16 Nov 2016 18:39

OSCE SMM unable to carry out full monitoring in disengagement areas in Donbas due to mines

KYIV. Nov 16 (Interfax) - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Special Monitoring Mission (OSCE SMM) reported that its access to all three areas of disengagement of forces and hardware in Donbas continues to remain limited.

"Today again only limited access for OSCE SMM to Pervomaisk/Zolote, Stanytsia Luhanska and Petrivske/Bohdanivka disengagement areas - UAF [the Ukrainian Armed Forces], 'LPR' [the Luhansk People's Republic], 'DPR' [the Donetsk People's Republic] have failed to guarantee SMM's security (possible mines)," OSCE SMM said on Facebook on Wednesday.

The SMM's access remains restricted in all three areas, but the mission is able to partially monitor them, OSCE SMM said.

"SMM is ready/able to monitor, but needs access. JCCC [the Joint Center for Coordination and Control] should assist in ensuring safe & unhindered access for SMM, co-ordinate demining," the mission said.