News and press releases

VIENNA, 6 October 2020 – Community policing and a closer partnership between public authorities and youth are effective tools for creating a drug-free environment at the community level, said speakers at the OSCE-wide Conference on Combating the Threat of Illicit Drugs and the Diversion of Chemical Precursors held in Vienna and online today...

COPENHAGEN, 6 October 2020 – Appalled by the continuation of bloodshed in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone, as well as beyond the line of contact, OSCE PA President George Tsereteli today reiterated the call to cease hostilities in the interest of civilians and recommit to negotiations towards a peaceful solution of the conflict according to OSCE principles and commitments. During the past week, he has been in direct contact with the Speakers of Parliament of Armenia and Azerbaijan, to underline the position of the OSCE PA and to urge both sides to resume the negotiation process...

BRČKO, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1 October 2020 – Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec, and the Principal Deputy High Representative and Brčko District Supervisor, Michael Scanlan, concluded today their visit to Brčko District (BD). The focus of the visit was to discuss with local officials the steps they are taking to ensure that the voters of the District can have high confidence in the 15 November election process in the District...

The OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department held an online train-the-trainer course from 28 to 30 September 2020. The event was organized in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The course was aimed at highlighting national and regional terrorist threats, introducing participants to financial investigation and terrorist network analysis techniques, in order to more effectively disrupt terrorist networks.

VIENNA, 28 September 2020 – A healthy relationship between the police and the media can increase public confidence in law enforcement, help solve crimes and ultimately keep communities safe, said opening speakers of the 2020 OSCE Annual Police Experts Meeting (APEM), held in Vienna and online today...

Ninety young women and men from several regions of Albania participated in a series of workshops on youth empowerment organized by the OSCE Presence from 3 to 25 September 2020. Throughout the events that took place in Shkodra, Mirdita, Përmet, Pogradec and Korça, the Presence aimed at helping young people become among the key players in identifying and addressing the security challenges in their communities. It also aimed at strengthening co-operation between community and institutions...

WARSAW/VIENNA, 28 September 2020 – The increasing challenges to the rights and freedoms at the heart of the OSCE commitments to human rights and democracy made 30 years ago, as well as the need for a greater understanding that only a dialogue based on mutual respect will enable us to overcome our common challenges, form the backdrop for a month-long series of webinars beginning today...