国际英语新闻:OSCE to send monitoring mission to Ukraine

VIENNA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) agrees on Friday to send a half-year monitoring mission to Ukraine.

The mission will initially compose of 100 observers, the OSCE's Permanent Council on Friday decided in a special session on Ukraine, aiming to contribute to reducing tensions and fostering peace, stability and security.

"The mission will gather information and report on the security situation as well as establish and report facts regarding incidents,"the OSCE noted.

The monitoring mission foresees deployment throughout Ukraine, advance teams will be deployed within 24 hours. The mission may be expanded to a total of up to 400 additional monitors according to the situation. Its mandate can be renewed for further six month periods by decision of the Permanent Council if requested by Ukraine.

But Russia said Crimea had become part of Russia, implying the mission should not cover the region.

The OSCE has sent observers to Ukraine after the crisis, which has been blocked access to Crimea.

The 57-member OSCE addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence-and security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities.