US wants OSCE observers in Ukraine

The US has called on the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to “immediately” send an observer mission to crisis-stricken Ukraine.

“We call today for OSCE observers to be sent immediately to Ukraine,” US ambassador to the OSCE, Daniel Baer, said in a speech released on Monday, to the organization.

The OSCE “should make the decision today to move forward with plans and preparation for a monitoring mission immediately,” Baer stated.

He also noted that the US had won tentative support from most of the OSCE members for the move to help defuse the crisis.

“I was very heartened to hear a loud chorus of support from around the room … for the use of monitors, and indeed an openness by the Russian delegation, which didn’t say a great deal today and reserved comment for tomorrow but left the door open on the topic of monitors.”

Baer also said the mission would examine human rights concerns and treatment of minority populations, prevent conflict, and promote respect for territorial integrity in Ukraine.

However, the mission is likely to require a consensus decision, which would need Russia’s support.

Russia has reportedly dispatched hundreds of troops to the strategic Ukrainian Crimea region after Russian parliament gave the green-light to President Putin to deploy troops to Crimea.

In response, Ukraine has called up all military reservists in preparation for a possible military conflict in the region.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry says Russia could be ousted from the Group of Eight (G8) developed nations over its deployment of troops, warning that Moscow will suffer a loss of trade and investment if it does not retreat.

Also on Saturday, President Barack Obama called Russia’s build-up of its forces in Crimea a “violation of Ukrainian sovereignty” and called on Putin to order withdrawal of Russian forces from Crimea back to their bases.

Putin, however, responded that “Russia retains the right to protect its interests and the Russian-speaking population of those areas.”