Comment of the MFA of Ukraine in connection with a decision of the OSCE Permanent Council on Extension of the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

In response to the request of the Government of Ukraine dated February 18, 2016, the OSCE Permanent Council approved a decision on Extension of the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine for the next period of twelve months up to March 31, 2017, which is spread through the entire territory of Ukraine in the framework of the internationally recognized borders, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol.

In this connection the Delegation of Ukraine has made an interpretative statement. In the statement Ukraine expresses its gratitude to the OSCE participating States for supporting the request of the Government of Ukraine to extend the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission. “The Government of Ukraine regards the adoption of this decision as the expression of continued readiness of the Organization to assist the country in countering the severe consequences of the aggression pursued by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in breach of imperative norms of international law, the Helsinki Final Act, bilateral and multilateral agreements, which guarantee Ukraine’s territorial integrity, inviolability of borders and non-intervention in internal affairs of Ukraine”, reads the statement.