Ukrainian Rada's delegation not to attend OSCE PA winter session

MOSCOW. Feb 20 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada's delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) will ignore the assembly's winter session in protest against a Russian delegation's participation, Yevgenia Kravchuk, a delegation member from the pro-presidential Servant of the People parliamentary faction, said on Sunday.

"We won't be taking part in any of the Parliamentary Assembly's official events. But we're going to travel to Vienna to negotiate with our partners on what is to be done and how the OSCE, or at least the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, can overcome the crisis," Ukrainian media quoted Kravchuk as saying during the national TV marathon.

The Ukrainian delegation insists on reforming the OSCE PA, as "the possibility that one or two countries can block all decisions" cannot be tolerated, she said.

She said Austria has issued visas to members of the Russian delegation planning to take part in the OSCE PA winter session.

Members of the Ukrainian delegation, along with compatriots staying in Austria, will be protesting against the Russian delegation's participation in the OSCE PA session in Vienna, she said.

"Along with our Ukrainian community members, we're working on protests near the Hofburg [the palace in Vienna where the OSCE PA session is to take place], but we won't attend the sessions," Kravchuk said.

As reported earlier, the 22nd winter session of the OSCE PA is scheduled for February 23-24 in Vienna.