News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE/ODIHR experts discuss electoral recommendations with officials and civil society in the United States
Publishing date: 12 July 2017
A team of election experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) visited Washington D.C. from 10 to 12 July 2017 to present the final report of the ODIHR election observation mission for the 8 November 2016 United States general elections.
Latest from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), based on information received as of 19:30, 11 July 2017
Publishing date: 12 July 2017
The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared with the previous reporting period. At a government checkpoint near Novotoshkivske, the Mission observed a bullet hole in a Ukrainian Armed Forces vehicle that may have been caused by gunfire shortly beforehand. The Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Donetsk and Luhansk cities and observed damage from shelling in Zolote-4. It continued monitoring the disengagement areas; the Mission’s access remained restricted there and elsewhere, including Mineralne.* The SMM recorded ceasefire violations in the Zolote disengagement area. It continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to the Mykhailivka-Almazna high-voltage power lines near Pervomaisk. The SMM visited two border areas not under government control in Donetsk region. In Kyiv the Mission followed up on reports of an incident at a café and monitored four protests...
Permanent Council proposes appointments for OSCE senior officials to Ministers
Publishing date: 12 July 2017
VIENNA, 12 July 2017 – The OSCE Permanent Council, in a special meeting today in Vienna, formally submitted the names of officials to fill four senior-level positions in the Organization to the foreign ministers of the 57 participating States for their confirmation...
OSCE supports platform for promoting best practices and innovations for a green economy in Kazakhstan
Publishing date: 12 July 2017
ASTANA, 12 July 2017 – An OSCE-supported international forum on the Green Bridge Partnership Programme (GBPP), a platform for promoting best practices and innovations for a green economy, started today in Astana...
OSCE Mission to Moldova-supported play raises awareness of online child sexual exploitation
Publishing date: 12 July 2017
The OSCE Mission to Moldova is supporting the production of a social theatre play that aims to raise awareness of the increasing risk of online child sexual exploitation. The opening performances of the play, produced by the Art Centre Coliseum, took place on 11 and 12 July 2017 in Chisinau. More than 120 adults and young people aged over 16 years attended...
Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 11 July 2017
Publishing date: 12 July 2017
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 increased at both BCPs...
Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
Publishing date: 12 July 2017
BRUSSELS, 12 July 2017- The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassador Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Ambassador Stephane Visconti of France, and Ambassador Richard Hoagland of the United States of America) met on 11 July with the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov and the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian to discuss modalities of further work on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, also participated in the meeting...