President Poroshenko meets with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko held a meeting with Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE, Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria Sebastian Kurz, the president’s press service reported on Monday evening.

President’s Poroshenko expressed confidence that today, when Russia is violating obligations within the Organization, Austria, as the country presiding in the OSCE, would be guided by the necessity of restoring respect to the rule of law, particularly to the principles of the Helsinki Final Act.

“We must make Russia clearly understand that it will not avoid liability for blatant disregard for norms and principles of international law, and its hopes for easing the pressure of sanctions are vain,” the President emphasized.

Also, President Poroshenko praised the intention of the Austrian chairmanship to increase technical capabilities of the OSCE SMM. This is crucially important for controlling compliance with the ceasefire regime and recording the facts of supply of Russian weaponry and servicemen in Donbas.

In addition, he urged the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to respond by all possible means to the violation of rights of Ukrainian citizens in the occupied territories by Moscow and facilitate liberation of political prisoners illegally detained by Russia and hostages in Donbas.

iy