News and press releases

Transparency International published the results of its Corruption Perceptions Index 2017 on 22 February 2018, ranking Albania the 91st among 180 countries and territories included in the index, a drop of eight places since 2016. Albania scored 38 out of 100 points...

CHISINAU, 22 February 2018 – Alfredo Conte, Adviser to the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, concluded a three-day visit to Moldova today. He met with the leadership in Chisinau and Tiraspol, the authorities in the Autonomous Territorial Unit (ATU) of Gagauzia and the resident Ambassadors of the 5+2 Mediators and Observers. His meetings set the stage for an upcoming visit to Moldova by the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, Franco Frattini.

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe donated winter clothing, table games, sports equipment as well as a refrigerator and a professional oven to the Reception Referral Centre for Minors on 21 February 2018 in Dushanbe.

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe held a ceremony to mark its donation of humanitarian demining equipment to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Defence and the National Mine Action Centre on 20 February 2018.

SARAJEVO, 21 February 2018 – It is essential to focus on the long-term benefits of political dialogue and compromise for all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and not pursue short-term political gains, said OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger during a two-day visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, which concluded today in Sarajevo.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission followed up on reports of a casualty from Spartak. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including at three border crossing points in Luhansk region at the border with the Russian Federation.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Shymshynivka. The Mission continued to facilitate and monitor repair works at a water pumping station in Artema, to a water pipeline between Berezove and Dokuchaievsk, as well as to powerlines between Orlivske and Pavlopil. The SMM visited six border areas outside government control. The Mission monitored gatherings in Chernivtsi, Kharkiv and Lviv on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of events at Maidan...

VIENNA, 21 February 2018- The United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in All its Aspects complements the OSCE’s work in this area and both are fundamental to the security and stability of participating States, said speakers at today’s OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation meeting in Vienna, held under Slovakia’s Chairmanship...