News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE SMM Spot Report 17/2020: Members of the armed formations continued to deny SMM patrols passage at checkpoints in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions
Publishing date: 24 April 2020
On 23 and 24 April, members of the armed formations again denied SMM attempts to cross into non-government-controlled areas along official crossing routes: twice in Donetsk region and once in Luhansk region, while a further attempt to cross into government-controlled areas was also denied in Luhansk region...
OSCE Permanent Council held online in a historic first
Publishing date: 23 April 2020
VIENNA, 23 April 2020 – For the first time in its history, the OSCE Permanent Council was today held online. Complying with measures and restrictions introduced by the OSCE and the Austrian host authorities in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, delegations of the 57 participating States and 11 Partners for Co-operation held their first meeting via videoconference...
Comprehensive security approach needed for global response to COVID-19, OSCE leaders say ahead of International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace
Publishing date: 23 April 2020
TIRANA/COPENHAGEN/VIENNA/WARSAW/THE HAGUE, 23 April 2020 – The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace tomorrow will be marked with a heightened appreciation for the importance of comprehensive security and greater sense of urgency for the need to strengthen international co-operation, said the Chair of the OSCE Permanent Council and heads of OSCE institutions in a statement today...
OSCE parliamentarians focus on economic security fallout of COVID-19 pandemic in first-ever webinar
Publishing date: 23 April 2020
COPENHAGEN, 23 April 2020 – Some 85 participants joined the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s first webinar on the COVID 19 crisis on Wednesday, focused on the economic security fallout of the pandemic. Experts and parliamentarians shared views and lessons learned throughout the OSCE region and discussed the way forward for economic recovery...
Parliamentary security committee leaders recall 2017 death of OSCE monitor in Ukraine, lament restrictions on monitors’ movement
Publishing date: 23 April 2020
COPENHAGEN, 23 April 2020 – On the somber occasion of the third anniversary of the death of a member of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, senior OSCE Parliamentary Assembly officials called for an end to harassment and restrictions placed on international monitors in Ukraine, respect for principles of the Helsinki Final Act, and the restoration of Ukrainian territorial integrity...
Press Statement of Special Representative Grau after the regular Meeting of Trilateral Contact Group on 22 April 2020
Publishing date: 22 April 2020
KYIV, 22 April 2020 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, Ambassador Heidi Grau, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG and its working groups...
Applying principles of co-operation and comprehensive security to the coronavirus crisis
Publishing date: 22 April 2020
Article published at openDemocracy by Doris Barnett (MP, Germany)