Ukraine: OSCE office to open in Gorlovka, confirms Hug

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine announced at a press conference in Donetsk on Saturday that they will be establishing a permanent office in Gorlovka within the next 24 hours. The deputy head of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Alexander Hug claimed that "it will help us to see up close what is happening in these areas." Reportedly two more offices in addition to the one in Donetsk will be "opened in the near future" he said. The withdrawal of tanks in the Donetsk region was completed on Thursday. The next step will be the withdrawal of artillery systems from the region. However, Hug noted that there are still "heavy weapons" along the front line. The OSCE is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control and the promotion of human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections.