News and press releases

Serbia’s 2024 local elections were well run and freedom of expression and assembly were respected, but the dominance of the ruling party as well as the fragmentation of the opposition reduced their competitiveness, and concerns remained about pressure on public sector employees and misuse of public

With climate change intensifying, water scarcity growing and an increasing unpredictability in the global water supply, this year’s annual World Water Week conference in Stockholm gathered international actors, including OSCE representatives, to identify and forge frameworks that ensure equitable and sustainable water management.

The OSCE-led Regional Medical Training in Support of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Operations successfully concluded at the Kazakhstan Peacekeeping Operations Centre on 28 August 2024 in Almaty.

On 26 August, 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana (the Office), in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the International Water Assessment Centre (IWAC), held the 3rd meeting of the Inter-Institutional Working Group (IIWG) on tailings safety and the prevention of accidental water pollution in Kazakhstan.

Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) Ambassador Bakyt Dzhusupov concluded his first visit to Mongolia on 28 August. During his visit, he met with officials across the country to discuss opportunities for enhanced co-operation on environmental and economic security.

Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyz Republic The Border Service of the State Committee for National Security, Ministry of Interior, Customs Service under the Ministry of Finance, and the State Service for Execution of Punishment under the Ministry of Justice convened in Issyk-Kul from 26-28 August 2024 for the K-9 Inter-Agency Coordination Meeting.

A joint delegation, comprising Ambassador Willy Kempel, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, and Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis, Head of the EU Delegation to Tajikistan, visited two key sites in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), Tajikistan on 20 August 2024, witnessing the positive impact of a project funded by the European Union.