News and press releases

VIENNA, 14 January 2016 – Germany, as this year’s Chair of the OSCE, aims to steer the Organization as a platform for real and honest dialogue, said Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in his first address as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to the Permanent Council in Vienna today...

VIENNA, 14 January 2016 – OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier and ODIHR Director Michael Georg Link called today on political party leaders in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to act in the interest of all of the country’s citizens and take all necessary steps to ensure the full and timely realization of all elements of the Przino Agreement...

The SMM observed a number of ceasefire violations in the Donbas, including at and around Donetsk airport, and close to Horlivka. The Mission received from the Ukrainian authorities additional baseline information related to the withdrawal of heavy weapons, including withdrawal locations. The SMM did not experience any concrete freedom-of-movement restrictions in the Donbas. The Mission visited Kominternove, and a border area not controlled by the Government...

The SMM observed a calm situation in most parts of Donbas, including at and around Donetsk airport, but recorded numerous ceasefire violations close to Horlivka. The Mission found a number of previously-observed weapons missing from a Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding area. It experienced numerous freedom-of-movement restrictions* in areas not controlled by the Government, in particular in areas in and around Kominternove...

The SMM observed over 20 ceasefire violations involving the use of mortar, all in the wider area of Kominternove, but no ceasefire violations in the area of Donetsk airport. All ceasefire violations in Luhansk region were assessed as live-fire exercises. The Mission saw armed men in Kominternove and spoke to residents. The SMM followed up on casualties from alleged exchange of fire in Zaitseve on 9 January. The SMM followed up on tensions between religious communities in western Ukraine and monitored a peaceful commemoration in Odessa...

WARSAW, 11 January 2016 – In an open letter published today, marking 14 years since the opening of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), joined with four UN independent human rights experts in calling on the United States government to close the facility and hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations against detainees, both present and past...

The SMM observed a number of ceasefire violations, mainly around Donetsk airport, in Horlivka and in the wider area of Kominternove. In particular, there was a significant increase in the number of explosions observed in Horlivka. The Mission liaised with both sides of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination to facilitate adherence to the ceasefire and evacuate an injured woman in Zaitseve. For the first time in over a month, the SMM had access to the border area of Sverdlovsk, where it observed a calm situation...