The issue of deploying nine observation points of international monitors on the Russian-Ukrainian border has not been discussed at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the OSCE Dmitry Balakin told Interfax.
“No one has raised this topic. As is known, a group of OSCE monitors is working at two Russian border checkpoints – Gukovo and Donetsk – on the Russian-Ukrainian border. They were placed there at the Russian side’s invitation as a gesture of goodwill as a follow-up to the Berlin declaration of the ‘Normandy Four’ foreign ministers of July 2, 2014,” Balakin said.
“In addition to that, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission was placed in the territory of neighboring Ukraine in accordance with the decision of the OSCE Permanent Council. Its monitors have been visiting the Ukrainian-Russian border on a regular basis,” he said.
“Russian borders are reliably protected by the border guard service and do not need any additional international oversight, and, therefore, this issue should be discussed taking these elements into consideration,” the diplomat said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said earlier on Friday that the OSCE was ready to place nine observation points of international monitors on the Russian-Ukrainian border.
