Klimkin wants OSCE SMM to prolong operation in Donbas when spring comes

"We work on this [on idea to extend the mission's work]. The mission's mandate officially expires in March [2016]. We will prolong it [the mandate], I hope we will succeed in this," the minister said in an interview with Ukrainsky Tuzhden (The Ukrainian Week). Klimkin said that the SMM has to obtain a mandate to fully monitor the situation in Donbas. "I have high hopes that if one starts to lay down arms or at least we have control over arms, so that to bring it to specific areas and charge it to the OSCE, then the SMM should have a relevant mandate," Klimkin said. The minister noted that currently there was no possibility to have an UN mission in Donbas, as Russia is a member of the UN Security Council. Klimkin has said that he believes Ukraine should make use of other options, particularly to extend capabilities of OSCE SMM, as well as OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), which should send missions to Donbas and assess the security situation on the occupied territory. As reported, OSCE SMM Deputy Chief Monitor Alexander Hug said in an exclusive interview with DW on December 17 that the OSCE SMM in Donbas would be increased by up to 1300 employees until the end of March, 2016, with 800 monitors meant to work in Ukraine's eastern part. Hug also has said he hopes that the OSCE Permanent Council would reach consensus and would extend the mission's mandate beyond March 31 next year.