Ambassador Halit Çevik appointed as chief of OSCE’s monitoring mission for Ukraine
ANKARA
Ambassador Halit Çevik has been appointed as Turkey’s candidate for chief monitor of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine following a selection process from among six candidates.
“We welcome this decision and consider it to be a testament to the sense of confidence in Turkey and to Ambassador Çevik and his professional expertise and experience,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said late March 19 in a written statement.
The mission was established by the OSCE Permanent Council’s decision on March 21, 2014, aiming to contribute to peace, stability and security by monitoring Ukraine and facilitating dialogue on the ground in order to reduce tension and promote normalization.
Ertuğrul Apakan, a retired ambassador and former undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, has been serving as the mission’s chief monitor since April 2, 2014. His tenure will end soon.
“Turkey’s strong support to the SMM operating under the principles of impartiality and transparency will continue. We are confident that Ambassador Çevik, upon assuming his office, will also contribute to the mission’s success and thereby to regional peace and stability,” said the ministry.
