In connection with the decision to extend the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, the United States would like to make the following interpretative statement under paragraph IV.1(A)6 of the OSCE Rules of Procedure.
The United States welcomes the extension of the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine.
In so doing, we reaffirm the interpretative statement we made on March 21, 2014, upon adoption of the mandate, and on July 24, 2014, upon the first extension of the mandate, under paragraph IV.1 (A)6 of the Rules of Procedure, and we note that those interpretative statements remain in force.
We remind the Permanent Council of the key elements of those statements:
The United States reaffirms its firm commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
We note that that the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine has a mandate to work throughout Ukraine, including in Crimea.
We note that all participating States must cooperate with the Special Monitoring Mission and should take no actions to obstruct its access to Crimea or any other region of Ukraine.
We offer our gratitude to all monitors, staff, and leadership of the Special Monitoring Mission for their excellent work under difficult and at times unacceptable conditions.
In addition to recalling those key elements of our previous interpretative statements, we would also like to use this opportunity to call on Ukraine, Russia, and the Russia-backed separatists to ensure that the SMM has unfettered movement throughout the territory of Ukraine and to guarantee the safety and security of SMM monitors as they carry out their duties.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As delivered by Ambassador Daniel B. Baer to the OSCE Permanent Council, Vienna
