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News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE proves its value and ability as a forum for dialogue, says OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Burkhalter as Basel Ministerial Council ends
Publishing date: 5 December 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
BASEL, Switzerland, 5 December 2014 – The OSCE proved its value and ability as a forum for dialogue while its key principles were defended, said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter as the 21st Ministerial Council concluded in Basel today. Burkhalter welcomed decisions on Germany and Austria assuming the OSCE Chairmanships respectively in 2016 and 2017, and lauded decisions to further enhance the fight against terrorism and boost States’ preparedness against the threat of natural disasters...
Summary by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter of the first day of discussions at the OSCE Ministerial Council
Publishing date: 5 December 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
BASEL, Switzerland, 5 December 2014- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter summarized the discussions of the first day at the OSCE 21st Ministerial Council in Basel, noting that OSCE Foreign Ministers are meeting against the backdrop of one of the worst crises in the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian area since the end of the Cold War...
Commemorative Publication marks 20 years of key OSCE document on promoting democratic control of armed and security forces
Publishing date: 5 December 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, Forum for Security Co-operation
What we do: Reform and co-operation in the security sector
BASEL, Switzerland, 5 December 2014- Didier Burkhalter, Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office presented a Commemorative Publication on 20 years of the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security to the OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier at a special event held today during the 21st OSCE Ministerial Council in Basel...
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia take ownership of regional arms control, Dayton Peace Agreement Article IV Annex 1/B: Mission accomplished
Publishing date: 4 December 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, OSCE Mission to Montenegro, OSCE Mission to Serbia
What we do: Arms control, Conflict prevention and resolution
BASEL, Switzerland, 4 December 2014 – Today, after 18 years, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and Serbia are taking over full responsibility for regional stability and arms control, essential for building peace and stability in the Western Balkans, with senior politicians from the four countries signing a document on the 21st OSCE Ministerial Council in Basel...
Ukraine in focus as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Burkhalter opens 21st Ministerial Council in Basel
Publishing date: 4 December 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
BASEL, Switzerland, 4 December 2014 – It is essential to preserve the OSCE as a platform for inclusive discussions and as an effective responder despite divisions in Europe over the situation in Ukraine, said the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter in his opening address at the 21st OSCE Ministerial Council in Basel...
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Burkhalter receives civil society recommendations ahead of the Ministerial Council in Basel
Publishing date: 3 December 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
Basel, 03 December 2014 – In his capacity as Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE, Didier Burkhalter attended the closing session of the Parallel Civil Society Conference, held in the margins of the Ministerial Council meeting on 02 and 03 December. In Basel, more than 100 civil society representatives discussed and adopted concrete recommendations directed at the OSCE, its Institutions, field presence and participating States. In addition to the CiO, the closing session of the conference was attended by Ambassador Dejan Šahović, Head of the Serbian Chairmanship Task Force, and Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).
Chairperson-in-Office calls for all sides to ensure security and freedom of movement of SMM monitors following shooting incidents in Ukraine
Publishing date: 27 November 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
BERN, 27 November 2014 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter has expressed his deep concern about yesterday's shooting incident in the area of Donetsk in Ukraine...