17 February 2019 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia Miroslav Lajčák met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin ahead of tomorrow’s discussion on Ukraine at the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

Minister Lajčák once again reiterated his deep regret about the decision of the Ukrainian authorities, which de-facto denies accreditation to ODIHR’s international observers with passports from the Russian Federation.

“Our Heads of State have all committed to invite observers from other participating States that wish to observe our elections, including through ODIHR,” the Chairperson-in-Office said. “I remain convinced that not accepting accreditation for all ODIHR’s observers is not in line with the OSCE commitments and therefore not in the best interest of the OSCE, Ukraine or its people”.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office intends to discuss the situation in and around Ukraine, along with other issues, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov later this week in Moscow.

Source: OSCE