News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE Chair says Crimean referendum in its current form is illegal and calls for alternative ways to address the Crimean issue
Publishing date: 11 March 2014
BERN, March 11 2014 – In its current form the referendum regarding Crimea scheduled for March 16, 2014, is in contradiction with the Ukrainian Constitution and must be considered illegal, Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chair Didier Burkhalter said...
Swiss OSCE Chair discusses crisis in Ukraine with German Foreign Minister Steinmeier
Publishing date: 4 March 2014
BERN, 4 March 2014 – Swiss Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter today discussed the Ukrainian crisis with German Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier. They emphasized the capacity of the OSCE in helping to overcome the crisis...
OSCE Chair welcomes handover of Kyiv City State Administration Building as another positive step in defusing tensions
Publishing date: 16 February 2014
BERN, 16 February 2014- Didier Burkhalter, Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, today welcomed the move by opposition protesters to vacate the Kyiv City State Administration Building as another positive development towards de-escalating tensions in Ukraine...
OSCE Chair discusses crisis in Ukraine with President Yanukovych
Publishing date: 7 February 2014
SOCHI, February 7, 2014 – Didier Burkhalter, Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, discussed with Viktor Yanukovych, President of Ukraine, the situation in the country and confirmed the readiness of the OSCE to assist Ukraine in the settlement of the crisis.
Situation in Ukraine among topics as OSCE Chair visits ODIHR in Warsaw
Publishing date: 27 January 2014
WARSAW, 27 January 2014 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, today met the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Ambassador Janez Lenarčič, to discuss the situation surrounding anti-government protests in Ukraine, the need for greater efforts to protect human rights defenders, and the Swiss Chairmanship’s priorities in the areas of human rights, democracy and the rule of law...
Swiss OSCE Chairperson-in-Office expresses “concern” over Ukraine
Publishing date: 17 January 2014
VIENNA, 17 January 2014- Didier Burkhalter, Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, has expressed concern at recent legal measures taken in Ukraine which contain provisions which recriminalize libel and could impose serious restrictions on fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly...
Statement by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Leonid Kozhara on the occasion of Human Rights Day
Publishing date: 10 December 2013
KYIV, 10 December 2013- On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara underlined today the important role the OSCE can play in fostering co-operation between participating States in building a community with the highest standards of respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms, and the rule of law...