Ukraine calls on OSCE participating states to join Crimean Platform

"Let me inform you that Ukraine has proposed a new consultation and coordination format - the Crimean Platform - in order to increase the effectiveness of the international response to the ongoing occupation of Crimea," Ambassador Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna said at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting in Vienna on Thursday, an Ukrinform own correspondent reported.

According to him, the initiative aims to gather under its "umbrella" all thematic events and initiatives on the Crimean issue within international organizations, including the OSCE, other international governmental and non-governmental forums.

"We hope that the participating states will join our efforts within this platform, including during the forthcoming Ministerial Council in Tirana," Tsymbaliuk said.

OSCE is currently involved in resolving the conflict in Donbas through the activities of the SMM and the TCG, but "this is not the case with Crimea as the Russian occupation authorities continue to deny access for international monitoring mechanisms," the Ukrainian diplomat noted.

"Public statements and positions are important for the aggressor state to know that its actions are not forgotten and that an adequate reaction awaits them," Tsymbaliuk stressed.

As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky presented the concept of the international Crimean Platform to the UN on September 23 and invited international partners to join the initiative for de-occupation of Crimea.

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