsk peace agreements, stipulating a ceasefire, heavy weaponry withdrawal and prisoner exchanges.