Organization for Security and Co-operation in EuropeHigh Commissioner on National Minorities
Press releases and media advisories
OSCE Chairperson welcomes appointment of Astrid Thors as OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities
KYIV, 17 July 2013 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara, welcomed the appointment of Finnish politician Astrid Thors as OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities. Thors has been a Member of the Parliament of Finland since 2004. She has also served as a Minister of Migration and European Affairs of Finland and was a Member of the European Parliament. Her appointment as OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities was a consensus decision of all 57 OSCE participating States... ()
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities visits Serbia, discusses enhancing minority participation
The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Knut Vollebaek, visited Serbia from 12 to 14 June 2013 to discuss national minority issues with representatives of central and local government and community leaders...
OSCE Chairperson stresses need to respect and uphold rights of national minorities
THE HAGUE, 7 March 2013 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara, speaking today at an event marking the 20th anniversary of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) said lasting peace and security can only be achieved by respecting and upholding human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities...
On Thursday, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities will mark 20 years of preventing ethnic conflict
THE HAGUE, 6 March 2013 – An event to mark the 20th anniversary of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities will take place in The Hague tomorrow, 7 March...
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities to mark 20 years of preventing ethnic conflict
THE HAGUE, 25 February 2013 – An event to mark the 20th anniversary of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities will take place in The Hague on 7 March...
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities launches guidelines on integration of diverse societies
LJUBLJANA, 7 November 2012 – The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek presented guidelines on the integration of diverse societies at an event today in Ljubljana...
Serbia, Romania find steps forward on minority issues in consultations facilitated by OSCE High Commissioner
AMSTERDAM, 23 October 2012 – On 22-23 October, delegations from the Serbian and Romanian Governments met in the Netherlands for informal consultations under the auspices of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM), Ambassador Knut Vollebaek...
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities warns against demolishing ethnic-Georgian villages in South Ossetia
THE HAGUE, 22 August 2012 – OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek today asked the de-facto leadership of the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia to clarify a statement indicating that it plans to demolish ethnic-Georgian villages...
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities urges dialogue and compromise on ‘divisive’ language law in Ukraine
KYIV, 26 JULY 2012 – OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek described the situation surrounding a new language law in Ukraine as “deeply divisive” at the conclusion of his visit to the country today, and urged the authorities to engage in dialogue.