[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 69 (Monday, April 24, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2482-S2483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                  OSCE

  Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I was saddened to learn that an American 
member of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine was killed 
this past weekend by a landmine. Joseph Stone was carrying out his 
duties in territory controlled by Russian-backed separatists. Two other 
members of the team--one from the Czech Republic and another from 
Germany--were injured.
  The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe controls 
these monitoring teams. They are comprised of unarmed civilians. The 
mission has been in the region since 2014, when, unfortunately, 
Russian-backed troops invaded Crimea. Had Russia lived up to the Minsk 
agreements and ceased supporting, directing, funding, and fueling 
separatists in this region, there would have been no need for the 
mission to continue.
  Sadly, that is not the case. This particular special monitoring 
mission currently fields roughly 700 monitors, with 600 of them in 
Donetsk and Luhansk.

[[Page S2483]]

Those who are part of this mission are unarmed civilians. They serve as 
the eyes and ears for the world in the conflict zone. They report on 
the near-constant violations of the cease-fire, as well as reporting on 
humanitarian needs of the population.
  They play an essential role in the understanding of the situation on 
the ground, often under extremely difficult circumstances and, 
certainly, as we have seen with Joseph Stone, dangerous circumstances. 
As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I often hear from our top 
military leaders about the importance of the OSCE and the work being 
done by the special monitoring missions.
  In late March, for example, during a hearing of the Armed Services 
Committee, GEN Curtis M. Scaparrotti, commander of the U.S. European 
Command and Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, called attention to the 
good work of OSCE in the region and the work of the monitoring 
missions. He confirmed in his testimony that ``Russia is directing 
combined Russian-separatist forces to target civilian infrastructure 
and threaten and intimidate OSCE monitors in order to turn up the 
pressure on Ukraine.'' He also said, ``Russian-led separatist forces 
continue to commit the majority of ceasefire violations despite 
attempts by the OSCE to broker a lasting ceasefire along the Line of 
Contact.''
  The tragic death of American Joseph Stone underscores the need for 
the OSCE monitors to have unfettered access across the front lines and 
across the border regions controlled by the separatists. This 
unfortunate tragedy is a result of this access not being granted.
  I commend the Austrian Foreign Minister, who serves as OSCE chair-in-
office, for calling attention to this tragedy and calling for an 
immediate investigation into these events. Those who are responsible 
for the death of Joseph Stone and the injury of the two other monitors 
should be held accountable.
  Joseph Stone died serving his country by serving as a part of this 
international effort, and I extend my condolences this evening to his 
family and friends.
  I once again call on the Russian leadership to put an end to the 
cycle of violence and to live up to its OSCE commitments. As chairman 
of the Helsinki Commission, the U.S. part of the OSCE Parliamentary 
Assembly, I think it is important for Members of the Senate and for 
Americans to understand the important role that Americans are playing 
in this effort.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida.