News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
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...
OSCE/ODIHR opens observation mission for the parliamentary elections in Georgia
Publishing date: 30 August 2016
TBILISI, 30 August 2016 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission for the 8 October parliamentary elections in Georgia. The mission’s deployment follows an official invitation from the Georgian authorities...
OSCE Office presents report on the impact of economic crisis on independent media in Tajikistan
Publishing date: 30 August 2016
Enhancing the professional development of journalists, training young reporters, making greater use of multimedia, establishing commercial departments as part of editorial offices, and creating an alternative system of newspaper distribution were some of the recommendations presented by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan on 27 August 2016 in their survey on the impact of the financial crisis on the country’s independent media...