News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE Chairperson’s Personal Representatives on tolerance in first joint country visit to United States
Publishing date: 24 July 2014
WASHINGTON D.C., 24 July 2014 – The OSCE Chairperson’s Personal Representatives on combatting discrimination and promoting tolerance on 21 to 23 July 2014 made their first joint country visit to the United States where they identified problems, best practices as well as gaps in policy, activities and legislation, and areas where the OSCE can provide further support.
Deployment of OSCE observers to the Russian Federation one element to de-escalate situation, Chair says, calling for further and broader measures to follow suit
Publishing date: 24 July 2014
Bern, July 24, 2014 – Noting today’s consensus decision of the OSCE Permanent Council to deploy an Observer Mission to two checkpoints of Donetsk and Gukovo on the Russian-Ukrainian border, the Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister, Didier Burkhalter, stressed the confidence-building character of this measure.
Political leaders need to speak out against the anti-Semitic and racist rhetoric and acts, OSCE tolerance representative says
Publishing date: 23 July 2014
WASHINGTON D.C., 22 July, 2014- With reference to demonstrations in many places in the OSCE area, sparked recently by tensions in the Middle East, and in a few cases with manifestations of intolerance, especially of anti-Semitic rhetoric and acts, Rabbi Andrew Baker, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Anti-Semitism, underlined the importance of the Berlin Declaration. This declaration, adopted ten years ago by the participating States of the OSCE, reads: “[We] declare unambiguously that international developments or political issues, including those in Israel or elsewhere in the Middle East never justify anti-Semitism.”
Extension of Special Monitoring Mission mandate indicates that scope for co-operative solution in Ukraine persists, Chairperson-in-Office says
Publishing date: 22 July 2014
BERN, 22 July 2014- After the decision of the OSCE Permanent Council, upon request by the Ukrainian government, to extend the mandate of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine for a further six months, the Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister, Didier Burkhalter, welcomed that the SMM will be able to continue to play its crucial role in assisting Ukraine in de-escalating measures...
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...
After tragic crash of the Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 in Ukraine, CiO offers condolences and OSCE support
Publishing date: 18 July 2014
Bern, July 17, 2014- Didier Burkhalter, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister, expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the many victims of the shocking crash of the Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukrainian territory. He said that the circumstances which led to this tragedy had to be investigated in a thorough and impartial manner and commended Ukraine’s readiness to involve international expertise.
Swiss Chairperson-in-Office discusses next steps with Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and the Russian Federation
Publishing date: 14 July 2014
BERN, 14 July 2014- In telephone conversations with the Ukrainian and the Russian Foreign Ministers today, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister; Didier Burkhalter, reiterated the OSCE’s support in various ongoing de-escalation efforts.