News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
Azerbaijan: OSCE PA’s Santos decries continuing threats to civil society and journalists, renews request for visits
Publishing date: 26 February 2015
COPENHAGEN, 26 February 2015 – The Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), today expressed deep concern about continuing threats to civil society and journalists in Azerbaijan and renewed her request to visit detained rights defenders...
OSCE PA President disturbed by continuing restrictions on Ukraine monitors
Publishing date: 25 February 2015
COPENHAGEN, 25 February 2015 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) today issued the following statement on continuing restrictions imposed on OSCE monitors in Ukraine and the need for full Russian support:
Parliamentarians debate Ukraine crisis, ceasefire efforts, as top OSCE officials address Assembly
Publishing date: 20 February 2015
VIENNA, 20 February 2015 – Nearly 250 parliamentarians from more than 50 OSCE participating States held an impassioned and at-times heated debate today on the crisis in Ukraine, the Organization’s responses and the status of the Minsk package of measures aimed at a resolution...
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Parliamentary Assembly President open PA Winter Meeting
Publishing date: 19 February 2015
VIENNA, 19 February 2015 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic joined OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) for the opening plenary of the PA’s Winter Meeting today, with both stressing that the internationally brokered plan to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine must not be derailed...
Statement on the rejection of Russia’s designation of Olga Kovitidi as a Member of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
Publishing date: 18 February 2015
VIENNA, 18 February 2015 – The Bureau of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly today unanimously rejected the Russian Federation’s designation of Olga Kovitidi as a Member of the OSCE PA. Ms. Kovitidi was identified by the Russian Federation as a Member of the Federation Council representing the so-called government of Crimea. The Bureau made its decision following an official challenge by the Ukrainian Delegation to the OSCE PA regarding the designation...
OSCE PA President calls for strict adherence to Ukraine ceasefire, deplores Debaltseve fighting
Publishing date: 16 February 2015
COPENHAGEN, 16 February 2015 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) today urged all sides in the Ukraine conflict to adhere strictly to the ceasefire and expressed deep concern about the continuation of fighting in areas of eastern Ukraine, particularly around the town of Debaltseve...
In Copenhagen, OSCE PA Secretary General deplores weekend’s terror attacks
Publishing date: 15 February 2015
COPENHAGEN, 15 February 2015 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Spencer Oliver issued the following statement today on the weekend's dual terror attacks in Copenhagen...