News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
All sides will benefit from the decision to deploy an OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Swiss OSCE Chair says
Publishing date: 21 March 2014
BERN, 21 March 2014 – The decision of the Permanent Council of the OSCE today to deploy a Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine was welcomed by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister, Didier Burkhalter.
OSCE to step up its activities in support of Ukraine, Swiss Chair says
Publishing date: 20 March 2014
BERN, 20 March 2014- Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chair, Didier Burkhalter, emphasized the importance of various ongoing OSCE activities in order to support Ukraine to overcome the crises. At the same time, he underlined that the Organization is gradually expanding its presence on the ground...
OSCE Chairperson calls for diplomacy to overcome the crisis
Publishing date: 18 March 2014
BERN, 18 March 2014- Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson Didier Burkhalter considers the latest steps, taken today by the Russian Federation regarding the status of Crimea a breach of fundamental OSCE commitments and not compatible with international law. These unilateral actions also contradict the Helsinki Final Act, he said. OSCE countries have committed themselves to a security community where each participating State has an equal right to security and none of the OSCE countries should strengthen its security at the expense of the security of other States, Burkhalter went on...
Chairperson-in-Office calls on all sides to commit to resolving the situation regarding Ukraine through dialogue, with peaceful means and with respect of international law
Publishing date: 16 March 2014
BERN, March 16, 2014 – In the light of the unlawful referendum on the status of Crimea, Swiss Foreign Minister and Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE, Didier Burkhalter, discussed over the weekend, at the highest political levels, the situation regarding Ukraine and possible solutions.
Swiss OSCE Chair and Russian President discuss ways out of crisis regarding Ukraine
Publishing date: 12 March 2014
BERN, March 12 2014- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, discussed the situation regarding Ukraine in a phone conversation with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, this afternoon. They talked about possible ways to overcome the current crisis...
OSCE Chair says Crimean referendum in its current form is illegal and calls for alternative ways to address the Crimean issue
Publishing date: 11 March 2014
BERN, March 11 2014 – In its current form the referendum regarding Crimea scheduled for March 16, 2014, is in contradiction with the Ukrainian Constitution and must be considered illegal, Swiss Foreign Minister and OSCE Chair Didier Burkhalter said...
Swiss OSCE Special Representative for the South Caucasus visits Azerbaijan
Publishing date: 10 March 2014
From 6 to 8 March 2014, Ambassador Angelo Gnaedinger, OSCE Special Representative for the South Caucasus, held consultations with high-ranking officials of Azerbaijan...