News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
We must reinvigorate the OSCE in these challenging times, Parliamentary Assembly President Tsereteli says at Permanent Council
Publishing date: 26 November 2020
COPENHAGEN, 26 November 2020 – One week before the Ministerial Council, the OSCE’s central decision-making body, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli addressed ambassadors at today’s Permanent Council meeting in Vienna. Noting that it has now been 30 years since governments came together to adopt the Charter of Paris for a New Europe and promote relations founded on respect and co-operation, he stressed that the OSCE must reach its potential to help build a safer and more stable future...
Parliamentarians celebrate Paris Charter’s 30th anniversary, recall OSCE’s successes and urge renewed commitment to principles
Publishing date: 20 November 2020
COPENHAGEN, 20 November 2020 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the French Delegation to the OSCE PA held a web-based roundtable today to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Charter of Paris for a New Europe, which was adopted during the second Summit of Heads of State or Government of the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe, held in Paris from 19 to 21 November 1990...
Political actors in Georgia should resolve deadlock and participate in the work of the new parliament, OSCE PA leaders say
Publishing date: 17 November 2020
COPENHAGEN, 17 November 2020 – Amidst demands by the opposition for repeat parliamentary elections in Georgia and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to the South Caucasus country today, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s political and security Chair and the leaders of the OSCE’s recent election observation mission reiterated that political deadlock must be overcome in order to ensure that the voters’ will is respected...
Escalating police violence in Belarus unacceptable, says OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President, urging investigations
Publishing date: 16 November 2020
COPENHAGEN, 16 November 2020 – With widespread protests ongoing in Belarus for more than 100 days, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli reacted today to increasing reports of excessive and disproportionate force by law enforcement. Police have reportedly used flash grenades, rubber bullets and tear gas, the President noted, and more than 1,200 people were detained on Sunday after demonstrations commemorating the death of protester Raman Bandarenka, a 31-year old activist who died in a hospital last week after reportedly being beaten by security forces...
Food security, election observation, Belarus and Nagorno-Karabakh top agenda of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Standing Committee meeting
Publishing date: 12 November 2020
COPENHAGEN, 12 November 2020 – Meeting in an online format today, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Standing Committee heard a keynote address by David Beasley, Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme, and discussed OSCE matters...
With new agreement over Nagorno-Karabakh war, PA President hopes for long-lasting peace, condemns violence against parliamentarians
Publishing date: 10 November 2020
COPENHAGEN, 10 November 2020 – Following the signature of a trilateral statement between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Russian Federation to end fighting in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, OSCE PA President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) issued the following statement:
Leaders of election mission to Georgia concerned about recent protests, urge restraint
Publishing date: 9 November 2020
COPENHAGEN, 9 November 2020 – Following reports of protests against the results of the 31 October parliamentary elections and clashes with the police in recent days in Tbilisi, Georgia, OSCE Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE election mission Elona Gjebrea Hoxha (MP, Albania) and Head of the OSCE PA Delegation Pia Kauma (MP, Finland) called on the protesters to refrain from violence and on the authorities to respect the fundamental freedoms of assembly and expression...