News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Special Co-ordinator Harstedt continues pre-electoral work in Belarus, meets with President Lukashenko
Publishing date: 31 August 2016
COPENHAGEN, 31 August 2016 – OSCE PA Vice-President Kent Harstedt (MP, Sweden), who is serving as Special Co-ordinator to lead the OSCE’s short-term observer mission for the 11 September parliamentary elections in Belarus, continued his pre-electoral work this week by meeting with President Alexander Lukashenko, Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei...
OSCE/ODIHR delivers training on human rights compliant policing of assemblies to Ukrainian police
Publishing date: 31 August 2016
International human rights standards, the key principles of assembly policing, the planning and decision making model, communication and accountability were the focus of a three-day training event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in co-operation with the European Union Advisory Mission to Uraine (EUAM) between 29 and 31 August 2016 in Kyiv.
Statement by OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Germany’s Foreign Minister Steinmeier ahead of the Informal OSCE Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Potsdam
Publishing date: 31 August 2016
BERLIN, 31 August 2016 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier today issued the following statement ahead of the 1 September Informal Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Potsdam...
Podgorica workshop focuses on strengthening cross-border co-operation to address irregular migration-related crimes in Western Balkans
Publishing date: 31 August 2016
PODGORICA, 31 August 2016 – A two-day workshop aimed at strengthening cross-border co-operation in addressing irregular migration-related crimes in the Western Balkans opened today in Podgorica bringing together policy-makers and law enforcement officials from relevant bodies in the region as well as representatives of international and regional organizations...
Weekly Update from the OSCE Observer Mission at Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk based on information as of 30 August 2016
Publishing date: 31 August 2016
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 slightly decreased at both BCPs...
OSCE Special Representative Erler and Secretary General Zannier, at European Parliament Committee, highlight fields of co-operation with the EU
Publishing date: 30 August 2016
BRUSSELS, 30 August 2016- Gernot Erler, Special Representative of the Federal Government of Germany for the OSCE Chairmanship, and Lamberto Zannier, Secretary General of the OSCE, today spoke about OSCE-EU co-operation during an address to the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs in Brussels...
Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30, 29 August 2016
Publishing date: 30 August 2016
In Donetsk region, the SMM noted a relative decrease in the number of explosions recorded (nearly 400) compared with 28 August (nearly 1,000). In Luhansk region, the SMM neither registered ceasefire violations during the night of 28 August nor the daytime of 29 August. It followed up on reports of civilian casualties and analysed craters in Petrovskyi district, Yasynuvata, Horlivka, and Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove). The SMM observed preparations for the start of the school year. The Mission visited two border areas not controlled by the Government. It faced four restrictions to its freedom of movement, all but one in areas not controlled by the Government.* The Mission observed a calm situation along the administrative boundary line with Crimea. The SMM monitored public gatherings in Kyiv...