News and press releases

TUNIS, 3 May 2016 – Preventing and countering violent extremism was the focus of a regional roundtable discussion for North African Youth, from OSCE Mediterranean Partner Countries Algeria, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, as well and Libya, which concluded today in Tunis...

For the fourth consecutive day the SMM continued to observe a low number of ceasefire violations, with 73 explosions recorded in Donetsk region, and two in Luhansk region. It observed the presence of weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines. The Mission continued to observe civilians crossing the contact line in both directions. It observed the commemoration of events that took place on 2 May 2014 in Odessa. The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted on both sides of the contact line...

VIENNA, 3 May 2016 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed a decision by President Dalia Grybauskaitė to veto amendments to Lithuania’s Criminal Code that could severely affect the public’s right to information...

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 3 May 2016 – Respectable standards of freedom of press have been achieved in Kosovo over the years, creating a vibrant and diverse media scene- but these efforts need to continue in order to address remaining challenges, said Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo Jean-Claude Schlumberger today on World Press Freedom Day...

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek, in co-operation with the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry, organized a four-day training course for 20 officers on model neighborhood inspector held from 26 to 29 April 2016 at the community policing training center in Osh city...

VIENNA, 3 May 2016 – On World Press Freedom Day, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović, stressed the importance of free and independent media for the development of democracy...

The SMM observed a low number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region, and none in Luhansk region. It observed the re-opening of the crossing route at Stanytsia Luhanska, the continued closure of the one in Olenivka, and high numbers of people crossing elsewhere. The Mission attempted to monitor in border areas outside government control but was prevented from doing so. The Mission continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. It observed the presence of numerous weapons in violation of the respective withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line. It was restricted in its freedom of movement, including at one heavy weapons holding area and at a border crossing point, both in areas not controlled by the Government...