News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE Chairmanship Special Representative Erler says Russian Federation’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula infringed fundamental OSCE principles
Publishing date: 18 March 2016
Berlin, 18 March 2016- On the second anniversary of the Russian Federation’s annexation of Crimean peninsula (18 March 2014), which under international law is part of Ukraine, Special Representative of the German Government for the OSCE Chairmanship Gernot Erler said: “Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula two years ago today was contrary to international law and infringed fundamental OSCE principles, in particular the inviolability of international borders and respect for the sovereignty of all states.”
Press statement by Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office
Publishing date: 18 March 2016
Tbilisi, 18 March 2016- Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, on 17 March, conducted a monitoring exercise on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan as part of his mandate....
OSCE event at UN Commission on the Status of Women’s session stresses need to change cultural norms in order to provide equal security for women and men
Publishing date: 17 March 2016
The implementation of existing gender equality commitments and changing deep-rooted cultural norms are crucial for creating stable, safe and peaceful societies for all, said participants at a side event organized on 16 March 2016 in New York by Germany’s 2016 OSCE Chairmanship and the OSCE Gender Section, on the margins of the 60th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)...
OSCE Chair’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus met Georgia's State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Affairs
Publishing date: 16 March 2016
TBILISI, 16 March 2016- The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, Günther Bächler, and German Ambassador to Georgia, Bettina Cadenbach, today in Tbilisi met with Georgia’s State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Affairs, Paata Zakareishvili, and commended the simultaneous release of detainees on 10 March, which was co-ordinated between Tbilisi, Sukhumi and Tskhinvali.
64th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meeting takes place in Ergneti
Publishing date: 15 March 2016
On 15th March 2016, the 64th meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) took place in Ergneti, co-facilitated by Kęstutis Jankauskas, the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), and Ambassador Guenther Baechler, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus...
OSCE Chairperson Steinmeier and Secretary General Zannier condemn in strongest terms terror attack in Ankara
Publishing date: 14 March 2016
BERLIN / VIENNA, 14 March 2016 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier today expressed deep sorrow and condemned in the strongest terms yesterday’s terror attack in Ankara that killed at least 37 people and left more than 120 wounded.
Statement by the Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions on the release of detainees
Publishing date: 11 March 2016
GENEVA, 11 March 2016- The Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions greatly welcome the simultaneous release of detainees from Tbilisi, Sukhumi and Tskhinvali as a significant humanitarian act...