News and press releases

PRAGUE, 6 September 2017 – Greening the economy and building partnerships and trust are the key to greater security and stability in the OSCE region, highlighted participants in the 25th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum which opened today in Prague...

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons decreased at both BCPs compared to the previous week...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM again asked armed forces and formations about the recommitment to cease fire, as well as instructions on interaction with the SMM; the majority of the interlocutors told the SMM that they had received orders and were informed – in one case they showed such orders to the SMM and in another one they provided copies. 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 the disengagement areas and elsewhere.* It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to the Horlivka-Toretsk pipeline, a water pipe near Novotoshkivske, the Petrivske pumping station near Artema, water pipes near Nyzhnie, and the thermal power plant in Shchastia. It continued to monitor the situation at schools near the contact line on both sides. The Mission visited two border areas not under government control...

VIENNA, 6 September 2017 – Serbia will strive to strengthen the OSCE’s focus on politico-military security through negotiations and consultations on military security and stability in the OSCE area, said the country’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić as he opened the first session of the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) under Serbia’s Chairmanship today in Vienna...

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous 24 hours. The SMM again asked armed forces and formations what orders or codes of conduct they had received following the recommitment to cease fire from 25 August, as well as instructions on interaction with the SMM. 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 the disengagement areas and elsewhere, including at a heavy weapons holding area outside government control in Donetsk region.* The SMM saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Anadol. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to the Horlivka-Toretsk pipeline and a water pipe near Novotoshkivske. It continued to monitor the start of the school year on both sides of the contact line. The Mission visited a border area not under government control. The SMM monitored two gatherings in Kyiv....

VIENNA, 5 September 2017 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir today condemned the shooting of an Ohio news photographer by police...

BISHKEK, 5 September 2017 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission for the 15 October presidential election in Kyrgyzstan. The mission’s deployment follows an official invitation from the Kyrgyzstan authorities...