News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Holocaust remembrance in focus at OSCE Permanent Council meeting tomorrow
Publishing date: 21 January 2015
VIENNA, 21 January 2015 – Holocaust remembrance will be the focus of the next meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council tomorrow, Thursday 22 January 2015, in light of the upcoming International Holocaust Remembrance Day (27 January)...
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office welcomes Declaration by participating States calling for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine
Publishing date: 20 January 2015
BELGRADE, 20 January 2015- The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić today welcomed a Declaration adopted by representatives of the OSCE’s 57 participating States at a special meeting of the Permanent Council in Vienna, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. He welcomed the Permanent Council’s prompt response to the rapidly deteriorating situation on the ground...
OSCE participating States issue Declaration condemning terrorist attacks in France
Publishing date: 15 January 2015
VIENNA, 15 January 2015 – The OSCE’S 57 participating States today, at the first meeting of the Permanent Council of the year, adopted a declaration condemning last week’s terrorist attacks in France, emphasizing that terrorism can never be justified, that freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, and that States continue to work to foster tolerance in their societies...
Stability, security and respect for human rights are shared UN and OSCE values, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon tells OSCE Permanent Council
Publishing date: 4 November 2014
VIENNA, 4 November 2014 – The OSCE plays a pivotal role in easing divisions, healing wounds and managing change, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, told the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today, and emphasized the close UN-OSCE partnership in enhancing conflict prevention and resolution...
Killing of Mykola Zelenc demonstrates urgent need to stop violent escalation in eastern Ukraine, says Swiss OSCE Permanent Council Chair
Publishing date: 23 August 2014
VIENNA, 23 August 2014 – On behalf of the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship, Ambassador Thomas Greminger, Chair of the OSCE Permanent Council, expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Government of Lithuania and the family of Mykola Zelenec, the Honorary Consul of Lithuania, who was murdered by illegally armed groups in Luhansk. The perpetrators must be brought to justice, Greminger underlined, and condemned the tragic murder. This is another sad indicator that violence in the east of Ukraine must be ended and that all needs to be done to de-escalate the situation urgently in order to find back to meaningful dialogue, Greminger concluded.
OSCE Permanent Council adopts declaration on tragic plane crash in Ukraine, calls for access to site and for an independent investigation
Publishing date: 18 July 2014
VIENNA, 18 July 2014 – Representatives of the OSCE’s 57 participating States at the Permanent Council today adopted a declaration on the tragic crash of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Ukraine...
Serbia as 2015 Chairmanship to work on crisis resolution, water governance, youth and security, Foreign Minister tells OSCE Permanent Council
Publishing date: 15 July 2014
VIENNA, 15 July 2014 – Addressing crises and conflicts in the OSCE region, advancing regional co-operation with a special focus on Western Balkans, stepping up work on youth and security and promoting water governance are among the priorities of the incoming Serbian Chairmanship in 2015, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Serbia Ivica Dačić told OSCE participating States today...