OSCE special monitoring mission to Ukraine to operate in Ukraine
The OSCE Permanent
Council today adopted a decision on deployment of an OSCE special monitoring
mission of international observers to
The mission is to
contribute to reducing tensions and fostering peace, stability and security;
and to monitoring and supporting the implementation of all OSCE principles and
commitments. To this aim monitors will, in particular, gather information and
report on the security situation in the area of operation; to establish and
report facts in response to specific incidents and reports of incidents; to
monitor and support respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; to
facilitate the dialogue on the ground in order to reduce tensions and promote
normalization of the situation.
The mission will
coordinate with and support the work of the OSCE executive structures and
cooperate with the UN, the Council of Europe and other actors of the
international community.
Consisting initially
of 100 civilian monitors the mission will be deployed for a period of six
months. Its mandate can be renewed if requested by
Ukrainian delegation
to the OSCE made an interpretative statement in relation to this decision,
stressing that its adoption should be regarded as an emergency response of the
Organization to the grave conflict around the Autonomous Republic of Crimea
that stemmed from military aggression by the
In view of the current
developments and reflecting upon the existing areas of concern, Ukraine
proceeds from the understanding that the mandate of the mission covers the
territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, including
the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and that the deployment of the mission must
start from the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine that in the light of the
situation on the ground require immediate attention.