The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) pays full attention to the current situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Ukraine in the context of act of aggression by the Russian Federation against the said territory.

Facing the announced military intervention into Ukraine, the OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation hold on March 04, 2014 a joint meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation and OSCE Permanent Council to address the issue of crisis around Ukraine. Speakers reaffirmed their full respect to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its existing and internationally recognized borders. They urged Russia to stop violation of international law and OSCE principles and commitments, to restore implementation of bilateral agreements with Ukraine, to pull out their military forces from the territory of the Crimea.

On March 07, 2014 OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Ms. Dunia Mijatovič at the end of her visit to Ukraine, including meetings with media associations and local journalists in Simferopol, stated that the biggest problem in the Crimea is journalists’ safety. She added that Tatar journalists are under political pressure from the broadcaster’s administration and access to official information from local authorities is provided only to loyal journalists. Ms. D.Mijatovič added that contrary to the official withdrawal of recent proposal to bun Russian televisions channels in Ukraine, the signals of Ukrainian television stations have been cut in the Crimea. She said: “I am extremely worried about the media freedom situation, we are seeing cases of intimidation, beating and media censorship every day.”

On March 11, 2013 Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chair Mr. Didier Burkhalter drew attention to significant concerns signaled by his Personal Envoy on the situation in the Crimea. The Chair ruled out the possibility of an OSCE observation of the planned Crimean referendum of March 16, 2014 as the basic criteria for a decision in a constitutional framework was not met. Furthermore, an invitation by the participating State concerned would be a precondition to any observation activity in this regard. As the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine has made a statement which stressed, among other things, that the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is an integral part of Ukraine to be under the action of the Constitution of Ukraine and laws of Ukraine, Mr. D.Burkhalter called upon all actors involved to refrain from supporting unconstitutional activities. He invited all OSCE participating States, including Russia, to support early decision and subsequent deployment of a OSCE Monitoring Mission to Ukraine.

As the Russian troops continue to illegally enter the territory of the Crimea, Ukraine to further expand their military presence under baseless excuse of protecting the Russian speaking population, Ukraine calls upon all the OSCE participating States to demonstrate solidarity with Ukrainian nation, to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and to do everything possible now to stop aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

 

Embassy of Ukraine to the                                                                      

Republic of South Africa                                                                                     

 

Pretoria, March 12, 2014