News and press releases

BELGRADE / VIENNA, 7 January 2015- The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić and OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier expressed their outrage today at the terrorist attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris, condemning the massacre as an attack on the freedom of expression...

BASEL, Switzerland, 5 December 2014 – The OSCE proved its value and ability as a forum for dialogue while its key principles were defended, said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter as the 21st Ministerial Council concluded in Basel today. Burkhalter welcomed decisions on Germany and Austria assuming the OSCE Chairmanships respectively in 2016 and 2017, and lauded decisions to further enhance the fight against terrorism and boost States’ preparedness against the threat of natural disasters...

VIENNA, 7 November 2014 – Cyber-security experts and representatives of the private sector, think-tanks and academia are meeting in Vienna today to discuss the implementation so far of a ground-breaking set of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) agreed by OSCE participating States last year on reducing the risk of conflict stemming from the use of information and communication technologies (ICT), while exploring how the development of additional CBMs could be boosted.

VALLETTA, 16 September 2014 – States need to strengthen mechanisms and channels for effective and timely exchange of information in order to better prevent and thwart terrorist kidnappings and hostage-taking, said speakers at the start of a two-day Mediterranean regional workshop, organized by the OSCE and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in Valletta today...

INTERLAKEN, Switzerland, 29 April 2014 – Countering terrorism requires an inclusive and coordinated response at all levels, emphasized the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship in its conclusions to a two-day OSCE international counter-terrorism conference. Characterized by its strategic approach, involving all Executive Structures and Institutions, the OSCE should continue to build on its comparative advantages in close cooperation with other international actors.

INTERLAKEN, Switzerland, 28 April 2014 – The OSCE, with its comprehensive approach to security linking politico-military, economic and environmental and human rights objectives, was well-placed to assist participating States in preventing and combating terrorism, said Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter at the opening of an international counter-terrorism conference today.

KYIV, 29 December 2013 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara today condemned a terrorist attack at the railway station in the city of Volgograd in the Russian Federation that left some 15 dead and many more wounded...