News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE PA Autumn Meeting begins with focus on transnational threats, challenges of the Mediterranean region and the crisis in Syria
Publishing date: 14 October 2013
BUDVA, Montenegro, 14 October 2013 – Parliamentarians from across the OSCE area have gathered for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Autumn Meeting in Budva, where today they heard addresses from OSCE PA President Ranko Krivokapic and Milo Đukanovic, Prime Minister of Montenegro.
Georgian Foreign Minister addresses OSCE, calls for active response to security and human rights situation, restoration of OSCE presence, confidence-building
Publishing date: 10 October 2013
VIENNA, 10 October 2013 – Georgian Foreign Minister Maja Panjikidze outlined foreign and domestic policy priorities, spoke about current security challenges in the region, and called for active engagement of the international community and OSCE in addressing them, in a speech to the OSCE Permanent Council today...
Election in Azerbaijan undermined by limitations on fundamental freedoms, lack of level playing field and significant problems on election day, international observers say
Publishing date: 10 October 2013
BAKU, 10 October 2013 – The 9 October presidential election in Azerbaijan was undermined by limitations on the freedoms of expression, assembly and association that did not guarantee a level playing field for candidates, the international observers concluded in a statement released today. Continued allegations of candidate and voter intimidation and a restrictive media environment marred the campaign.
OSCE media freedom representative says developments in Lithuania harmful to freedom of expression
Publishing date: 9 October 2013
VIENNA, 10 October 2013 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović expressed her concern today about the Radio and Television Commission’s decision to suspend the broadcasting of the First Baltic Channel’s (PBK) programmes for three months in Lithuania...
Preventing conflicts over access to water requires regional co-operation, says OSCE Secretary General at Budapest Water Summit
Publishing date: 8 October 2013
Water can become a potential source of conflict both within countries and between countries that depend on the same water sources and is now widely considered an essential element of national and regional security. Managing water resources to prevent conflicts, making full use of existing multilateral tools to maintain and enhance regional security, were key topics of OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier’s address to the Budapest Water Summit on 8 October 2013.
OSCE/ODIHR Director disappointed by Spanish decision against monitoring of Madrid demonstration
Publishing date: 27 September 2013
WARSAW, 27 September 2013 – Ambassador Janez Lenarčič, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), expressed his disappointment today following notification from the Spanish authorities that monitors from the Office would not be welcome at an anti-monarchy demonstration in Madrid on Saturday...
Universal human rights central to security, say speakers at OSCE conference in Warsaw
Publishing date: 23 September 2013