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News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE leaders condemn Russia’s ongoing missile attacks on Ukraine
Publishing date: 26 May 2023
Content type: Press statement
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, OSCE Secretariat
SKOPJE/VIENNA/COPENHAGEN, 26 May 2023 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, President of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Margareta Cederfelt and Secretary General Roberto Montella today made the following statement:
OSCE Troika, Secretary General, OSCE PA President and Secretary General strenuously condemn Russia’s attacks in Ukraine’s civilian centres
Publishing date: 10 October 2022
Content type: Press release
Where we are: Troika, OSCE Secretary General, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
WARSAW/SKOPJE/STOCKHOLM/COPENHAGEN/VIENNA, 10 October 2022- OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, Foreign Minister of Sweden Ann Linde, and Foreign Minister of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, representing the OSCE Troika, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt (MP, Sweden), OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Roberto Montella strenuously condemned Russia’s recent attacks against Ukraine’s population in the following statement:
OSCE heads condemn plan to hold illegal “referenda” in occupied territories of Ukraine
Publishing date: 20 September 2022
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE Secretary General, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
What we do: Democratization
COPENHAGEN/WARSAW/VIENNA, 20 September 2022 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt and Matteo Mecacci, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, condemned the plans to hold “referenda” on Ukraine’s occupied territories.
Human rights panel to focus on Ukraine ahead of 2013 OSCE Chairmanship
Publishing date: 15 June 2012
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
COPENHAGEN, 15 June 2012 – With former political leaders and human rights defenders imprisoned in several countries, a committee of parliamentarians from 55 nations is now considering a resolution that would demand all political prisoners be released and call for countries leading the OSCE to “set the standard” on human rights...
Parliamentarians debate ways to increase OSCE’s support for peace in Ukraine
Publishing date: 24 March 2022
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
COPENHAGEN, 23 March 2022 – Parliamentarians, the OSCE and international partners must do everything in their power to support peace and security in Ukraine, participants said at an online meeting today organized by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Held as part of the OSCE PA’s Call for Action – Helsinki +50 initiative and moderated by OSCE PA High-Level Expert Lamberto Zannier, the meeting focused on the role of the OSCE in addressing the war in Ukraine and its consequences, and featured the participation of high-level OSCE officials and dozens of OSCE parliamentarians.
Joint statement by OSCE Chairman-in-Office Rau, Secretary General Schmid, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Cederfelt and Secretary General Montella on Russia’s recognition of certain areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as independent
Publishing date: 21 February 2022
Content type: Press statement
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, OSCE Secretariat
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
WARSAW/VIENNA, 21 February 2022 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Foreign Minister of Poland, Zbigniew Rau, OSCE Secretary General Schmid, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt (MP, Sweden) and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Roberto Montella strongly condemned the decision by Russia to recognize certain areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as independent and made the following statement:
With ongoing war in Ukraine, parliamentarians adopt Birmingham Declaration with recommendations to build peace and security in the OSCE area
Publishing date: 6 July 2022
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
BIRMINGHAM, 6 July 2022 – In Birmingham, OSCE parliamentarians today voted to condemn in the strongest terms the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine, demanding an immediate ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Russian troops. Containing three general committee resolutions, plus ten supplementary items dealing with a wide range of topics, the Birmingham Declaration was approved with overwhelming support. It was adopted at the close of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 29th Annual Session, which took place 2-6 July in Birmingham, United Kingdom.
OSCE PA Annual Session closes in Birmingham with re-election of President Cederfelt and other leaders chosen for coming year
Publishing date: 6 July 2022
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
BIRMINGHAM, 6 July 2022 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt (Sweden) was re-elected in Birmingham today along with Vice-Presidents and Committee Officers. The new Vice-Presidents include Irene Charalambides (Cyprus), Rt. Hon. Mark Pritchard (United Kingdom), Pere Joan Pons (Spain), and Michael Georg Link (Germany).
OSCE parliamentarians condemn Russian military action in Ukraine, call for de-escalation at Vienna Winter Meeting
Publishing date: 24 February 2022
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
VIENNA, 24 February 2022 – Referring to the Russian military operation in Ukraine as “indefensible” and a “gross violation of international law,” OSCE parliamentarians gathered in the hybrid Winter Meeting urged an immediate end to the hostilities and a return to diplomacy. Some 28 parliamentarians took the floor in an open debate, with most expressing clear opposition to the incursion and deep concern for the lives of civilians in Ukraine.
Countering risks of human trafficking amid refugee flow focus of visit to Moldova by OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President and Special Representative
Publishing date: 22 April 2022
Content type: Press release
Where we are: Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, OSCE Mission to Moldova
What we do: Combating trafficking in human beings, Gender equality
CHISINAU, 23 April 2022 – Countering the risks of human trafficking amid the humanitarian crisis caused by attack on Ukraine was at the centre of a two-day visit to Moldova by the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Margareta Cederfelt (Sweden), and the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Valiant Richey.