News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
ODIHR Director expresses concern over amendments to legislation on ‘foreign agents’ in Russian Federation
Publishing date: 31 January 2020
WARSAW, 31 January 2020 – Following amendments to legislation on ‘foreign agents’ that places further restrictions on human rights organizations in the Russian Federation, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), said...
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities discusses language and education in Moldova
Publishing date: 31 January 2020
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier focused on issues related to language and education during a visit to Moldova from 28 to 31 January 2020. In Chisinau, Zannier met members of the parliament, where he discussed the law regulating the functioning of languages in Moldova.
OSCE Presence in Albania presents achievements in preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism in prisons and probation services
Publishing date: 31 January 2020
The results of a project on preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT) in prisons and probation services were presented by the OSCE Presence in Albania on 31 January 2020 in Tirana...
Foreign and Internal Affairs Ministers of Western Balkans discuss strengthening fight against illicit trafficking in weapons for the region in Berlin
Publishing date: 31 January 2020
BERLIN, 31 January 2020 – The second high-level meeting of the Franco-German initiative for the comprehensive control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans, supported by the OSCE, was held today in Berlin. The meeting focused on progress evaluation and provided an occasion for Western Balkans representatives and their international partners to present the results reached thus far, as well as their proposals for further activities under the 2024 Roadmap...
OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 24/2020 issued on 30 January 2020
Publishing date: 30 January 2020
Summary Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region. A man was injured by an explosive device in Marinka in Donetsk region. The Mission continued monitoring the security situation at the disengagement areas
Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan and the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
Publishing date: 30 January 2020
GENEVA, Switzerland, 30 January 2020 – The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stéphane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) met separately and jointly with Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Geneva on 28-30 January. They were joined in their meetings by the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk.
OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation, under Turkey’s Chair, marks 20 years of Istanbul Summit; Speakers urge revival of co-operative spirit
Publishing date: 29 January 2020
VIENNA, 29 January 2020- The 20th Anniversary of the 1999 OSCE Istanbul Summit was marked at today’s meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) in Vienna, held under Turkey’s FSC Chairmanship. Speakers described the Summit as a “bridge-builder to the 21st century”, which could inspire OSCE participating States to step up a co-operative and constructive approach to addressing security challenges by reminding them of past common efforts to ensure peace, stability and security...