News and press releases

Effective criminal justice responses to terrorism, based on the rule of law, were the focus of a two-day seminar organized by the OSCE in co-operation with the Bulgarian National Institute of Justice on 6-7 October 2015 in Sofia...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The situation in Donetsk and Luhansk remained generally calm. The SMM heard some explosions and small-arms fire. SMM monitored the withdrawal of weapons as required under the Addendum to the Package of measures. In Donetsk region, the SMM observed long civilian vehicle queues at several checkpoints...

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 5 October 2015 – The OSCE Mission in Kosovo started a campaign today to inform the public about their rights before the courts and available resources to exercise them...

An OSCE-supported training seminar on countering transnational organized crime and trafficking in drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors began on 5 October 2015 in Shymkent, southern Kazakhstan...

AKTOBE, Kazakhstan, 5 October 2015 – An OSCE-supported three-day training seminar for law-enforcement officers on best practices and international standards in policing in multi-ethnic societies began today in Aktobe, Kazakhstan...

The administrative justice must be enshrined in Ukraine’s revised constitution as a means to strengthen rule of law, a range of prominent speakers said at a conference supported by OSCE Project Co-ordinator’s Office, marking the court’s 10thanniversary, on 2 October 2015 in Kyiv...

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Human and Minority Rights Ministry, aiming to strengthen the co-operation in the area of gender equality, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with municipalities of Andrijevica, Gusinje, Petnjica and Plav on 2 October 2015 in Plav...

BISHKEK, 5 October 2015 – The parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan were competitive and provided voters with a wide range of choice, while the manner in which they were administered highlighted the need for better procedures and increased transparency, the international observers concluded in a preliminary statement released today...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The situation in Donetsk and Luhansk remained generally calm, but the SMM heard some explosions and small-arms fire. Both Ukrainian Armed Forces and the “LPR” provided the SMM with some baseline information as required under the Addendum to the Package of measures.

BISHKEK, 3 October 2015- The international observers monitoring the parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan will present their preliminary post-election statement at a news conference on Monday, 5 October, in Bishkek...

SKOPJE, 3 October 2015 – More than 700 students from 30 schools around the country gathered today at the Building Bridges Fund event, organized by the OSCE Mission to Skopje, for a day of songs and singing, theatre plays, sport games, and dance performances...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The situation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remained calm, with few explosions and sporadic small-arms fire heard by the SMM, the majority of which the SMM assessed to be training exercises...

BELGRADE, 2 October 2015 – The crisis in and around Ukraine has underscored the enduring relevance and the need to reaffirm, strengthen and safeguard the Helsinki principles, said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić today in Belgrade as he addressed the Panel of Eminent Persons on European Security as a Common Project...

COPENHAGEN, 2 October 2015 – An OSCE-organized study visit of Turkmen parliamentarians to Copenhagen, with the aim of exchanging legislative practices, concludes tomorrow on 3 October 2015.

AKTAU, Kazakhstan, 2 October 2015 –Applying gender-mainstreaming principles in politics and local self-governance, as well as promoting good governance, transparency and accountability in rural communities and small towns were focus of the OSCE-supported training seminar that took place today in Aktau, Kazakhstan...

NEW YORK, 2 October 2015 – The emergence of increasingly complex, transnational and interconnected threats to security means the OSCE must look for ways to adapt its peace operations and its whole conflict-cycle toolbox, said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić on Thursday at the start of a Ministerial event on the margins of the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York...

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) held a workshop in the Ukrainian capital on 26-28 September 2015 for its new Kyiv Youth Contact Group. The OSCE initiative brings together 16 students from across Ukraine to discuss opportunities for dialogue facilitation with the aim of reducing tensions in the country...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The SMM recorded a number of explosions in Donetsk and Luhansk regions most of which it assessed to have been life-fire exercises...

NEW YORK, 1 October 2015 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić today expressed deep concern at the continued suspension of almost all humanitarian programs in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions that can potentially lead to further aggravation of already alarming humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine. He called on all sides to adopt measures that would allow immediate resumption of activities by humanitarian organizations, and provide for the improvement of freedom of movement in eastern Ukraine...

COPENHAGEN, 1 October 2015 – Interparliamentary organizations, national parliaments and individual parliamentarians can best promote international security by championing rules and norms, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) said in Moscow today...

The eleventh graduation ceremony of the OSCE Academy in Bishkek took place on 25 September 2015, which granted master’s degree to 23 students from the Central Asian countries. Kyrgyz Prime Minister Temir Sariev, Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek Sergey Kapinos and the Director of the OSCE Academy Maxim Ryabkov along with representatives of partner institutions and foreign embassies attended the ceremony...

VIENNA, 1 October 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today said that the recent attacks against members of the media during a demonstration in Germany are unacceptable...

VIENNA, 1 October 2015- Violence against journalists is unacceptable and must be countered with the full vigour of the law, OSCE media freedom representative Dunja Mijatović said today, condemning the recent attack on Turkish journalist Ahmet Hakan...

BELGRADE, 1 October 2015 – The OSCE’s role in providing a common platform for mediation and conflict prevention is more important today than ever, says a new report by the OSCE Network of Think Tanks and Academic Institutions, which was presented today at the Belgrade Security Forum 2015...

BELGRADE, 1 October 2015 – The OSCE’s role in providing a common platform for mediation and conflict prevention is more important today than ever, says a new report by the OSCE Network of Think Tanks and Academic Institutions, which was presented today at the Belgrade Security Forum 2015...

Roma and Sinti youth have the potential to become active and engaged citizens, according to the new report Activism, Participation and Security among Roma and Sinti Youth, launched on 1 October 2015 during the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw.

VIENNA, 1 October 2015 – A new law with the aim of ensuring transparency of media ownership in Ukraine was today welcomed by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović...

On 30 September 2015 at 06:45hrs (Moscow time), a Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP). A total of 53 vehicles were checked by the Russian border guard and customs services. All the vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 15:35hrs on 30 September...

SHYMKENT, Kazakhstan, 30 September 2015 – The benefits of multilingual education was the focus of a two-day conference co-organized by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Astrid Thors, which ended today in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. The conference brought together more than 500 participants from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan...

KYIV, 30 September 2015- Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Ertugrul Apakan today welcomed the agreement on the withdrawal in eastern Ukraine of tanks and artillery pieces with calibre up to 100 mm and mortars with calibre up to 120 mm (inclusive)...

An autumn school in Lviv was organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine (PCU) from 30 September to 2 October 2015 for law professors from 16 universities across Ukraine with the aim of highlighting the current trends and methodologies on educating criminal procedure law...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations. The SMM observed no ceasefire violations at and around the Donetsk airport. Several ceasefire violations were recorded elsewhere in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The SMM chaired the twelfth meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) Working Group on Security Issues in Minsk.

BISHKEK, 30 September 2015 – The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry in co-operation with the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, and its Osh field office held today a roundtable discussion on importance of co-operation and partnerships in prevention of human trafficking in the country...

Current human rights challenges in policing Roma and Sinti communities in the OSCE region were the focus of an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) during the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw on 30 September 2015.

Racist and anti-Roma rhetoric by politicians from far-right and, increasingly, mainstream political parties has been on the rise as part of efforts to capitalize on anti-Roma sentiment among majority communities, participants said at an event co-organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Central Council for German Sinti and Roma, during the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw on 30 September 2015.

NEW YORK, 29 September 2015 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić welcomed the agreement on withdrawal of tanks, artillery under 100mm and mortars up to 120mm in eastern Ukraine, which was reached in Minsk today by the Working Group on Security of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG)...

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The situation remained largely calm in Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the SMM recorded a small number of ceasefire violations in Donetsk region...

BISHKEK, 29 September 2015 – The Kyrgyz State Committee of National Security, in co-operation with the OSCE Centre in Bishkek and the Development Fund for spiritual culture "Yyman" held a one-day training course for media representatives on their role in reporting on countering violent extremism and international terrorism...

The OSCE Centre in Bishkek organized a module from 21 to 25 September 2015 for about 50 students of the OSCE Academy’s two master’s degree programmes focusing on the historical background of the OSCE and the nature of its political commitments...

ASHGABAT, 29 September 2015 – Strategic trade controls and national action plans to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) were discussed at a two-day OSCE-supported workshop that concluded today in Ashgabat...

SKOPJE, 29 September 2015 – Evaluating the role of the Ohrid Framework Agreement (OFA) in enhancing social cohesion is the aim of the OSCE-supported review process discussed in Skopje today, focusing on anti-discrimination, de-centralization, education, equitable representation, the use of languages and numerically smaller communities...

TBILISI, 29 September 2015 – Digitalization creates opportunities to strengthen media freedom and pluralism, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović said today at the opening of the 12th OSCE South Caucasus Media Conference in Tbilisi, Georgia...

The negative effects of obstacles to accessing legal personality for religious or belief communities, both at the legislative and practical levels, were the focus of an event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) at the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw on 29 September 2015.

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall cross-border traffic increased at both BCPs. A thirty-eighth Russian Convoy crossed the Donetsk BCP...

The OSCE Mission to Moldova supported three concerts and one workshop within the 14th Ethno Jazz Festival, one of the largest cultural events in Moldova, which took place in Chisinau, Teleneşti and Tiraspol between 23 and 27 September 2015. The Mission’s involvement was aimed at building cultural bridges and enhancing intercultural dialogue between people on both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River...

NEW YORK CITY, 29 September 2015 “Regional and sub-regional organizations have a key role to play in global efforts to counter violent extremism”, says OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier...

NEW YORK, 28 September 2015 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić, met the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France), and the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office on the conflict dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, in New York today.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by the parties and security considerations*. The situation remained largely calm in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions with only sparse ceasefire violations recorded by the SMM. The SMM observed considerable queues of civilian vehicles waiting at checkpoints to cross both into government-controlled and non-government controlled areas...

COPENHAGEN, 28 September 2015 – Roza Aknazarova (MP, Kyrgyzstan), the Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment, today welcomed the adoption of the United Nations’ post-2015 development agenda and urged the OSCE’s participating States to pursue faithful implementation...

NEW YORK CITY, 28 September 2015 A good practices document on women and countering violent extremism prepared by the OSCE was adopted on 27 September today by the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) as non-binding guidance to assist governments in mainstreaming gender into policies and measures to counter violent extremism (CVE).