The OSCE Permanent Council, in a consensus decision taken at its meeting in Vienna on Thursday, March 16, agreed to renew the mandate of the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine by one year until March 31, 2018.
”The decision sets the Mission`s budget at EUR 105.5 million for the period from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018,” the OSCE said in a press release.
Chief Monitor of the OSCE SMM to Ukraine, Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, in turn thanked 57 OSCE participating states for their continued support for the Mission, following their consensus decision on March 16, 2017, to extend the Mission`s mandate to March 31, 2018.
”The extension of the mandate not only allows us to continue to assist and facilitate the ongoing efforts towards a lasting sustainable ceasefire, and other measures to bring about stability throughout Ukraine. It also demonstrates the commitment of the international community both to the Mission and to the stability of Ukraine, and the wider region,” Ambassador Apakan said.
The OSCE Permanent Council is one of the main regular decision-making bodies of the Organization, bringing together representatives of all 57 OSCE participating States.
