News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office voices concern over situation in eastern Ukraine to news agency Tanjug
Publishing date: 23 January 2015
The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić told Serbia’s news agency Tanjug on 23 January 2015 that he is “deeply concerned about the escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, particularly the use of heavy weapons”, including unguided Grad rockets...
OSCE PA human rights Chair expresses concern about sentencing of Tajikistani lawyer
Publishing date: 23 January 2015
COPENHAGEN, 23 January 2015 – The Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), today expressed concern about the sentencing of prominent Tajikistani lawyer and opposition figure Shukhrat Kudratov and the state of civil and political liberties in the country...
OSCE Mission to Skopje supports opening of Common Contact Centre to fight transnational threats
Publishing date: 23 January 2015
The OSCE-supported Common Contact Centre at Blace border crossing point was officially opened on 23 January 2014. The Centre will contribute to fighting transnational organized crime through strengthening and sustaining the country’s existing cross-border co-operation with neighbouring Kosovo...
Holocaust remembrance helps promote mutual respect in contemporary societies emphasized at OSCE Permanent Council
Publishing date: 22 January 2015
Remembering the Holocaust reminds us that our societies still have lessons to learn and more work to do to counter prejudice, anti-Semitism and xenophobia was the main message at the 22 January meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, which was dedicated to commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day (27 January)...
OSCE Mission to Skopje donates equipment to Forestry Police
Publishing date: 22 January 2015
The OSCE Mission to Skopje donated furniture and IT equipment to the Forestry Police on 22 January 2015 in Skopje. The aim is to strengthen its capacities in dealing with security-related incidents and fighting organized forestry crime.
OSCE Representative welcomes court decision in Slovakia dismissing defamation charges against newspaper
Publishing date: 21 January 2015
VIENNA, 21 January 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović said today that Monday’s court decision to dismiss defamation charges against the daily newspaper Nový Čas contributes to media freedom and upholds the right of journalists to report on matters of public interest...
OSCE/ODIHR publishes handbook on observing electoral campaign finance
Publishing date: 21 January 2015
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 19 January 2015 released a publication to provide better guidance for election observers in examining campaign finance as part of the overall assessment of elections.