News and press releases

TBILISI, 2 July 2016 – Nearly 300 parliamentarians from 54 OSCE countries have begun debates on political and security affairs, economic and environmental issues and human rights and humanitarian concerns at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 25th Annual Session in Tbilisi...

In Donetsk region, late in the evening the SMM noted intense fighting violations that lasted well into the morning in the Svitlodarsk/Debaltseve area and involved multiple-launch rocket system, artillery, and mortars. During the day, in Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations compared to the previous day. In Luhansk region, the SMM observed fewer ceasefire violations compared to the previous day. The SMM assessed damage to houses in Dokuchaievsk and Tavrycheske and conducted crater analysis in Popasna. It continued to observe the withdrawal of weapons and noted heavy weapons in violation of the withdrawal lines. The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians at entry-exit checkpoints along the contact line. The SMM monitored a border area not controlled by the Government. An SMM mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle crashed 1km north of “DPR”-controlled Lohvynove. The Mission’s freedom of movement was restricted on two occasions in an area not controlled by the Government...

TBILISI, 1 July 2016 – With nearly 300 parliamentarians in attendance from 54 countries, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 25th Annual Session opened Friday with speeches by host officials including Georgian Speaker of Parliament David Usupashvili, President Giorgi Margvelashvili, and Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, as well as OSCE PA President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) and the OSCE’s Chairperson-in-Office, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier...

National Points of Contact from 16 OSCE participating States on implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their components were familiarized with countries’ commitments stemming from this Resolution, at a training session co-organized by the OSCE from 28 June to 1 July 2016 in Kaliningrad, in the Russian Federation. A National Point of Contact from Chile – an observer State – also took part...

BAKU, 30 June 2016 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, met with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov during his visit to Baku today as part of his official trip to the South Caucasus and had a phone conversation with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. During the talks Steinmeier underlined the OSCE Chairmanship’s resolve to contribute to moving the settlement process forward...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions compared to the previous reporting period, including an escalation of armed violence in the wider area of Debaltseve. The SMM noted the use of rocket launchers in the areas of Avdiivka and multiple-launch rockets systems in Shyrokyne. It monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable recovery of the bodies of two “DPR” members in Pisky. It continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons. The SMM continued to monitor the situation of civilians at the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge. It facilitated and monitored repairs to essential infrastructure in Horlivka, near Gagarin mine, Trokhizbenka, Shchastia and in Obozne. The SMM did not encounter any specific restrictions to its freedom of movement...

TBILISI, 30 June 2016 – Held under the theme “25 Years of Parliamentary Co-operation: Building Trust Through Dialogue,” the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 2016 Annual Session will begin Friday in Tbilisi, Georgia, with keynote speeches by Georgian Speaker of Parliament David Usupashvili, Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, OSCE PA President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland), and OSCE Chairman-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier...