Comment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on the Russia’s Blocking of the Extension of the Mandate of OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian Checkpoints
24 October 2014 05:17
On October 22, 2014, a decision was approved at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting, to extend for one month, until November 23, the mandate of OSCE Observer Mission at two Russian checkpoints at the Russian-Ukrainian state border – Hukovo and Donetsk.
In the course of consultations, the OSCE Member States supported Ukraine’s proposal to establish comprehensive control over the Ukrainian-Russian border. One of the key elements of that proposal was to extend the mandate of OSCE Observer Mission by deploying OSCE representatives at other Russian checkpoints and conduct of observation by them along the whole sector of the Ukrainian-Russian border in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. The approval of such a decision would allow the implementation of paragraph 4 of the Minsk Protocol providing for the permanent monitoring of the Ukrainian-Russian border and verification by the OSCE.
The Russian Federation turned out to be the only country that blocked the extension of the mandate and enlargement of the number of personnel of the Mission.
Such a position testifies to the unreadiness and unwillingness of Russia to perform practical steps to implement the Minsk Accords by ensuring effective border control in order to stop the inflow of military equipment, armaments and personnel into Ukraine from the territory of the Russian Federation to support the activities of the illegal armed formations.
Ukraine will continue resolute assertion at the international arena of the need for establishment of effective control over the Ukrainian-Russian state border as the key foundation for the restoration of peace and stability in Donbas.
