VIENNA, July 14 (RIA Novosti) – The Swiss chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) confirmed Monday the organization had received Moscow’s proposal to deploy OSCE monitors at Russian crossing points on the border with Ukraine.
“I can confirm that such a proposal was submitted by the Russian Federation,” Swiss OSCE Chairmanship spokesman Roland Bless told RIA Novosti.
“Negotiations on this proposal have already started. It is possible that it can go quickly,” he added.
Bless explained that before the proposal is introduced at the meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, it has to go through preliminary consultations.
Bless was not certain if the delegations can complete preliminary consultations by tomorrow to present a proposal at the Permanent Council. “Obviously, an opinion of one side is not enough, we need to listen to all sides,” he said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement earlier in the day it invited OSCE monitors to its Gukovo and Donetsk crossing points on the Russian-Ukrainian border as a goodwill gesture, without waiting for a ceasefire regime to be established.
In July, attacks on Russian border checkpoints intensified. On July 12 Russia called on Kiev to stop shelling Russian territory and violating Russian borders. The Foreign Ministry said Moscow reserves the right to take all actions envisaged by the Russian legislation to protect its territory and provide safety for Russian citizens.
