OSCE announces the date of the meeting initiated by Ukraine

A joint meeting of the two permanent OSCE decision-making bodies, the Permanent Council and the Forum for Security Co-operation, to consider a significant increase in Russia's military presence along the border with Ukraine and the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories will take place on Wednesday (14 April).

The Swedish chairmanship of the OSCE reports.

"A joint meeting of the Permanent Council and the Forum for Security Cooperation will be held on April 14 under the chairmanship of Sweden and Armenia.

According to the OSCE Vienna Document, the meeting is being held at the request of Ukraine regarding Russia's unusual military activities," the statement reads.

The Swedish OSCE Chairmanship also noted that the 2011 OSCE Vienna Document "is key to our common security."

The meeting will begin at 9.00.

Earlier it was reported that Ukraine initiated a joint meeting of the Permanent Council and the Forum for Security Cooperation on Monday, April 12, due to the concentration of Russian troops along the border with Ukraine. According to the procedure, such a meeting should be convened within no more than 48 hours.

During this meeting, with the participation of all 57 OSCE States, recommendations should be made to resolve the situation and reduce tensions caused by the increase in Russia's military presence along the border with Ukraine and in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.

The joint meeting of the two permanent OSCE decision-making bodies was initiated after Russia ignored a meeting of member states convened by Ukraine on April 10, where it was expected to receive clarification from Russia on the concentration of its troops near the Ukrainian border.

During this meeting, 39 participating countries officially stated that they were concerned and that they were interested in receiving a response from Russia.