Eighteen participating States of the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) decided to send 35 unarmed military personnel to Ukraine in response to its request.
The visit is taking place under Chapter III of the Vienna Document
2011, which allows for voluntary hosting of visits to dispel concerns
about unusual military activities, reads a report from OSCE posted on
Wednesday.
Ukraine has requested all OSCE participating States to send military
representatives from 5 to 12 March 2014, starting in Odessa.
“It is my hope that this military visit will help to de-escalate
tensions in Ukraine. By providing an objective assessment of the facts
on the ground, the OSCE will be better placed to foster a political
solution to the current crisis through dialogue,” OSCE Secretary General
Lamberto Zannier said.
As of now, eighteen OSCE participating States have responded
positively to the request sending up to two representatives each.
Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany,
Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden,
Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States. One representative from
the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre will also be participating. The
military visit participants are on their way to Ukraine now.
