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4/23 ANNIVERSARY OF JOSEPH STONE'S DEATH
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HON. GWEN MOORE
of wisconsin
in the house of representatives
Thursday, April 22, 2021
Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mark the fourth anniversary of the tragic death of Joseph Stone, a U.S. paramedic serving with the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in Ukraine.
My heart and prayers go out to his family who still feel his absence each and every day.
Joseph Stone was killed on April 23, 2017, when his vehicle struck a landmine in Russian-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine. Born in my district in Milwaukee, he was a courageous young man whose life ended much too soon.
Stone gave his life serving a noble mission: helping those who document the human suffering inflicted by the Kremlin's senseless assault on Ukraine. The mission he served with, established in 2014, monitors implementation of the Minsk Agreements, which were designed to bring peace to eastern Ukraine. It is an unarmed, civilian mission that serves as the international community's eyes and ears on the security and humanitarian situation in the war zone. The SMM operates under a mandate adopted by consensus among the 57 OSCE participating States, including the United States, Russia, and Ukraine.
The tragedy of Stone's death--a direct result of this needless conflict--is compounded today by the continuation of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Recent weeks have seen a dramatic escalation by Russia, which has amassed forces and equipment on Ukraine's land and maritime borders and in Crimea, which Russia continues to illegally occupy. Moscow's actions are accompanied by boldfaced denial that these threatening moves should be of any concern to Ukraine or its friends.
The latest Russian escalation only underlines the crucial role of the SMM and the need to ensure that the mission Joseph Stone died serving can fully carry out its mandate. Moscow currently blocks the SMM from accessing Russia-occupied Crimea. And in parts of Ukraine where the SMM is able to operate, its monitors are harassed, blocked, and threatened on a daily basis by Russia-led forces, who also interfere with the SMM's equipment by jamming UAVs or blinding static cameras.
Madam Speaker, all OSCE states, including Russia, must do everything possible to support the OSCE monitors who, to this day, face unacceptable threats and restrictions as they shine a light on the daily cost of this war. The monitors must be allowed unfettered access throughout Ukraine--including Crimea. And rather than deploying more troops, Russia should be working with the OSCE to help deescalate the situation, including to support the deployment of more monitors to prevent further conflict and provocation moves. The mission's efforts will remain crucial in ensuring the international community has full visibility on the Kremlin's malignant actions against Ukraine.
Madam Speaker, please join me today in marking the solemn anniversary of Joseph Stone's death. Let us use this solemn occasion to redouble efforts to work for peace. I also want to use this opportunity to applaud the men and women of the SMM who are still serving today, even as Russia continues to escalate. Their work is a critical part of efforts to restore Ukraine's territorial integrity and ensure respect for its sovereignty.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 70
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