国际英语新闻:OSCE sends military monitoring mission to Ukraine

VIENNA, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is sending unarmed military observers to Ukraine in response to its request, the organization announced Wednesday.

"The OSCE will be better placed (in Ukraine) to foster a political solution to the current crisis through dialogue," OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier said in a statement.

"It is my hope that this military visit will help to de-escalate tensions in Ukraine. By providing an objective assessment of the facts on the ground," said the OSCE chief.

The matter was discussed at a joint meeting of the Permanent Council and the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) in Vienna on Tuesday.

The organization decided to send 35 unarmed military personnel from 18 OSCE states to Ukraine, however, the latter expected all the OSCE states could send military representatives to the country from March 5 to 12.

The OSCE said the action is under its Vienna Document 2011, which allows for voluntary hosting of visits to dispel concerns about unusual military activities, and is the first time this mechanism has been activated, and the military visit participants are on their way to Ukraine now.

The Vienna Document 2011 is one of the measures developed by the OSCE, under which all participating states are required to share information on their military forces, equipment and defence planning.

The Document also provides for inspections and evaluation visits that can be conducted on the territory of any participating state that has armed forces.