News and press releases

Access to finance, tax regulations and cross border trades have been the main topics of discussions at the OSCE-supported workshops on entrepreneurship capacity-building in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR) of Azerbaijan. The event, which took place from 6 to 8 November, was organized by the OSCE Office in Baku, in conjunction with the Entrepreneurs Confederation and Foreign Affairs Office of NAR.

Improving the system for resolving election-related disputes in Serbia was the focus of a roundtable discussion organized by the OSCE Mission to Serbia in co-operation with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) on 6 November 2013, in Belgrade.

Improving cross-border police co-operation and fighting crime more effectively by using forensic evidence, was the focus of a regional conference organized by the OSCE Mission in co-operation with the Interior Ministry at the Danilovgrad Forensic Centre, Montenegro, from 1 to 2 November.

Intolerance against religious groups remains a challenge to stability, democracy and human rights in the OSCE region and governments need to develop clear strategies to prevent its spread, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office’s personal...

DUSHANBE, 7 November 2013 – The 6 November presidential election in Tajikistan took place peacefully, but restrictive candidate-registration requirements resulted in a lack of pluralism and genuine choice, the international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today. Extensive state media coverage of the official activities of the incumbent provided him with a significant advantage. In a positive step, the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER) took measures to enhance the transparency and efficiency of election administration. Significant shortcomings were noted on election day.

DUSHANBE, 7 November 2013 – The 6 November presidential election in Tajikistan took place peacefully, but restrictive candidate-registration requirements resulted in a lack of pluralism and genuine choice, the international observers concluded...

Twenty-two senior and field managers from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine’s headquarters, training institutions, and 15 regional emergency departments learned about International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG) at a workshop in Kyiv, organised by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine from 29 to 31 October 2013...