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News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Geneva International Discussions remain unique and indispensable forum, Co-chairs tell OSCE Permanent Council
Publishing date: 6 November 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
VIENNA, 6 November 2014 – When addressing the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today, the co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) stressed that the Geneva process is the only platform bringing together all stakeholders to discuss security-related issues and to work on the humanitarian needs of the conflict-affected population. The co-chairs urged participants in the GID to work constructively in order to achieve progress in addressing the consequences of the 2008 conflict in Georgia...
In the wake of the floods: Strategic preparation, co-ordination needed at national and regional levels, South-east Europe conference concludes
Publishing date: 6 November 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
SARAJEVO, 6 November 2014 – Sharing information and solutions to reduce flood risk, and enhancing cross-border cooperation in mitigating risk and flood protection was the focus of a two-day regional conference that concluded in Sarajevo today. The conference was organized by the Security Ministry of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the OSCE Mission to BiH, the UNDP Office in BiH and the RACVIAC-Centre for Security Co-operation...
OSCE Mission to Montenegro facilitates public discussion on implementation of Free Access to Information Act
Publishing date: 6 November 2014
Content type: News
Where we are: OSCE Mission to Montenegro
What we do: Media freedom and development, Rule of law
The implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information was the focus of a public discussion organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, with support of the Montenegrin Agency for the Protection of Personal Data and Free Access to Information, on 6 November 2014 in Bijelo Polje...
OSCE helps advance local self-governance reform in Kazakhstan
Publishing date: 6 November 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Programme Office in Astana, OSCE Secretariat
What we do: Democratization, Economic activities, Good governance
ASTANA, 6 November 2014 – Government officials, parliamentarians, representatives of regional and local bodies of power, international organizations and civil society gathered at a roundtable discussion today in Astana to discuss the status of implementation of ongoing local self-governance reform in Kazakhstan...
Weekly update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 10:00 (Moscow time), 5 November 2014
Publishing date: 5 November 2014
Content type: Weekly report
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
Kamensk-Shakhtinsky, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) is operating at full capacity. Cross-border traffic flows slowed down slightly at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs) and the total number of border-crossings was the lowest since August. As in previous weeks, more people left than entered the Russian Federation (RF) at the two observed BCPs. The OM continued to observe a considerable number of persons in military-style clothing, some of them apparently belonging to Cossack units, crossing the border in both directions. However, their numbers also decreased from the previous weeks. Three Russian convoys crossed into Ukraine at the Donetsk BCP...
U.S. midterm elections demonstrated commitment to democracy, but role of money increasingly problematic, say OSCE parliamentary observers
Publishing date: 5 November 2014
WASHINGTON, 5 November 2014 – The 2014 United States midterm elections were another demonstration of the country’s commitment to democracy, as voters could readily inform themselves about their political options and could freely cast their ballots, observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) concluded. However, the increasing role of money in political campaigns threatened to overshadow the real issues at stake in the elections. While the elections benefitted from extensive media coverage, with diverse and critical analysis of many aspects of the campaigns, the actual interest of the public appeared limited...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 18:00 (Kyiv time), 4 November 2014
Publishing date: 5 November 2014
Content type: Daily report
Where we are: OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (closed)
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
The provisions of the Minsk Protocol and Memorandum as well as the activities of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination remained at the focus of SMM monitoring. In Donetsk and Luhansk the situation remained tense. In Donetsk the SMM heard shelling from the northern outskirts of the city...