OSCE may ask Belarus to bring police mission into Donbas

Military expert Aliaksandr Alesin explains what is the OSCE police mission doing in Eastern Ukraine and what trust would the armed representatives of Belarus have if they appear in the combat zone.

The Normandy Four supported the idea of deploying the OSCE police mission in Donbas and beginning of consultations on that issue, the press service of Ukraine’s president Petro Poroshenko reported on Tuesday. In his turn, Alexander Zakharchenko, the head of the so-called Donetsk republic made it clear that armed peacekeepers would hardly be welcome. Could the initiative be put into practice in such an environment? Military expert Aliaksandr Alesin comments upon it to Belsat.

Belsat.eu: You say that the consent of the both parties is needed. But the self-proclaimed DPR has already said they would not like to see the armed representatives of the OSCE in their area. Is it possible to implement the plan in this situation?

Alesin: In this case, negotiations should be held. If there is no agreement, the mission is impossible.

Belsat.eu: If OSCE police mission is yet to be brought into, what functions will it have?

Alesin: Well, they will monitor the implementation of the separation agreement, stop soldiers and armed illegal groups from intruding into this area, prevent illegal activities, looting, robbery, etc. They will keep an eye on the both sides’ taking heavy weapons away from the specified line. Thus, it will be an observation mission; they will have arms only for self-defense.

Belsat.eu: You mentioned Lukashenka’s statement about the possible involvement of Belarusian peacekeepers. Could the world imagine that the armed representatives of Belarus will appear in the combat zone? Would the both sides trust them? Or was the statement just a populist step?

Alesin: I think that the sides would trust Belarusian and Kazakh peacekeepers the most. Of course, they are not like any strong military forces, but I guarantee that their credibility would be great due to the balanced position of Belarus, and Kazakhstan. I do not rule oul that the OSCE may appeal to these countries [over the case].

Except for CSTO forces, we have a peacekeeping company which can independently carry out any mission under a UN mandate. This is the peacekeeping company prepared as part of the program ‘For the Sake of Peace’. It was trained in accordance with NATO standards, they speak English, they have appropriate equipment. Therefore, they can carry out any mission in the framework of the partnership, ‘For the Sake of Peace’ and the mission under a UN mandate. It is a purely Belarusian peacekeeping company which is not part of CSTO forces.

Belsat.eu: It means they will be able to perform a mission under the auspices of the OSCE as well?

Alesin: If the OSCE appeals to Belarus and Belarus gives its consent, the company could be engaged.