News and press releases

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) condemns all actions and speech driven by bias or hatred and notes with growing concern the recent surge of such incidents in certain locations in Republika Srpska in conjunction with Serbian Orthodox Christmas and the unconstitutional Day of Republika Srpska, as well as in the Federation of BiH.

WARSAW/COPENHAGEN, 8 January 2024 – It is deeply regrettable that the Belarusian authorities have decided not to invite observers for the country’s forthcoming parliamentary elections from OSCE states through the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), leaders of both institutions said today, adding that the decision contradicts the principle of transparency, which is essential for holding genuinely democratic elections.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) emphasizes that the official sponsorship and support by the government of Republika Srpska of the celebration of the so-called “Day of Republika Srpska” on 9 January not only constitutes an act of discrimination. The 26 November 2015 ruling of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina determine this is clearly unconstitutional, as it directly contravenes the constitutions of both Bosnia and Herzegovina and of Republika Srpska itself.

VALLETTA/VIENNA, 2 January 2024- The Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta Ian Borg and OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid made the following statement on the continuing and intensifying aerial attacks by Russia in its war against Ukraine:

VALLETTA/VIENNA, 1 January 2024- Today, Malta takes over the OSCE Chairpersonship with a focus on strengthening the Organization’s resilience and effectiveness.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina responded to an inquiry from the Federal News Agency (FENA) on the state of the media and media freedoms in BiH in 2023, the current biggest challenges in this regard, and steps forward.

SKOPJE/VIENNA, 29 December 2023 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, and OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid made the following statement after air strikes hit cities across Ukraine and left at least 18 people dead and over 130 wounded.