News and press releases

Spot report

VIENNA, 22 June 2018- From 18 to 22 June 2018, a group of 24 Permanent Representatives to the OSCE visited Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. The trip, the first in several years in this format, aimed at reconfirming the ambassadors’ strong interest in peace, stability and prosperity in the region, in line with OSCE commitments and principles, as well as their support for stronger OSCE engagement in each of the three countries.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it again observed military presence inside the Zolote disengagement area. The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas, and was also restricted in Luhansk city and at a heavy weapons permanent storage site in a non-government-controlled part of Luhansk region. The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Hirske and Novookhtyrka. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station, including through monitoring the security situation around the station. It also continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema and to the water distribution network in Stanytsia Luhanska. In Kyiv, the SMM monitored a gathering outside a patrol police headquarters.

The OSCE Mission to Serbia and the Sremska Mitrovica Correctional Institution organized an Open Doors Day in the dog shelter of the Sremska Mitrovica penitentiary on 22 June 2018 to promote innovative ways for rehabilitation and resettlement of offenders.

ANKARA, 22 June 2018 – The international observers for the early presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey will present their preliminary post-election statement at a news conference on Monday, 25 June, in Ankara.

WASHINGTON DC, 22 June 2018- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir concluded a three-day visit to the United States of America today, during which he met with representatives of the Department of State, the Department of Justice, members of the US Congress and its Helsinki Commission and press freedom organizations to discuss the freedom of expression and the media in the United States and the OSCE region.

A two-and-a-half day training course on detecting forged documents and imposters concluded on 22 June 2018 for 15 first- and second-line border and customs officers from Montenegro’s international airports. The course, held at Podgorica’s airport, was organized by the Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro...