Iceland participates in OSCE‘s mission to Ukraine

Mr Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, has decided to deploy an Icelandic civilian delegate to participate in a visit to Ukraine organised by the OSCE participating states upon a request from authorities in Kiev. The OSCE team consists of 43 representatives from 23 OSCE participating nations.

„In light of actions from Russian authorities, it is important to put words into actions. The visit by the OSCE‘s participating states to the Crimea is important to shed a light on the situation in the Crimea. This is a test case for OSCE‘s mechanisms to uphold international commitments on peace and stability. As an OSCE participating state, it is Iceland‘s responsibility to take part when the situation is so grave,“the Foreign Minister said.

The visit is taking place under Chapter III of the Vienna Document 2011, which allows for voluntary hosting of visits to dispel concerns about unusual military activities. Ukraine has requested all OSCE participating States to send military representatives from 5 to 12 March 2014, starting in Odessa. This is the first time this mechanism has been activated.