Ukrainian Foreign Ministry: Russia is the only country blocking the expansion of OSCE's mandate in eastern Ukraine
The spokesperson for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mariana Betsa, stated during a briefing that the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that the Russian opposition to the proposal to extend the OSCE's Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo & Donetsk in eastern Ukraine is another example of Russia’s failure to implement the Minsk Agreements.
“Another example of Russia’s failure to implement the Minsk Agreements is their blocking of the OSCE proposal to extend the mandate of the OSCE Observer Mission at two checkpoints - Gukovo and Donetsk - the whole section of the Russian-Ukrainian border which is not under Kiev's control, and thus prevent further escalation of the conflict. Russia is the only of 57 countries that blocks the expansion of the mandate of this mission,” Betsa said.
“Effective monitoring by the OSCE of the Ukrainian-Russian border which is not under Kiev's control is a prerequisite for a peaceful settlement in eastern Ukraine. That is why the open resistance of Russia to the implementation of this important security element shows Russia's deliberate opposition to the peace process. This is because the large-scale presence of international observers will not allow Russian troops, mercenaries and weapons to cross the border with Ukraine,” Betsa added.
On July 7th the OSCE Permanent Council extended the mandate of the OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian border checkpoints of Gukovo and Donetsk in the Rostov region until 31 October 2016. These checkpoints share borders with the Chervonopartyzansk and Izvaryne checkpoints at the Ukrainian part of the border which is not under Kiev's control. At the same time, Russian representatives at the OSCE Council blocked the extension of the mandate of the Mission for the entire Russian-Ukrainian border.