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Kiev asks OSCE to send observers to Ukraine’s southern, eastern regions

Ukraine has asked the OSCE countries to send unarmed military observers to Crimea from March 5 to March 12
Nationals flags of member countries of the OSCE EPA/VASSIL DONEV
Nationals flags of member countries of the OSCE
© EPA/VASSIL DONEV

VIENNA, March 11. /ITAR-TASS/. Ukraine has sent invitations to member-states of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) to extend a mission of military observers, the OSCE press service reports.

Kiev “has asked to inspect southern and eastern regions of Ukraine”, the press service said.

“The mission will stay till March 16. Fourteen countries — Belgium, Hungary, Iceland, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Canada, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Slovakia, the USA, Turkey and Finland - have accepted the invitation,” the press service said, adding that the OSCE expected the number of countries to increase within days.

Ukraine has asked the OSCE countries to send unarmed military observers to Crimea from March 5 to March 12. Thirty countries, which decided to send about 60 military specialists, have accepted it. However, observers have not been admitted to the territory of Crimea.

The inquiry is based on a provision of the Vienna Document on confidence- and security-building measures under which each country can send at least two observers.