News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE issues statement on tenth anniversary of the fall of Vukovar
Publishing date: 16 November 2001
ZAGREB, 18 November 2001 (OSCE)-- On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the fall of Vukovar, the OSCE Mission to Croatia issues the following statement...
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Adrian Severin to pay official visits to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan
Publishing date: 16 November 2001
COPENHAGEN, 16 November 2001 (OSCE)-- On 19-22 November 2001, Mr. Adrian Severin, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, will pay an official visit to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan
Chair of human trafficking task force ends trip to Albania
Publishing date: 16 November 2001
TIRANA, 16 November 2001- During her three-day visit to Albania, the Chair of the Stability Pact Task Force on Trafficking in Human Beings, Minister Helga Konrad, met with the Albanian Ministers of Public Order, European Integration, Justice...
Kosovo newspaper sanctioned for breaking electoral rules
Publishing date: 16 November 2001
PRISTINA, 16 November 2001 (OSCE)-- Kosovo's Election Complaints and Appeals sub-Commission has sanctioned the Albanian-language newspaper Bota Sot, for a second time during the current election campaign, two days ahead of the province's general...
OSCE Chairman-in-Office welcomes adoption of new constitution by Macedonian Parliament
Publishing date: 16 November 2001
BUCHAREST, 16 November 2001- The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, has welcomed the decision taken last night by the Macedonian Parliament to adopt a new constitution, which gives greater rights to the Albanian...
Kosovo election to be heavily monitored
Publishing date: 15 November 2001
PRISTINA, 15 November 2001 (OSCE)-- With almost 13,000 domestic monitors accredited, the OSCE believes the combination of international observers, domestic observers and media will make this one of the most heavily monitored elections
Joint study on trafficking in human beings published in Armenia
Publishing date: 14 November 2001
YEREVAN, 14 November 2001-- The OSCE Office in Yerevan today presented to the public findings of the first research study on the trafficking in human beings in Armenia...
OSCE organizes election quiz show in Kosovo
Publishing date: 14 November 2001
PRISTINA, 14 November 2001 (OSCE)-- The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has organized an election quiz show broadcast on Kosovo's public broadcaster, Radio-Television Kosovo (RTK). The show, which runs under the title "E gjeta", or "I've Got It"...
OSCE Chairman-in-Office shares concerns on Montenegro's draft new referendum law
Publishing date: 14 November 2001
BUCHAREST, 14 November 2001- The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, fully shares the concerns raised by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in a detailed analysis...
OSCE supports stronger Roma representation in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Publishing date: 12 November 2001
SARAJEVO, 12 November 2001 (OSCE)-- The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina has launched a new project aimed at improving the status of Roma in the country at a conference held in Vogosca, from 9 to 12 November 2001...
OSCE Skopje Mission expresses concern over escalation of tension
Publishing date: 12 November 2001
SKOPJE, 12 November 2001 (OSCE)-- The OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje has expressed its deep concern regarding the events that occurred recently in the wider Tetovo area, resulting in the loss of life of three Macedonian police officers...
Two Kosovo parties fined for political violence and reporting bias
Publishing date: 12 November 2001
PRISTINA, 12 November 2001 (OSCE)-- The Kosovo Election Complaints and Appeals sub-Commission has made two significant rulings this week. The Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) was sanctioned after one of its supporters repeatedly...
OSCE Kosovo Mission asks domestic election observers to be patient
Publishing date: 9 November 2001
PRISTINA, 9 November 2001 (OSCE)-- With almost 13,000 domestic observers accredited to take part in the upcoming Kosovo Assembly Election, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo has issued a plea for patience...
Kosovo's justice system functioning- but concerns remain
Publishing date: 9 November 2001
PRISTINA, 9 November 2001 (OSCE)-- The OSCE's latest report on Kosovo's justice system has called for assurances that international human rights standards will be met...
OSCE's human rights office welcomes progress in reform of Kyrgyz prison system
Publishing date: 9 November 2001
WARSAW, 9 November 2001- The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) welcomes the Kyrgyz Government's decision to place the country's prison system under the authority of the Ministry of Justice...
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice-President to lead observer delegation during Kosovo election
Publishing date: 8 November 2001
COPENHAGEN, 8 November 2001-- OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice-President Bruce George, MP (United Kingdom) will lead the OSCE observers for the Kosovo assembly election on 17 November...
OSCE Chairman-in-Office calls for political leaders to complete final stages of Ohrid agreement
Publishing date: 8 November 2001
SKOPJE, 8 November 2001 (OSCE)-- The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, paid a one-day visit to Skopje, capital of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, together with Lord Robertson, Secretary General of NATO...
Media Centre Opens for Kosovo's Election
Publishing date: 8 November 2001
PRISTINA, 8 November 2001-- On Friday, 9 November, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo is opening its media centre in Pristina to assist journalists working in Kosovo during the election on 17 November...
Head of Kosovo Mission to present third legal systems monitoring report
Publishing date: 8 November 2001
PRISTINA, 8 November 2001-- The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Daan Everts, will present the third report on Kosovo's judicial system in a press conference on Friday. The report looks at issues of legal representation, detention...
Kosovo Police Service officers cast their votes early in Kosovo
Publishing date: 7 November 2001
PRISTINA, 7 November 2001-- Kosovo Police Service officers are casting their ballots this week as part of the special needs voting programme, since they will be on duty on election day. As part of the OSCE special needs voting programme...
Kosovo civil society actors and politicians meet ahead of 17 November election
Publishing date: 7 November 2001
PRISTINA, 7 November 2001-- The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is organizing two discussions aimed at debating issues of concern to Kosovo citizens, who are called up to cast their ballots in the province's general election on 17 November...
Ballots arrive for Kosovo's 17 November general election
Publishing date: 7 November 2001
PRISTINA, 7 November 2001-- More than one million ballots have arrived in Kosovo for the 17 November general election. The ballots, which were printed in the United Kingdom...
Network of civil society development centres to be established in Albania
Publishing date: 6 November 2001
TIRANA, 6 November 2001- The OSCE Presence in Albania and the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) have established a network of five civil society development centres, which will be opened throughout the country this month...
OSCE introduces new voter registration system in Bosnia and Herzegovina municipalities
Publishing date: 6 November 2001
SARAJEVO, 6 November 2001- The OSCE is in the process of introducing in Bosnia and Herzegovina a new system of voter registration to representatives of all of the country's 145 municipalities. The process of voter registration is still administered...
Montenegro's draft referendum law marks backward step
Publishing date: 5 November 2001
WARSAW, 5 November 2001 (OSCE)-- The new draft referendum law of Montenegro, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, marks a backward step from current legislation. This is the conclusion of an analysis published today by the OSCE/ODIHR...
OSCE Chairman-in-Office welcomes endorsement of Kosovo Serb participation in November election
Publishing date: 5 November 2001
BUCHAREST, 5 November 2001- The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, welcomed the endorsement by the Governments of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Serbia, as well as...
OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities visits Skopje
Publishing date: 5 November 2001
SKOPJE, 5 November 2001 (OSCE)-- The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Rolf Ekeus, visited Skopje on 4 and 5 November and met with the President of the Republic, Boris Trajkoski, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilinka Mitreva...
OSCE seminar in Belgrade discusses use of water resources and management of international waterways
Publishing date: 5 November 2001
BELGRADE, 5 November 2001 (OSCE)- Environmental issues are at the top of the agenda of an international seminar, which currently takes place in Belgrade, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). The two-day event, organized by the OSCE in co-ordination...
OSCE Mission to Yugoslavia assessed municipal by-elections of 4 November in Serbia
Publishing date: 5 November 2001
BELGRADE, 5 November 2001 (OSCE)- The OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) carried out an assessment of the municipal by-elections that were held in 18 municipalities in Serbia on Sunday, 4 November...
All conditions fulfilled for Open Skies Treaty to enter into force
Publishing date: 5 November 2001
VIENNA, 5 November 2001 (OSCE)-- The Governments of the Depository nations Canada and Hungary have announced that the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus have deposited their instruments of ratification of the Treaty on Open Skies...
OSCE Mission in Kosovo welcomes endorsement of Kosovo Serb participation in November's election
Publishing date: 3 November 2001
PRISTINA, 3 November 2001 (OSCE)-- The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has welcomed the endorsement, by the parliaments of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and Serbia, as well as by the President of the FRY, Vojislav Kostunica...
OSCE resource centre opens at university of Uzbekistan
Publishing date: 2 November 2001
TASHKENT, 2 November 2001-- The OSCE Centre in Tashkent officially opened its Resource Centre at the National University of Uzbekistan, Faculty of Social & Political Sciences.
Roundtable on Judicial Integrity held by the Kosovo Judicial Institute
Publishing date: 2 November 2001
PRISTINA, 2 November 2001 (OSCE)-- Judicial integrity and enhancing the quality of the profession was the focus of a roundtable held by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. The meeting, run by the OSCE-established Kosovo Judicial Institute (KJI)...
Kosovo Media Appeals Board decides on case Hasanaj vs. Temporary Media Commissioner
Publishing date: 2 November 2001
PRISTINA, 2 November 2001 (OSCE)-- The Kosovo Media Appeals Board has issued a decision in the case of Besfort Hasanaj versus the Temporary Media Commissioner (TMC), presented to the Board on 15 October...
Human trafficking: fastest growing form of organized crime, Mr. Arlacchi tells OSCE Council
Publishing date: 1 November 2001
VIENNA, 1 November 2001 (OSCE)-- "In the first half century of its existence, the United Nations concentrated on strengthening collective security in order to reduce the likelihood of war between States...
OSCE welcomes entry into force of Aarhus Convention in Armenia
Publishing date: 1 November 2001
YEREVAN, 1 November 2001 (OSCE)-- The Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe has become legally binding...
Participants at 11th high-level "2+2/3+3" Council of Europe/OSCE meeting issue joint declaration
Publishing date: 31 October 2001
VADUZ, 30 October 2001 (OSCE)-- The following joint declaration was issued today by the participants at the 11th high-level "2+2/3+3" meeting, which took place yesterday and today in Vaduz, Liechtenstein: "The Chairman of the Council of Europe...
Annual OSCE Mediterranean Seminar focuses this year on economic and environmental dimension
Publishing date: 31 October 2001
DUBROVNIK, 31 October 2001 (OSCE)- Representatives from all six OSCE Mediterranean Partners and other international officials are currently gathered in Dubrovnik, Croatia, to attend the annual OSCE Mediterranean Seminar...
Kosovo Albanian newspaper fined for political bias
Publishing date: 31 October 2001
PRISTINA, 31 October 2001 (OSCE)-- The Kosovo Albanian-language newspaper Bota Sot has been fined for not providing fair and balanced media coverage on all political entities participating at the 17 November general election...
OSCE organizes international conference in Tajikistan on lawyers in a modern society
Publishing date: 30 October 2001
DUSHANBE, 30 October 2001 (OSCE)- The OSCE Mission to Tajikistan co-hosted a two-day international conference on the role of the institution of lawyers ("Advokatura") in today's society. The event was organized by the Tajik Human Rights...
OSCE round table in Bosnia and Herzegovina brings together Roma and Ombudsmen institutions
Publishing date: 30 October 2001
SARAJEVO, 30 October 2001 (OSCE)- Improving access of Roma to the Ombudsmen institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the topic of a round table organized by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina yesterday...
OSCE nominates juries for Bosnia and Herzegovina youth campaign contests
Publishing date: 30 October 2001
SARAJEVO, 30 October 2001 (OSCE)-- The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina has selected the juries that will review the songs, comics, photos and essays submitted for the "My World- My Bosnia and Herzegovina" competition...
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Severin visits Armenia
Publishing date: 29 October 2001
YEREVAN, 29 October 2001 (OSCE)-- From 26 to 28 October, Adrian Severin, the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), paid an official visit to Armenia to acquire a deeper insight into the present situation in the country and...
International meeting on migration legislation in the CIS to be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 29-31 October
Publishing date: 28 October 2001
WARSAW, 28 October 2001 (OSCE)-- The development of migration legislation in line with international standards in the Commonwealth of Independent States will be the focus of an international high-level meeting in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 29-31 October
First international human rights film festival in Tajikistan
Publishing date: 27 October 2001
DUSHANBE, 27 October 2001 (OSCE)-- The OSCE Mission to Tajikistan, in co-operation with the International Human Rights Film Festival "Stalker" and the Russian Federation Guild of Cinematographers, hosted the first human rights film festival...
Sovereignty, responsibility, and national minorities: statement by OSCE minorities commissioner
Publishing date: 26 October 2001
THE HAGUE, 26 October 2001 (OSCE)-- The following statement was issued today by Rolf Ekéus, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities:
Delays in Kosovo election preparations raise concerns
Publishing date: 26 October 2001
PRISTINA, 26 October 2001 (OSCE)-- The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is deeply concerned- concerns which are fully shared by UNMIK- that FRY authorities have not yet authorized technical preparations for the Kosovo Assembly Election Day on 17 November
Yugoslavia to join OSCE communications network
Publishing date: 26 October 2001
BELGRADE, 26 October 2001 (OSCE)-- The OSCE Mission to the FRY welcomes the decision of Yugoslav authorities to join the direct communication network between capitals of OSCE States for exchanging messages concerning military activities
ICRC President welcomes strong partnership with OSCE
Publishing date: 25 October 2001
VIENNA, 25 October 2001 (OSCE)-- The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Jakob Kellenberger, today underscored the strong partnership of his organization with the OSCE, in particular with regard to field operations...
OSCE calls on Kosovo electorate to check polling station locations
Publishing date: 25 October 2001
PRISTINA, 25 October 2001 (OSCE)-- The OSCE is calling on all voters in Kosovo to make sure they know where their polling station is before election day in order to avoid long queues and confusion on 17 November...