News and press releases

The Programme Office in Bishkek supported a two-day roundtable discussion on implementation issues of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in the context of Kyrgyzstan’s National Action Plan (NAP) on 7 and 8 September in Kosh-Kol village, Issyk-Kul region...

VIENNA, 13 September 2017 – The military plays an important role in moving forward the Women, Peace and Security agenda by increasing women's representation in the army and enhancing their role in both conflict-related and peacetime operations, said speakers in the session of the Forum for Security Co-operation held today under Serbia’s Chairmanship in Vienna...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote; in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM observed a demining unit checking a roadside leading to the bridge and, subsequently, a crew installing electric poles along the same roadside. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere.* The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near government-controlled Ptyche, and non-government-controlled Zaichenko and Azov. In government-controlled areas, an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle spotted a military encampment adjacent to residential areas...

WARSAW, 12 September 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today condemned a death threat directed at Vladimir Otašević, a journalist with the Montenegrin newspaper Dan, and called for a swift investigation...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. It continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and recorded a ceasefire violation near the Zolote disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere.* The Mission saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Khlibodarivka and Zhelanne. An SMM unmanned aerial vehicle spotted 40 tanks near Manuilivka and aerial imagery revealed almost 60 military-type trucks in the security zone near Kalmiuske. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Shchastia and Artema. The Mission continued to monitor the situation of schools near the contact line on both sides. The SMM visited two border areas not under government control...

Warsaw, 12 September 2017- Following last night's court decision denying the release of six Cumhuriyet journalists and executives, Harlem Désir, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and David Kaye, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, emphasized the urgent need to restore media freedom and freedom of expression in Turkey...

WARSAW, 11 September 2017 – Dialogue and the open exchange of ideas among countries and with civil society are vital to democracy and the promotion of human rights, speakers said today at the opening of the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw...