News and press releases

MUNICH, 17 February 2017- The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France and Richard Hoagland of the United States of America) met yesterday with the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian and the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov, separately and then jointly...

MINSK, 16 February 2017 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Martin Sajdik, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG and its working groups in Minsk on 15 February 2017:...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but its access remained restricted.* Beyond the disengagement areas, too, the sides continued to restrict the Mission’s monitoring and verification on numerous occasions through direct denials of access or other impediments, including by not removing mines.* The SMM noted howitzers and tanks in violation of withdrawal lines and weapons missing from storage sites on both sides of the contact line. It observed the blockade of railway crossings near Hirske, Bakhmut and Shcherbynivka. The SMM facilitated repair of a power line between Svitlodarsk and Horlivka. It visited a border area currently not controlled by the Government. The Mission observed an organized gathering of civilians in front its residence in Donetsk city. The SMM monitored the situation of IDPs in Kharkiv...

VIENNA, 16 February 2017- Effectively protecting critical infrastructure from cyber threats must be a priority for international efforts to enhance cyber stability between States and therefore prevent tension and even conflicts, said participants of a conference in Vienna on Wednesday, opened by OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period, mainly in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area. The Mission followed up on reports of explosions at industrial facilities in Donetsk city and Shchastia, and damage to civilian infrastructure in Novooleksandrivka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske but its access remained restricted.* Beyond the disengagement areas, too, the sides continued to restrict the Mission’s monitoring and verification on numerous occasions through direct denials of access or other impediments, including by not removing mines.* The SMM noted tanks in violation of withdrawal lines and weapons missing from storage sites on both sides of the contact line. It monitored the situation of civilians at entry-exit checkpoints. The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate repair of a power line near Luhanske. It observed the blockade of railway crossings near Hirske and Shcherbynivka. The SMM visited a border area currently not controlled by the Government...

Among the recommendations contained in the final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the 30 October 2016 presidential election in Moldova are a comprehensive review of the electoral legal framework to eliminate existing gaps and ambiguities, as well as seeking broad consensus on improving laws, regulations and practical arrangements for voting abroad.

VIENNA, 15 February 2016 – The role of military chaplains in ensuring armed forces’ compliance with the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security’s commitments in regard to human rights was in the focus of today’s discussion in the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC), currently under Romania’s Chairmanship...