“Mr. Chairperson,

In connection with the PC Decision on the extension of the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, the Delegation of Ukraine would like to make the following interpretative statement under paragraph IV.1 (A) 6 of the Rules of Procedure of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Ukraine expresses its gratitude to the OSCE participating States for supporting the request of the Government of Ukraine to extend the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission for the next period of twelve months.

The Government of Ukraine regards the adoption of this decision as the expression of continued readiness of the Organization to assist the country in countering the severe consequences of the aggression pursued by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in breach of imperative norms of international law, the Helsinki Final Act, bilateral and multilateral agreements, which guarantee Ukraine’s territorial integrity, inviolability of borders and non-intervention in internal affairs of Ukraine.

We see as critically important the role of the OSCE and the SMM in facilitating a peaceful resolution in the Donbas region of Ukraine with full respect to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, political unity and territorial integrity.

Ukraine strongly supports the SMM in accomplishing its tasks relating to monitoring the implementation of relevant provisions of the Minsk agreements, which include the Protocol and Memorandum of September 2014 and the Package of Measures of February 2015.

We attach particular importance to further reinforcement of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine with human resources and technical devices in order to ensure effective monitoring and verification of implementation of the Minsk agreements, in particular concerning the comprehensive ceasefire, the withdrawal of heavy weapons and border monitoring.

The OSCE monitors must have full access throughout Ukraine’s territory, which includes the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

The Government of Ukraine reiterates its original interpretative statement appended to the Permanent Council Decision No. 1117 of 21 March 2014 which remains in force. The mandate of the mission covers the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

The Delegation of Ukraine requests that this statement be attached to the decision and recorded in the journal of the day.

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.