News and press releases

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region compared with the previous 24 hours. In Chermalyk, the Mission saw damage to civilian properties in residential areas caused by shelling and gunfire. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote and Petrivske disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including at a checkpoint near Verkhnoshyrokivske.* The SMM followed up media reports that Mospyne was cordoned off and observed that the entrances to the town were blocked by armed persons. The Mission observed long queues at the entry-exit checkpoint near Stanytsia Luhanska. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance of essential infrastructure near Artema. The SMM visited one border area outside of government control. In Kyiv, the Mission monitored the security situation in front of a detention centre and a court building...

BELGRADE, 12 December 2017 – At a ceremony today in Belgrade, the OSCE Mission to Serbia presented its Person of the Year Awards to: Dženeta Agović, Director of the Impuls civil society organization from Tutin; Brankica Janković, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality; Tamara Mirović, Deputy Republic Public Prosecutor; Nedim Sejdinović, President of the Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina; and Miloš Stojković, media lawyer...

SARAJEVO, 12 December 2017- Today we mark international anti-corruption day. Corruption remains one of the main threats to securing a prosperous future for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The citizens of BiH have the basic human right to live in a corruption-free society. Corruption-free public institutions are needed to restore trust, improve governmental services, attract investors and remove barriers to economic development.

Ensuring equal access to decision-making for persons with disabilities, youth and women was the focus of an event co-organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek and other partners in Bishkek on 12 December 2017. Over 50

VIENNA, 12 December 2017 – Best practices in renewable energy and energy efficiency in Central Asia were the focus of a two-day expert workshop that ended with a site visit to a waste heat incineration plant today in Vienna. The workshop was organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities in close co-operation with the Joint Research Centre of the European Union...

Strengthening chemical safety and security in Ukraine, and how to establish and operate a national reference centre for the identification of chemicals were in focus at an international workshop organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine on 11 December 2017 in close co-operation with the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre and the Research Centre for Preventive Toxicology, Food and Chemical Safety of Ukraine’s Health Ministry...

SARAJEVO, 12 December 2017- For the first time, the OSCE Head of Mission Bruce G. Berton, United States Ambassador Maureen Cormack, and the Head of European Union Delegation and EU Special Representative Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark jointly addressed the Conference of Education Ministers in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) today in Sarajevo...