Regardless of calls from individual states to leave the country, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) wants to continue its observation mission in Ukraine even in the current crisis. The Special Monitoring Mission said on Sunday evening that it would “continue to implement its OSCE-approved mandate and deploy its observers in ten cities across Ukraine.”
At the same time, it was emphasized that the safety of employees was given the highest priority. In view of the increasing tensions, individual OSCE member states have called on their observers to leave Ukraine, the statement said. It was initially unclear whether the mission would be reduced by departing employees or whether they should be replaced by other observers. The USA, among others, has called on its citizens to leave the country – which also includes American OSCE observers.
The OSCE has stationed hundreds of international observers in Ukraine since March 2014, including one from Austria, according to current information from the Defense Ministry. The observers, especially in eastern Ukraine, are watching the agreed ceasefire between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian government troops. It is the largest security mission in the history of the OSCE. Most recently, around 680 observers from 43 OSCE member countries were in Ukraine – including 515 in the east, according to information from the end of January. In total, the mission has around 1,300 employees, including many local people.
The Russian Foreign Ministry sharply criticized the calls for OSCE observers to leave the country. “This decision must give us serious concern,” said ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. “The mission is being deliberately dragged into the militaristic psychosis fomented by Washington and used as an instrument for a possible provocation.” Russia repeatedly emphasizes that there is a risk of war from the Ukrainian side and fears that they could try to use force to take back breakaway areas in eastern Ukraine.
In the West, on the other hand, there are urgent warnings against Moscow’s aggression in view of Russian troop deployments near Ukraine. US reports that Russia could invade the neighboring ex-Soviet republic as early as next week have sparked great concern. The Kremlin has vehemently denied such allegations.
Source: Nachrichten
