January 2016 Plenary Meetings of the Permanent Council

Commemoration of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day: – Address by the Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, Ambassador Szabolcs Takács; – Address by the Special Representative of the German Federal Foreign Office for Relations with Jewish Organizations, Issues Relating to Anti-Semitism, Holocaust Remembrance and International Aspects of Sinti and Roma Issues, Ambassador Felix Klein. The Permanent Council adopted Decision No. 1198 on the extension of the deployment of OSCE observers to two Russian checkpoints on the Russian-Ukrainian border (Netherlands-European Union, interpretative statement 1; United States of America, interpretative statement 2; Ukraine, interpretative statement 3; Russian Federation, interpretative statement 4). Ongoing aggression against Ukraine and violations of OSCE principles and commitments by the Russian Federation. Situation in Ukraine and the need to implement the Minsk agreements. Abduction and illegal detention of Ukrainian citizens by the Russian Federation. The death penalty in Belarus. Freedom of expression in Turkey. The death penalty in the United States of America. Anniversary of the murder of journalist Mr. H. Dink. Report on the activities of the Chairperson-in-Office. Parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan, to be held on 20 March 2016. Launch of a new strategy to promote freedom of expression and independent media in Norway. Appeal for nominations for the Nansen Refugee Award.