No plans to arm OSCE observers in Donbas yet - LPR envoy
LUHANSK. Jan 25 (Interfax) - Envoy of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) in the Contact Group on settlement of the situation in Donbas Vladislav Deinego has discussed with OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) Principal Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug the possibility of arming the SMM observers in Donbas.
"We once again discussed the situation with the possibility of arming the OSCE mission and again came to the common conclusion that this is impossible at this stage," Deinego told journalists on Wednesday.
He said that in order to make a decision on arming the OSCE mission in Donbas the consent of all member countries of the Organization is needed.
"It is particularly necessary to make quite serious changes in the OSCE charter documents, which is believed to be quite a complicated procedure; the OSCE is not considering such prospects at this stage," the LPR envoy also said.
"There is nothing of it [the arming of the OSCE SMM], this is not expected in the near, foreseeable future," Deinego said.
On Monday, Hug said that he planned to meet with LPR representatives to discuss several issues, including the disengagement of forces and hardware in the Stanytsia Luhanska area.