MOSCOW, July 15 (RIA Novosti) – The Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) Didier Burkhalter is to call on the OSCE members to reach a consensus on the mandate for a mission to monitor Russian checkpoints on the border with Ukraine, a statement published on the organization’s website Monday said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry earlier announced it had invited OSCE monitors to Russia’s Gukovo and Donetsk crossing points as a goodwill gesture, without waiting for a ceasefire regime to be established.
“In both conversations, Burkhalter discussed the proposal of the Russian Federation to pass a decision regarding the OSCE monitoring at two Russian border points. Given the political will of both sides to see the OSCE take up such an additional role, Burkhalter mentioned that he would ask all participating States to contribute constructively and pragmatically to an early consensus on the respective mandate,” according to the statement.
According to Burkhalter, “a needs assessment mission by the OSCE should be deployed as soon as possible in this regard.”
The statement also said that the OSCE chief is currently holding consultations on expanding the mandate of the special monitoring mission in Ukraine for another six months.
“Following the formal request by the Ukrainian government, the OSCE Chairmanship is now also consulting on extending the mandate of the SMM for another six months beyond the expiration of its current mandate on September 20 2014,” the statement reads.
A decision on the measure is expected later this month.
A multinational group of experts under the aegis of OSCE arrived in Ukraine back in early April amid mounting violence in southeastern regions. The mission was deployed following a request by the Ukrainian government and a subsequent agreement by all 57 OSCE member states.
