News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE Chairmanship calls for restraint and respect for OSCE commitments following Belarus presidential elections
Publishing date: 10 August 2020
VIENNA / TIRANA, 10 August 2020 – Albania’s OSCE Chairmanship has expressed concern about developments in Belarus following the presidential elections held on 9 August, which the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights was unable to observe. The Chairmanship has been following reports of protests and the use of force against protesters as well as detentions and obstruction of the work of journalists and media...
Marking 45 years of Helsinki Final Act, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office calls for reinvigoration of its principles and commitments amid challenging times
Publishing date: 1 August 2020
TIRANA / VIENNA, 1 August 2020 – The further strengthening of the OSCE and its comprehensive approach to security is inextricably linked to full respect for and implementation of the fundamental principles and commitments enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act, said the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Edi Rama, on the day marking the 45th anniversary of the landmark document...
Positive atmosphere as 96th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meeting takes place in Ergneti
Publishing date: 30 July 2020
ERGNETI, 30 July 2020- The 96th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) took place today in Ergneti, co-facilitated by Ambassador Marek Szczygieł, Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and Ambassador Rudolf Michalka, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus. In the wake of COVID-19, this first regular meeting of the Ergneti IPRM since August 2019 was accompanied by all the necessary precautionary health measures, and was held in a positive and constructive atmosphere...
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons: High-level OSCE officials urge States to redouble efforts, especially amid backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic
Publishing date: 30 July 2020
VIENNA / WASHINGTON, D.C. / WARSAW, 30 July 2020- On the occasion of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons today, high-level OSCE officials have highlighted the need to redouble efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly against the backdrop of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic...
OSCE Special Representative welcomes recent meeting between Moldovan President and Transdniestrian leader and hopes for further “constructive, forward-looking dialogue”
Publishing date: 29 July 2020
VIENNA, 29 July 2020- The Special Representative of the Albanian OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, Ambassador Thomas Mayr-Harting welcomed yesterday’s meeting in Condrita between Moldovan President Igor Dodon and Transdniestrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky...
Press Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office
Publishing date: 24 July 2020
MOSCOW / PARIS / WASHINGTON, DC, 24 July 2020- The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stéphane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) and Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (PRCIO) Andrzej Kasprzyk released the following statement today:
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Rama welcomes agreement on additional measures to strengthen ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, urges further positive steps
Publishing date: 23 July 2020
TIRANA, 23 July 2020 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Edi Rama, welcomed the agreement reached yesterday by the Trilateral Contact Group, with the participation of representatives of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, regarding additional measures to strengthen the ceasefire, aiming to ensure compliance with a comprehensive, sustainable and unlimited ceasefire. The agreement is due to come into force from 27 July 2020 until the comprehensive settlement of the conflict...