OSCE PA Considers Resolution Supporting Territorial Integrity of Ukraine

The Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE considered a resolution in support of Ukraine in Minsk today despite Russian protests.

The representative of the Ukrainian side proposed this resolution, reports RFE/RL.

The resolution, entitled "Enhancing Mutual Trust and Cooperation for Peace and Prosperity in the OSCE Region," condemns multiple threats and attacks on OSCE monitors in eastern Ukraine as well as calls to stop military actions in Ukraine, full withdrawal of heavy weapons, and guarantees OSCE total access to the occupied territories.

It also recognizes that “some parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions” are under control of “Russian hybrid forces."

The Russian delegation protested against this proposed resolution and suggested that the remarks about “Russian hybrid sources” in Donbas should be removed. Moreover, Russian representative Petro Tolstoy claimed that there are no Russian troops in eastern Ukraine and that it is just an internal conflict.

OSCE PA resolutions are not legally binding for the participating countries, but can influence their foreign policy

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) was deployed on 21 March 2014, following a request to the OSCE by Ukraine’s government and a consensus decision by all 57 OSCE participating States. The SMM is an unarmed, civilian mission, present on the ground 24/7 in all regions of Ukraine. Its main tasks are to observe and report in an impartial and objective way on the situation in Ukraine; and to facilitate dialogue among all parties to the crisis.