Chief Observer of the OSCE Mission at the Russian Checkpoints to address the Permanent Council on Thursday

VIENNA, 10 June 2015 - Chief Observer of the OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk, Paul Picard, will address the OSCE Permanent Council, on Thursday 11 June 2015, at the Hofburg, Vienna.

Picard’s address to the Hofburg is part of a regular reporting process and covers the Mission’s activities and observations from mid-February through to the beginning of June 2015.

The Mission has been on the ground since 29 July 2014 and is tasked with monitoring and reporting on the situation including movements across the Russian-Ukrainian border at the Russian checkpoints at Gukovo and Donetsk.

The Mission is currently comprised of 20 civilian observers, who operate 24/7 in teams.

The current mandate of the Mission is due to expire on 30 June.

Although the address to the Permanent Council is closed to the media, Paul Picard will hold a briefing for media tentatively at 12:00 noon in Room 201 of the Hofburg Congress Centre.

Media wishing to attend are kindly requested to confirm their attendance by sending an e-mail to press@osce.org

For admittance to the Hofburg Congress Centre, please bring a valid press card to the security desk (main entrance from the Heldenplatz) and a document with a photo.

Public reports published by the Observer Mission can be found at www.osce.org/om/122243