400 OSCE observers will soon arrive to Ukraine
22 March 2014, 14:00
400 OSCE observers will soon arrive to Ukraine. This was informed about by Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier in the course of meeting with acting President of Ukraine, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov.
The Parties discussed present situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the danger of potential aggression on the mainland of Ukraine.
According to Oleksandr Turchynov, attempts of annexation of an independent sovereign territory of Ukraine by Russia “are a challenge not only for Ukraine but for Europe and the whole civilized mankind.” “Moreover, regardless of complexity of the situation - economic and political - Ukraine will be protecting its territory.”
“In case of invasion of our territory, we will accept the battle, because it’s our country and we do not have any alternatives for its protection”, stressed the acting President of Ukraine, adding that the government hopes that guarantors of Ukraine’s integrity will fulfill their commitments of the Budapest Memorandum.
“I am sure that we will come out of this situation as winners and these tests will only consolidate our people and our state”, summed up Oleksandr Turchynov.
In his turn, Frank-Walter Steinmeier stressed that Europe “is aware of the complexity of burden and responsibility the new government has imposed on itself.” “Russia’s actions in the Crimea are overt aggression, they violate the Constitution of Ukraine and the international law”, he said.
Moreover, the Minister informed that the OSCE observation mission with a mandate will soon arrive to Ukraine. “Commission of 400 observers will soon arrive to Ukraine to observe the situation in your country”, he added.