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News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Media freedom lies at the heart of modern democracies, OSCE experts say
Publishing date: 22 June 2020
Content type: Press release
What we do: Media freedom and development
VIENNA, 22 June 2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges to the freedoms of expression, information and the media, highlighting the need to find new approaches to digital technologies if we are to safeguard these freedoms that lie at the heart of the OSCE commitments to human rights and democracy. These topics will be discussed intensively during a two-day OSCE meeting starting today.
OSCE Special Representative encourages leaderships in Chisinau and Tiraspol to focus on constructive, forward-looking dialogue
Publishing date: 18 June 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Mission to Moldova
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
CHISINAU, 18 June 2020 – Concluding his visit to the Republic of Moldova, the Special Representative of Albania’s OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, Ambassador Thomas Mayr-Harting encouraged the Sides to focus on maintaining a constructive, results-oriented and forward-looking dialogue...
Multilateral action, diplomacy and international solidarity to combat the COVID-19 Pandemic in Afghanistan
Publishing date: 18 June 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Secretary General
A message of solidarity from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Vienna
Use new technologies to prevent and combat corruption and money-laundering, participants at OSCE Economic and Environmental meeting urge
Publishing date: 16 June 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities
What we do: Economic activities, Environmental activities
VIENNA, 16 June 2020 – We must do all we can to adapt and use new technologies in preventing and combating corruption and money-laundering, participants of a two-day virtual 2nd Preparatory meeting of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum (EEF) urge, which concluded today. Tackling corruption will be a critical element in the ability of many countries to successfully re-emerge from the COVID-19 crisis...
Albanian OSCE Chair leads discussion on role of multi-stakeholder initiatives and public-private partnerships in strengthening cyber resilience
Publishing date: 15 June 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Secretary General, OSCE Secretariat
What we do: Cyber/ICT Security
VIENNA, 15 June 2020 – How multi-stakeholder approaches and public-private partnerships can strengthen cyber/ICT security in the OSCE’s 57 participating States was the focus of today’s “Cyber/ICT Security Day” event, organized by Albania’s 2020 OSCE Chair in Vienna...
OSCE Permanent Council held online in a historic first
Publishing date: 23 April 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
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
Content type: Press release
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...
Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan and the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
Publishing date: 21 April 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, Minsk Group
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
VIENNA, 21 April 2020 – Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, and the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stéphane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) have held frequent consultations remotely since mid-March, including a joint video conference on 21 April. Andrzej Kasprzyk, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, also participated in these consultations...
Press communiqué of the Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions
Publishing date: 18 April 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
Brussels/Geneva/Tirana, 18 April 2020- We, the Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions (GID), recalling our statement from 31 March, and in the spirit of the call of UN Secretary General Guterres, strongly urge all the GID participants to set aside differences and to refrain from actions that could lead to increased tension...
Statement by OSCE Special Representative for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings on need to strengthen anti-trafficking efforts in a time of crisis
Publishing date: 3 April 2020
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings
What we do: Combating trafficking in human beings
VIENNA, 3 April 2020 – Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, today issued the following statement, in co-ordination with Albania’s OSCE Chairmanship, to the OSCE participating States on the COVID-19 pandemic. He urged that, “it is precisely when our global community is convulsed by a crisis of this magnitude that our obligation to combat the exploitation of vulnerable people becomes most acute”...