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News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE Chairperson’s Personal Representatives on tolerance make first joint country visit to Russian Federation
Publishing date: 17 October 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Tolerance and non-discrimination
MOSCOW, 17 October 2014 – In their first joint country visit to the Russian Federation, the OSCE Chairperson’s Personal Representatives on combatting discrimination and promoting tolerance met representatives of the government and civil society in Moscow from 15 to 16 October 2014 to discuss good practices and gaps in policy, activities and legislation, as well as areas where the OSCE can provide further support...
OSCE remains at forefront of conflict resolution through mediation, say participants of high-level meeting in Vienna
Publishing date: 10 October 2014
Collections: OSCE documents and publications on mediation
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
VIENNA, 10 October 2014- Mediation, now more than ever, is an important tool for resolving conflicts through peaceful means, and the OSCE remains at the forefront of conflict resolution as a mediator, providing support as well as sharing expertise and knowledge, said participants of a high-level conference on mediation in the OSCE area, which opened today in Vienna.
29th round of Geneva International Discussions completed in a constructive atmosphere
Publishing date: 8 October 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
All participants reconfirmed their commitment to the Geneva Discussions as an important platform to strengthen the security and stability on the ground and to address the humanitarian needs of the conflict-affected population. The discussions in both Working Groups took place in a constructive and positive atmosphere
Opening the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Geneva, Swiss Chair says collective effort needed to restore stability and rebuild common understanding of European security
Publishing date: 3 October 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
GENEVA, 3 October 2014- Didier Burkhalter, Swiss Foreign Minister and Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE, gave an opening address to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, which is meeting in Geneva for its autumn session this weekend. Recalling that the ‘Helsinki Final Act’ was negotiated in the very same conference building in Geneva four decades ago, he argued that the vision and determination of the CSCE founding fathers should be an inspiration to all to embark on collective efforts to overcome the current crisis of European security...
Truce too important for stabilization to be carelessly put at risk, Swiss OSCE Chair says after new outbreak of violence
Publishing date: 2 October 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
BERN, 2 October 2014 – Appalled by the killing of ten persons in a school during shelling yesterday in Donetsk, and by the violent death of a member of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation today, Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Didier Burkhalter, urged all sides to immediately stop fighting, to strictly observe the ceasefire and to implement the measures agreed upon in the Minsk Protocol of September 5 and the related Memorandum of September 19. He expressed his condolences to the families of the many men, women and children who lost their lives due to the violent conflict...
Swiss Chair updates UN Secretary General on latest OSCE activities regarding Ukraine
Publishing date: 2 March 2014
Content type: Press statement
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
Bern, March 2, 2014 – OSCE Chair and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter discussed the crisis regarding Crimea with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, emphasizing importance of coordination between the UN and the OSCE.
On the road to Basel Ministerial Council, Swiss Chair launches discussion on ways to overcome the crisis of European security
Publishing date: 26 September 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
New York, September 26, 2014- On the margins of the UN-General Assembly in New York, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter launched a discussion on how to overcome the crisis of European security that has deepened in the face of the crisis in and around Ukraine. At today’s informal meeting attended by more than 25 foreign ministers and representatives of around 35 OSCE participating States as well as representatives of partner States and security organizations, Burkhalter sketched out three avenues towards reconsolidating European security as a common project and invited participants to outline their views on how best to proceed.
Memorandum on stabilizing ceasefire another important step towards de-escalation, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office says
Publishing date: 20 September 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
BERN, September 20 2014- Didier Burkhalter, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister, noted with satisfaction the signing of a Memorandum on 19 September, 2014, outlining the parameters for the implementation of the cease-fire commitments laid down in the Minsk Protocol of 5 September 2014...
48th IPRM meeting takes place in Ergneti
Publishing date: 19 September 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
On 19 September 2014 the 48th meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) took place in Ergneti, co-facilitated by Toivo Klaar, the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), and Ambassador Angelo Gnaedinger, the Special Representative of the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship for the South Caucasus...
Acknowledging recent progress in implementing Minsk protocol, OSCE CiO says stabilizing cease-fire key for peace process in eastern Ukraine
Publishing date: 17 September 2014
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
Bern, September 17 2014 – Following the adoption of two important laws in the Ukrainian Parliament, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter commended Ukraine for the progress made in the implementation of the Minsk Protocol signed on 5 September. This protocol aims at the implementation of President Poroshenko’s Peace Plan and of President Putin’s initiatives.