The Sides Must Prioritize the Protection of OSCE SMM Monitors and Other Civilians in Eastern Ukraine, says Chief Monitor Apakan

VIENNA, 12 May 2017 – The safety and security of the unarmed civilian monitors of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine – and of the wider civilian population in eastern Ukraine – must be prioritized by the sides to the conflict, said the Chief Monitor of the OSCE SMM to Ukraine, Ertugrul Apakan, in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna yesterday.

“What is needed are not more promises, but for those who have already made promises to make good on them,” said Apakan. “Without excuses and without delay.”

The ambassador was speaking less than three weeks after an OSCE SMM patrol member was killed, and two other members were injured, when their vehicle hit an explosive device, most probably a mine, in Luhansk region.

He outlined mitigation measures the Mission had taken in response to the incident in order to protect “the men and women who bravely continue their work in a high-risk and unpredictable security situation.” The measures, which limit patrols to asphalt and concrete surfaces, he said had curtailed the Mission’s monitoring.

Ambassador Apakan emphasised that “the key to lifting these constraints does not lie with the SMM. Nor does it lie in Minsk. What is needed are not more promises, but for those who have already made promises to make good on them.”