News and press releases

BERN, 13 December 2014 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter welcomed ongoing international efforts at various levels following the 21st OSCE Ministerial Council in Basel on 4 and 5 December aimed at restoring peace and stability in eastern Ukraine, including the work of the Trilateral Contact Group consisting of senior representatives of Ukraine, the Russian Federation and the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. The Contact Group has met several times since the Ministerial Council to explore ways forward.

The role of a new Panel of Eminent Persons to examine ways in which to reconsolidate European security as a common project was the focus of a side event organized by the OSCE Network of Think Tanks and Academic Institutions for 50 representatives from participating States, the OSCE and civil society on the margins of the 21st OSCE Ministerial Council in Basel, Switzerland on 4 December 2014.

ISTANBUL/ANKARA, 10 December 2014 –For the first time, a joint country visit of the three Personal Representatives of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on combatting discrimination and promoting tolerance took place in Turkey from 8-10 December 2014. The visit included meetings with civil society organizations in Istanbul and Ankara as well as a number of meetings with representatives of the Turkish government in Ankara. The aim of the visit was to discuss good practices and gaps in policy, activities and legislation as well as to consider areas in which the OSCE can provide further support in the implementation of OSCE commitments...

GENEVA, Switzerland, 10 December 2014- The thirtieth session of the Geneva International Discussions has just concluded its work...

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...

BASEL, Switzerland, 5 December 2014- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter summarized the discussions of the first day at the OSCE 21st Ministerial Council in Basel, noting that OSCE Foreign Ministers are meeting against the backdrop of one of the worst crises in the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian area since the end of the Cold War...

BASEL, Switzerland, 5 December 2014- Didier Burkhalter, Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office presented a Commemorative Publication on 20 years of the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security to the OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier at a special event held today during the 21st OSCE Ministerial Council in Basel...