News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
High Commissioner on National Minorities welcomes agreement in Skopje and highlights the situation in Crimea in her statement to the OSCE Permanent Council
Publishing date: 16 July 2015
In her statement to the Permanent Council on 16 July, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Astrid Thors provided information on her institution’s activities since November 2014 highlighting the political developments in Skopje and the situation on the Crimean peninsula...
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities holds regional summer school on multilingual and multicultural education in Central Asia
Publishing date: 7 July 2015
The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors, in co‑operation with the Ministry of Education and Science and UNICEF in Kyrgyzstan, is holding a regional summer school on “Multilingual and Multicultural Education for Integration” from 6 to 11 July 2015 in Cholpon Ata. A total of 75
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities assesses inter-ethnic relations in Zakarpattia and Lviv, western Ukraine
Publishing date: 7 July 2015
THE HAGUE, 7 July 2015 – OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors assessed the situation of national minorities and internally displaced people (IDPs) in western Ukraine during a visit to Uzhhorod, Mukacheve, Berehove and Lviv from 29 June to 3 July...
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, in Kazakhstan, discusses impact of reforms on national minorities
Publishing date: 24 June 2015
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors encouraged the authorities of Kazakhstan to take the country’s ethnic and linguistic diversity into account in planned reforms, known as the “100 Concrete Steps”, in areas including education, the civil service, and promotion of national
Reconciliation and integration still needed in Kyrgyzstan, says High Commissioner Thors, five years after the tragic inter-ethnic violence
Publishing date: 12 June 2015
THE HAGUE, 12 June 2015 – The authorities of Kyrgyzstan must address the root causes of inter-ethnic tensions in the country, said OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors today on the fifth anniversary since her predecessor Knut Vollebaek issued an Early Warning to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in relation to the inter-ethnic violence in southern Kyrgyzstan...
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, in Turkmenistan, discusses minority issues, constitutional and educational reforms
Publishing date: 9 June 2015
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors visited Turkmenistan from 3 to 5 June 2015, where she discussed a wide range of issues, including the ongoing constitutional and education reforms, the situation of national minorities, and regional security threats and challenges. In her
High Commissioner Thors in Skopje: stability requires urgent resumption of democratic and political processes
Publishing date: 15 May 2015
SKOPJE, 15 May 2015 – OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Astrid Thors visited Skopje on 14 May together with Ambassador Gérard Stoudmann, Special Representative on the Western Balkans of the OSCE Chairperson in Office, and Ambassador Dejan Šahović, Head of the Chairmanship Task Force. She continued her meetings in Skopje and Tetovo on 15 May in order to conduct an independent assessment of the situation in line with her mandate...