SMM's mandate also includes access to Crimea – U.S. Mission to OSCE
She said this at a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council on Wednesday, March 31, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
"The United States reaffirms its unwavering commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters. We note that the Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine has a mandate to work throughout Ukraine, including Crimea," Austrian said, commenting on the decision to extend the OSCE SMM's mandate.
She added that all participating States must co-operate with the SMM and "must take no action to obstruct its access to Crimea or any other region of Ukraine."
"We call on Ukraine, Russia, and the forces Russia arms, trains, leads, and fights alongside, to ensure that the SMM has unfettered movement throughout the entire territory of Ukraine, and to guarantee the safety and security of SMM monitors as they carry out their duties," the U.S. diplomat said.
The OSCE Permanent Council on Wednesday approved the extension of the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine for another year. The delegations of the 57 participating states also approved the OSCE SMM's budget for the new annual period - from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
op