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Switzerland to Hold Consultations on Extending OSCE Mandate at Russian Border Checkpoints

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The Swiss Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is planning to hold consultations next week on the possibility of extending the mandate of the OSCE monitory mission at the Gukovo and Donetsk checkpoints on the Russian-Ukrainian border, Russia's representative at the OSCE told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

VIENNA, October 9 (RIA Novosti) - The Swiss Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is planning to hold consultations next week on the possibility of extending the mandate of the OSCE monitory mission at the Gukovo and Donetsk checkpoints on the Russian-Ukrainian border, Russia's representative at the OSCE told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

"The Swiss said today, that next week they will hold consultations on extending the mandate [of the checkpoint mission]," Andrei Rudenko said, adding that the decision is to be made before October 23 – the date the current mandate expires.

Earlier on Thursday, Rudenko told journalists that Russia would agree to extending the current mandate by three months, but finds the proposal, voiced by the US and EU representatives, on extending it to other Russian checkpoints and the territory between them, premature.

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine was deployed in late March following a request to the OSCE by Ukraine's government and a consensus agreement by all 57 OSCE participating States. The monitors are to contribute to reducing tensions and fostering peace, stability and security in Ukraine.

In July, Russia agreed to international monitors at its Gukovo and Donetsk checkpoints on the Russian-Ukrainian border.

Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the Ukrainian crisis in a telephone conversation with OSCE Chief Didier Burkhalter. The two politicians agreed that the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine needed to be strengthened.

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