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News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Trial of eight men in Gnjilane, Kosovo
Publishing date: 17 February 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Democratization
GNJILANE, 17 February 1999-- On 16 February 1999, in the District Court of Gnjilane, the trial of eight men charged with associating for the purpose of hostile activities and terrorism began. The trial...
Parliamentary Assembly President visits Turkmenistan
Publishing date: 15 February 1999
COPENHAGEN, 15 February 1999-- From 18-20 February 1999, Mrs. Helle Degn, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, will visit Turkmenistan to observe the situation in the...
Three faculty buildings returned to Albanian authorities in Pristina
Publishing date: 15 February 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Democratization
PRISTINA, 15 February 1999-- The premises of three former faculties were returned to the Albanian academic authorities during a brief ceremony at Pristina...
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President to visit Uzbekistan
Publishing date: 12 February 1999
COPENHAGEN, 12 February 1999-- From 16-18 February 1999, Mrs. Helle Degn, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, will visit Uzbekistan to observe the situation in the Republic...
New Co-ordination Centre opens in Kosovo
Publishing date: 10 February 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Human rights
SRBICA, 10 February 1999-- Yesterday, the Co-ordination Centre Srbica of the OSCE/KVM Regional Centre Mitrovica was officially inaugurated. At the moment 25 international verifiers are...
Racak victims remain unburied
Publishing date: 10 February 1999
PRISTINA, 10 February 1999-- The bodies of 40 Albanian civilians killed in Racak on 15 th January remain unburied. The Kosovo Verification Mission deeply deplores the unresolved issue of the transference of the bodies from the FRY...
OSCE Chairman-in-Office calls on parties to negotiate on Kosovo
Publishing date: 4 February 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
OSLO, 4 February 1999- The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek, calls on the Government of the Federal Republic of...
OSCE Permanent Council issues statement on Kosovo
Publishing date: 1 February 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: Permanent Council, OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
VIENNA, 1 February 1999-- The OSCE Permanent Council remains deeply concerned about the escalating violence in Kosovo. It expresses its full support for the efforts of the...
Overview of international representation in the Kosovo Verification Mission
Publishing date: 30 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
PRISTINA, 30 January 1999-- Since the beginning of the Mission, the KVM has constantly increased its size.
British Foreign Minister meets Albanian leaders with KVM Head of Mission
Publishing date: 30 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
PRISTINA, 30 January 1999-- The U.K. Foreign Minister, Mr. Robin Cook, representing the Contact Group, will meet today with leaders of the Albanian community in Kosovo. The...
Over 1,000 international OSCE verifiers in Kosovo
Publishing date: 29 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Human rights
PRISTINA, 29 January 1999-- Today the number of international staff with the Kosovo Verification Mission passed another significant milestone when new arrivals brought the KVM strength to 1,020....
Shooting at Rakovina condemned by KVM
Publishing date: 27 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Human rights
PRISTINA, 27 January 1999-- The OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission condemns the shooting of five civilians near the village of Rakovina, reported Monday, as a criminal and brutal act which cannot be tolerated....
Yugoslav Government releases nine Albanian prisoners
Publishing date: 24 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Human rights
PRISTINA, 24 January 1999-- The OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission was pleased to learn yesterday that nine ethnic Albanians, imprisoned since December for KLA-activities, were released by the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia....
Five prisoners released in Kosovo
Publishing date: 23 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Human rights
PRISTINA, 23 January 1999-- Five civilians, taken hostage on Friday January 22, were released tonight as a result of KVM efforts....
KVM condemns abduction of Serbian civilians
Publishing date: 23 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Human rights
PRISTINA, 23 January 1999-- The OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission strongly condemns the abduction on Friday, January 22 of five civilians from the village of Nevolijane near Vucitrn....
OSCE rejects Yugoslav decision to expel Ambassador Walker
Publishing date: 21 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: Troika, OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
VIENNA, 21 January 1999-- The OSCE Ministerial Troika, Foreign Ministers Knut Vollebæk of Norway, Wolfgang Schüssel of...
Deliberate shooting at KVM vehicles
Publishing date: 21 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship
What we do: Reform and co-operation in the security sector
PRISTINA, 21 January-- The commander of the KLA forces in the Decani area has acknowledged publicly that his forces were responsible for the shooting and wounding of two KVM personnel on 15 January, saying it was due to a misunderstanding....
Head of Kosovo Verification Mission declared "persona non grata"
Publishing date: 19 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
OSLO, 19 January 1999-- On 18 January the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Knut Vollebaek received the message from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Zivadin Jovanovic that Ambassador William Wal
Statement by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office on Kosovo
Publishing date: 19 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
OSLO, 19 January 1999-- The OSCE and the international community are fully united in their concern over the increased tension in the region....
OSCE Permanent Council Chairman shocked over killings in Kosovo
Publishing date: 18 January 1999
VIENNA, 18 January 1999-- The Chairman of the Permanent Council of the OSCE, following today's discussion in the Permanent Council, expresses shock over the killings of ethnic Albanian civilians in southern Kosovo on Friday, 15 January....
Yugoslav authorities request meeting with KVM
Publishing date: 17 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Human rights
PRISTINA, 17 January 1999-- After the conclusion of a meeting with Yugoslav authorities in the town of Stimlje, General Drewienkewicz of the Kosovo Verification Mission said...
OSCE Chairman-in-Office condemns atrocities in Kosovo
Publishing date: 16 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Human rights
OSLO, 16 January 1999-- The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek of Norway, expressed shock and outrage over the killings of ethnic Albanian...
Two OSCE Mission members wounded in Kosovo
Publishing date: 16 January 1999
PRISTINA, 16 January 1999-- Ambassador William Walker, Head of The Kosovo Verification Mission said: "Yesterday afternoon, near the village of Pozar, in the Decani region, two of my mission...
Statement by Parliamentary Assembly President on visit to Croatia
Publishing date: 13 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Mission to Croatia (closed)
What we do: Democratization
ZAGREB, 13 January 1999-- In my capacity as President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly- representing more than 300 parliamentarians from 54...
Journalist killed in Kosovo
Publishing date: 12 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
What we do: Media freedom and development, Safety of journalists
VIENNA, 12 January 1999-- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the media was saddened to learn of the death of Enver Maloku, a prominent Albanian journalist in Kosovo, who was fatally shot by unknown gunmen on Monday. His death tragically...
Hostages seen alive and well in Kosovo
Publishing date: 10 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Human rights
PRISTINA, 10 January 1999-- The OSCE KVM mediators in the negotiations to release the 8 VJ soldiers confirm that they visited the prisoners at about 3.15 pm on Saturday 9 January and also on the 10th.
Alleged mass grave site in Kosovo
Publishing date: 10 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Human rights
PRISTINA, 10 January 1999-- On 29 December 1998 the OSCE Human Rights Division was informed via the US KDOM of an alleged mass grave in the Urosevac area, south of Pristina. The US KDOM received the information from the Kosovo...
Irresponsible acts by Kosovo Liberation Army increase tension
Publishing date: 9 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Human rights
PRISTINA, 9 January 1999-- KVM wishes to state that irresponsible actions by the KLA since yesterday morning are the main reasons for a considerable increase of tension in Kosovo....
Chairman-in-Office to address OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
Publishing date: 8 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
VIENNA, 8 January 1999-- The Standing Committee of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will hold its winter Meeting...
Fourth OSCE Regional Center opens in Kosovo
Publishing date: 8 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Human rights
PRISTINA, 8 January 1999-- The OSCE KVM will open the fourth regional center (RC4) in Gnjilanje on Saturday, 9 January 1999...
Serious breach of the ceasefire in Kosovo near Prizren
Publishing date: 8 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Reform and co-operation in the security sector
PRISTINA, 8 January 1999-- KVM strongly condemns an unacceptable breach of the Kosovo ceasefire today near Prizren, between the villages of Suka Reka and Stimlje.
Parliamentary Assembly President visits OSCE Mission in Croatia
Publishing date: 7 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Mission to Croatia (closed)
What we do: Democratization
COPENHAGEN, 7 January 1999- From 11 to 13 January 1999 Mrs. Helle Degn, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, will pay a three- day visit to the Republic of Croatia...
Unacceptable developments in Pristina
Publishing date: 7 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Democratization
PRISTINA, 7 January 1999-- The Kosovo Verification Mission expresses its strong concern about the unacceptable developments today around Pristina where demonstrations by civilians, many of them armed and masked, established roadblocks and prevented the p
OSCE Chairman-in-Office to visit countries effected by the Kosovo conflict
Publishing date: 6 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
OSLO, 6 January 1999-- The new Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebæk, will make a trip to the Balkans on 9- 13...
Café blast in Pristina
Publishing date: 6 January 1999
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Human rights
PRISTINA, 6 January 1999-- On the evening of Tuesday 5 January a hand grenade was thrown at the window of a café in Pristina. The grenade exploded outside the café resulting in...
KVM concerned about future of the daily newspaper "Bujku" in Kosovo
Publishing date: 5 January 1999
PRISTINA, 5 January 1999-- On January 4th, 1999, Ambassador Gabriel Keller, Principal Deputy and acting Head of the OSCE- KVM Mission to Kosovo met with the editor-in-chief of the daily "Bujku", Mr. Binak Kelmendi....
OSCE public office for human rights violations opens in Pristina
Publishing date: 28 December 1998
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Human rights
PRISTINA, 28 December 1998-- The OSCE KVM Human Rights Division has established a Public Office open under appointment to anyone wishing to provide information and statement on violations of human rights taking place in Kosovo.
OSCE Chairman-in-Office concerned with breach of ceasefire in Kosovo
Publishing date: 27 December 1998
Content type: Press statement
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
What we do: Reform and co-operation in the security sector
WARSAW, 27 December 1998-- Professor Bronislaw Geremek, Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs and the OSCE Chairman-in-Office expresses his deep concern with the renewed fighting and the breach of the fragile ceasefire in Kosovo in recent days....
OSCE Chairman-in-Office condemns Kosovo violence
Publishing date: 15 December 1998
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission (closed)
WARSAW, 15 December 1998-- The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Polish Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek, strongly condemns the recent violence in Kosovo which comes at a critical juncture in the efforts of the international community to relax tensions a
Statement on Estonia by OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities
Publishing date: 9 December 1998
Content type: Press statement
Where we are: OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities
What we do: National minority issues
THE HAGUE, 9 December 1998-- The following statement was released today by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Max van der Stoel....
OSCE Chairman-in-Office condemns killings in Chechnya
Publishing date: 9 December 1998
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Assistance Group to Chechnya (closed)
What we do: Human rights
WARSAW, 9 December 1998-- The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek strongly condemns the brutal killings of three nationals of the United Kingdom and one of New Zealand kidnapped in Chechnya....
OSCE Chairman-in-Office concludes visit to Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan
Publishing date: 26 November 1998
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Baku (closed)
What we do: Human rights
BAKU, 26 November 1998-- The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Polish Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek, is today concluding a four-day visit to Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan....
OSCE Ministerial Council meeting to be held in Oslo
Publishing date: 23 November 1998
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Secretariat
VIENNA, 23 November 1998-- The Foreign Ministers of the 54 OSCE Participating States will meet in Oslo on 2 and 3 December for the 7th OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting.
OSCE calls for steps to be taken in Croatia for media rights
Publishing date: 20 November 1998
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Mission to Croatia (closed)
What we do: Media freedom and development
ZAGREB, 20 November 1998- The media have a vital role to play in democratic societies. If comprehensive information and a diversity of views are not available to the public through the media, then the quality and responsibility of...
Chairman-in-Office meets with OSCE Minsk Group
Publishing date: 19 November 1998
Content type: Press release
Where we are: OSCE Chairmanship, Minsk Group
What we do: Conflict prevention and resolution
WARSAW, 19 November 1998-- The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Bronislaw Geremek, met today in Warsaw with the French, Russian and United States Co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group...
Anniversary of the fall of Vukovar, Croatia
Publishing date: 18 November 1998
ZAGREB, 18 November 1998- Seven years ago, terrible crimes were committed against the people of Vukovar. These crimes have been acknowledged by the entire world. They will not...
OSCE to monitor referendum on the constitution in Albania
Publishing date: 17 November 1998
COPENHAGEN, 17 November 1998-- Italian Senator Tana de Zulueta, Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), will take charge of the OSCE\'s monitoring of the Referendum on the Constitution in Albania on Sunday 22 November.
Permanent Council statement on violence towards OSCE personnel in Albania
Publishing date: 11 November 1998
Content type: Press statement
Where we are: OSCE Presence in Albania, Permanent Council
VIENNA, 11 November 1998- The Permanent Council of the OSCE has with deep dismay taken note of two violent incidents yesterday affecting the security of the OSCE personnel in Shkodra...
OSCE statement on inter-ethnic issues in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Publishing date: 10 November 1998
Content type: Press statement
What we do: National minority issues
THE HAGUE, 10 November 1998-- On 6 November 1998, Mr. Max van der Stoel, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, issued a statement on a number of inter-ethnic issues in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Inter-ethnic relations need further attention in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Publishing date: 9 November 1998
Content type: Press statement
What we do: National minority issues
THE HAGUE, 9 November 1998-- Statement on inter-ethnic relations in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities: