OSCE SMM reiterates impossibility of monitoring Petrivske, Bohdanivka withdrawal sites
OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) reiterates that they have limited access to the withdrawal zone of forces and equipment in Petrivske/Bohdanivka on the demarcation line in Donbas due to the absence of security guarantees.
"Today we come across with the restricted access of the OSCE SMM to the demarcation line of Petrivske/Bohdanivka. The Armed Forces of Ukraine and the DPR (self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic) were not able to guarantee the security to SMM due to possible mines. SMM is ready/can make observations, but it needs access," the statement reads posted on the official Facebook page of OSCE on Thursday morning.
According to the press service of the SMM, the representative of the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) is present at Bohdanivka site, but can not guarantee observer safety. There is no representative of the Russian Armed Forces at the JCCC in Petrivske.
"JCCC should help to ensure safe and unhindered access and to coordinate mine lifting," the mission said.
OSCE SMM observers face such difficulties at the demarcation line of forces and equipment on a daily basis for over a week period.
