Lithuania wants to send more diplomats to OSCE observer mission in Ukraine

The ministry has requested 32,000 euros from the government’s reserve fund for the purpose.

Should the government provide the Foreign Ministry with the requested funds, the final decision on participation of the two additional Lithuanian diplomats in the mission would be made by OSCE. The mission currently includes two Lithuanian officials.

Lithuania aims to assign the additional diplomats for the mission in the light of OSCE’s decision to boost the number of observers, as well as the calls from OSCE leadership, secretariat and foreign partners to increase the Lithuanian contribution as sign of solidarity with Ukraine and its partners, as well as part of the commitment to contribute to the international community’s efforts to achieve lasting ceasefire in Eastern Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry said in a comment to BNS.

The goal of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine is to collect information and report about the security situation, incidents and violations of OSCE commitments, as well as the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Under a decision of the OSCE Permanent Council, the mission has been operating in Ukraine since the end of March of 2014. The Lithuanian observers have been involved from the start of the mission.