ROSTOV-ON-DON, July 30. /ITAR-TASS/. OSCE observers started working on Russian-Ukrainian border, head of OSCE mission in the region Paul Picard told reporters on Wednesday. Four representatives of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) are working in Russia’s southern Rostov region, he said.

“We have gathered the first group which is ready to start working and a large amount of work is in store for us. Four observers are already working here. I work here as the chief observer and there are three members of administrative personnel. New observers will be included in the group soon,” Picard said.

In his words, the OSCE mission will be monitoring operation of border-crossing points Gukovo and Donetsk.

The first group of monitors from the OSCE permanent observer mission came to Rostov region Tuesday to work in districts bordering Ukraine.

A total of 13 OSCE members from eight countries, including France, Great Britain, Hungary, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Ukraine came to the region.

Representatives of the OSCE mission who came to Russia’s southern Rostov region have protective equipment for operation in dangerous zones and are co-operating with regional law enforcement agencies, chief of the OSCE mission Paul Picard told reporters on Wednesday.

“OSCE employees have equipment to protect themselves - bullet-proof vests and helmets. We are also working with security services in Rostov region,” Picard said. He thanked regional authorities who help the OSCE mission.

The OSCE mission in Russia’s southern Rostov region will be extended for more than three months, if all 57 OSCE member states take a specific decision, chief of the OSCE mission in Rostov region Paul Picard told reporters on Wednesday.