News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Stability, security and respect for human rights are shared UN and OSCE values, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon tells OSCE Permanent Council
Publishing date: 4 November 2014
VIENNA, 4 November 2014 – The OSCE plays a pivotal role in easing divisions, healing wounds and managing change, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, told the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna today, and emphasized the close UN-OSCE partnership in enhancing conflict prevention and resolution...
OSCE Special Representative on Gender Issues visits Tajikistan
Publishing date: 4 November 2014
DUSHANBE, 4 November 2014 – Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Gender Issues June Zeitlin paid a four-day country visit to Tajikistan from 1 to 4 November 2014...
So-called elections not in line with Minsk Protocol, says OSCE Chair, calling for enhanced efforts and dialogue to implement all commitments
Publishing date: 31 October 2014
Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Didier Burkhalter, reminded all parties that the Minsk Protocol and the Memorandum of September 5 and 19 respectively should continue to serve as the relevant framework and reference point for steps towards de-escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. He noted that some progress was made in the implementation of the arrangements, particularly with regard to cease-fire and its monitoring, efforts towards decentralization and the liberation of detainees, which led to a decrease in violence.
Participants at OSCE meeting stress need for increased commitment to protecting human rights in times of economic crisis
Publishing date: 30 October 2014
VIENNA, 30 October 2014 – While times of economic crisis can impose severe budgetary conditions on States, addressing these constraints cannot come at the cost of ignoring the responsibilities States have for the protection and promotion of human rights, participants said today at the opening of a two-day OSCE meeting in Vienna...
OSCE Special Representative on Transdniestrian settlement underscores need for frequent contacts between Chisinau and Tiraspol
Publishing date: 30 October 2014
CHISINAU, 30 October 2014- The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process Ambassador Radojko Bogojević today concluded his visit to Moldova in which he underscored the importance of frequent and substantive direct contacts between Chisinau and Tiraspol...
Elections in Ukraine another step towards stabilization, says CiO, calling for enhanced efforts to implement Minsk commitments
Publishing date: 27 October 2014
BERN, 27 October 2014- Didier Burkhalter, Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, congratulated Ukrainians for taking part in the early elections of the parliamentary assembly. Taking good note of the preliminary findings of the International Election Observation Mission that these elections marked an important step in Ukraine’s aspirations to consolidate democratic elections in line with its international commitments, he thanked the election observation mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) and the observation delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly as well as other international institutions for their engagement...
Promoting partnerships between law enforcement agencies, governments and private sector to combat illicit drugs in focus at OSCE conference
Publishing date: 27 October 2014
VIENNA, 27 October 2014 – Representatives of law enforcement agencies, government authorities and the private sector, such as the chemical industry or the transportation industry, working to control precursors and synthetic drugs are meeting in Vienna today to explore how to enhance collaboration between law enforcement and non-law enforcement actors to combat the threat of illicit drugs effectively...