News and press releases

BERN, 26 May 2014 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister, Didier Burkhalter, rates the early presidential elections in Ukraine of May 25 as an important milestone in the process of de-escalation of the crisis. He thanked the election observation mission of the OSCE Office Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) to Ukraine and the observation delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly for their invaluable work...

BERN, 23 May, 2014 – Commending the Ukrainian authorities for their measures to reduce tensions, Swiss Foreign Minister and Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE, Didier Burkhalter, called upon all sides – and particularly upon the parties of the Geneva Statement of 17 April –, to lend full support to the country in its efforts for de-escalation and for a peaceful solution of the crisis, including the holding of early presidential elections...

DUSHANBE, 21 May 2014-- Strengthening the role of civil society organizations in the areas of prevention of torture, protection of human rights defenders and freedom of association in Central Asia and Mongolia was the focus of a two-day regional workshop that concluded in Dushanbe today...

CHISINAU, 21 May 2014 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process Ambassador Radojko Bogojević completed today his visit to Chisinau and Tiraspol...

MONTREUX, Switzerland, 20 May 2014 – Countries worldwide and in the OSCE region are frequently affected by floods, storms, earthquakes, droughts and other natural hazards. The OSCE opened a two-day event today in Montreux exploring how OSCE participating States can work together to reduce the risks posed by such disasters. Pursuing a comprehensive risk management approach that includes risks of disaster is important for the security of countries and the safety of communities. The most recent devastating floods in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia underline the relevance of this topic...

BERN / VIENNA, 15 May 2014- Foreign ministers from the 57 OSCE participating States have taken a consensus decision to extend the term of the OSCE Secretary General, Ambassador Lamberto Zannier of Italy, for another three years...

BERN, 14 May 2014- Referring to today’s first roundtable on national unity, held in Kyiv, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister, Didier Burkhalter, welcomed the successful launch of a nationwide dialogue, led and owned by Ukraine...