You are here

Central Europe

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Steinmeier strongly condemns terrorist attack in Istanbul

OSCE - Wed, 13/01/2016 - 14:44

BERLIN, 13 January 2016 - The OSCE Chairperson‑in‑Office, Federal Foreign Minister Frank‑Walter Steinmeier, today condemned yesterday’s terrorist attack in Istanbul in the strongest possible terms, and offered his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families and friends of the victims. “This is a difficult time for all of us – a time of grief, rage and shock,” he said.

The attack of 12 January had “once again made it painfully clear that the cancer of terrorism does not spare anyone,” said Steinmeier. “This form of barbaric and cowardly murder poses a threat to all OSCE States and beyond.”

The Chairperson‑in‑Office assured Turkey of the OSCE’s firm support, and urged all OSCE participating States and Partners not to allow themselves to be intimidated by murder and violence.

“On the contrary, we will increase our resolve to work together to tackle terrorism at all levels.”

He said the OSCE would continue to build on a wide variety of approaches and means, ranging from de‑escalation of conflicts, through the police and the rule of law, to efforts to prevent violent ideologies from taking root in the minds of young people.

“To this end the OSCE is already active in many areas. We have to show determination in maintaining this engagement,” Steinmeier concluded.

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

OSCE Special Monitoring Mission’s Principal Deputy Chief Monitor to brief media tomorrow via videolink from Soledar, eastern Ukraine

OSCE - Wed, 13/01/2016 - 14:33

KYIV, 13 January 2016 – Alexander Hug, the Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), will hold a special news briefing tomorrow via video link from Soledar town.

Hug will be on a duty trip to eastern Ukraine in order to assess the security situation, meet the SMM team and interlocutors and open new SMM Forward Patrol Bases.

Journalists are invited to attend the news briefing tomorrow, 14 January, at 15:30 (Kyiv time), at the Ukrainian Crisis Media Centre, at 2 Khreshchatyk street, Ukrainian House.

Live online streaming of the news briefing will be available at http://uacrisis.org/ru/stream/#eng

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier strongly condemns deadly Istanbul attack

OSCE - Tue, 12/01/2016 - 17:36

VIENNA, 12 January 2016 – OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier today condemned in the strongest terms the act of terror perpetrated on a tourist site in Istanbul that killed at least 10 people and left another 15 wounded.

“I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, to Germany which currently holds the OSCE Chairmanship, as well as to Turkey and all other countries whose citizens may have been affected by this cowardly act. I wish a speedy recovery to the wounded and my thoughts are with all those who are still in uncertainty about the fate of their loved ones,” said the OSCE Secretary General.

“This is the second act of terrorism perpetrated on Turkish soil within a short time and it struck the heart of Istanbul, a city which has been for centuries a bridge between Europe and Asia. We must stand united and mobilize our efforts in the fight against terrorism. We must in particular address the root causes of radicalization that leads to violent extremism, while at the same time ensuring respect for the rule of law and human rights in our fight against terrorism,” stressed Zannier.

“The OSCE will continue to work with and support all its participating States and Partners for Co-operation in their efforts to counter violence and terrorism,” stated Zannier.

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 11 January 2016

OSCE - Tue, 12/01/2016 - 16:21

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM observed over 20 ceasefire violations involving the use of mortar, all in the wider area of Kominternove, but no ceasefire violations in the area of Donetsk airport. All ceasefire violations in Luhansk region were assessed as live-fire exercises. The Mission saw armed men in Kominternove and spoke to residents. The SMM followed up on casualties from alleged exchange of fire in Zaitseve on 9 January. The SMM followed up on tensions between religious communities in western Ukraine and monitored a peaceful commemoration in Odessa.  

In Donetsk region, the SMM did not observe ceasefire violations in the area of Donetsk airport, but registered 20 mortar impacts and several bursts of small-arms fire 500 metres east of its position near the village of Vodiane (19km north-west of Mariupol, 4km south-east of Kominternove)[1].

In Luhansk region, the Mission observed an overall calm situation and all ceasefire violations it registered were assessed as live-fire exercises at known training ranges. Near government-controlled Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk), for example, the SMM heard several shots and bursts 300m north of its position.

In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of measures, the SMM revisited “DPR” permanent weapons storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines. All weapons previously verified as withdrawn to the sites were present.

Beyond the withdrawal lines and outside storage sites, the SMM observed the following Addendum-regulated weapons: one tank (T-64) loaded on a military-type truck at the southern outskirts of Luhansk city; 15 stationary tanks near “LPR”-controlled Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons foreseen in the Minsk Package of measures. The SMM has yet to receive the full information requested in the 16 October notification.

The SMM revisited locations known to the SMM as heavy weapons holding areas, even though they did not comply with the specific criteria set out for permanent storage sites in the 16 October notification.

In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such a holding area and found it empty of the 12 multiple-launch rocket-systems (BM-21 Grad­, 122mm) it had last observed at this holding area on 1 December. The SMM noted a makeshift mine warning sign in Russian  near the pathway leading to the holding area.

In southern Donetsk region, the SMM visited the new bridge across the Kalmius river (see SMM Daily Report 21 December 2015) in Pavlopil (government-controlled, 26km north-east of Mariupol), which it assessed as fully functional. In nearby Orlivske (government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol), the Mission noted that a checkpoint at the entrance of the village was unstaffed.

The SMM continued to monitor the security situation in Kominternove (23km north-east of Mariupol) on both sides of the contact line. In the village, the SMM saw at least six armed “DPR” members in military-type uniform. The Mission spoke to a female shop assistant (about 50 years old), who said that there had been no electricity in the area since the early morning; electricity supply was generally unreliable; and there had been no internet connectivity in the village since September 2015. She also told the SMM that, because the village had no formal administration, a so-called “contact group” had been formed by residents who collect money to fix different problems. According to her, there were currently 200 elderly people living in the village. The prices of the products in the local shop were in Ukrainian hryvnia, but she said that because of the presence of “DPR” members, Russian rubles were also accepted.

In Artemivsk (government-controlled, 67km north of Donetsk), the SMM followed up on reported casualties from the 9 January alleged exchange of fire in Zaitseve (50km north of Donetsk, see SMM Daily Report 11 January 2016) with the commander of the National Guard medical unit at Artemivsk military hospital. The commander confirmed that one Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier and one police officer had been killed in the incident. Additionally, he told the SMM that another Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier had been killed in Zaitseve on 10 January, which the SMM confirmed with both the chief of the city hospital in Artemivsk and personnel at the city morgue in Artemivsk.

The SMM monitored the situation at a pedestrian border crossing point in areas not controlled by the Government, near “LPR”-controlled Sievernyi (50km south-east of Luhansk)*. The SMM observed a calm situation in the area and saw 40 people enter the Russian Federation.

The SMM continued to follow up on tensions between two religious communities in Ptycha village (148km north-east of Lviv, Rivne region; latest: see SMM Daily Report 11 January 2016). The SMM revisited the village and spoke with police officers guarding the Dormition church and the head of the Ptycha village council. Additionally, in Dubno (165km north-east of Lviv, Rivne region), the Mission spoke to representatives of the Dubno district police and the director of the Dubno district hospital. The interlocutors said that on 9 January 30-40 Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) pilgrims had arrived in Ptycha. According to the interlocutors, at 11:00hrs[2] on 9 January, the pilgrims and local UOC parishioners visited the Dormition church and had then held a procession around the village. Local parishioners from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) had followed them and verbal confrontations and a scuffle ensued. According to the Dubno police representative, the police had been called around 12:00hrs, after a UOC parishioner (woman, 35 years old) had been hit. According to the director of the Dubno hospital, the victim had been brought to the hospital promptly but was released on 11 January because no serious trauma had been diagnosed. The Dubno police representative told the SMM that it had opened an investigation into charges of ‘minor bodily injury’. Additionally, the SMM was told by the Dubno police representative that one police officer and one local man, both of whom had refused medical assistance, had been injured on 18 December (see SMM Daily Report 24 December 2015). In relation to that incident, the Rivne regional directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs had opened an investigation into charges of hooliganism and resistance to police officers.

The SMM monitored the weekly commemoration at Kulykove Pole in Odessa, site of the tragic events of 2 May 2014. The SMM observed about 40 anti-Maidan activists (mixed gender, 18-75 years old) and eight pro-Maidan activists (mostly men, 25-50 years old). The SMM also observed 25 National Guard officers, separating the two groups. There were an additional police bus, two police vans and four police cars parked behind the Trade Union building. The gathering ended peacefully.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kherson, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Chernivtsi, and Kyiv.

*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by the parties and security considerations, including mine threats, damaged infrastructure, and the unpredictability of the situation in Donbas. “LPR” members continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring many areas alongside the border in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government.

Denial of access:

  • In Kominternove “DPR” members prevented the SMM from proceeding towards Vodiane (19km east-north-east of Mariupol).
  • Armed “DPR” members prevented the SMM from proceeding to Novoazovsk (40km east of Mariupol) through a “DPR” checkpoint east of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol).
  • Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel denied the SMM access to Hranitne (government-controlled, 47km north-east of Mariupol) by not allowing it to pass through a roadblock south-east of Starohnativka (government-controlled, 53km north-north-east of Mariupol).
  • Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel denied the SMM access to Bila Kamianka (“DPR”-controlled, 52km south-east of Donetsk) by not allowing it to pass through a checkpoint at the north-eastern edge of Hranitne.
  • Three armed “LPR” members prevented the SMM from proceeding through a checkpoint near “LPR”-controlled Izvaryne (54km south-east of Luhansk). The individual in charge asked to see the SMM patrol plan and once informed that the destination was the Sievernyi border crossing point (50km south-east of Luhansk), he denied the SMM passage.

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate”.

[2] All time references are in Kyiv time unless otherwise specified.

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

OSCE PA President condemns terrorist attack in Istanbul

OSCE - Tue, 12/01/2016 - 15:53

COPENHAGEN, 12 January 2016 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) issued the following statement on today’s terrorist attack in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet district:

“On behalf of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, I deplore in the strongest terms today’s attack in the heart of Istanbul, apparently targeting innocent civilians. This is certainly not the first act of terrorism perpetrated on Turkish soil, and we stand with the government and citizens as they stand up to these security threats. Those behind this heinous act must be held accountable. I extend my deepest condolences to the families, loved ones and home countries of those killed or injured.

“The parliamentarians of the OSCE have consistently called upon governments to improve international co-operation to fight terrorism in all its forms and to better address the underlying factors. The international community will best honor the victims of this and other terrorist acts by working together as closely as possible to combat this scourge,” President Kanerva said.

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 10 January 2016

OSCE - Mon, 11/01/2016 - 16:43

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM observed a number of ceasefire violations, mainly around Donetsk airport, in Horlivka and in the wider area of Kominternove. In particular, there was a significant increase in the number of explosions observed in Horlivka. The Mission liaised with both sides of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) to facilitate adherence to the ceasefire and evacuate an injured woman in Zaitseve. For the first time in over a month, the SMM had access to the border area of Sverdlovsk, where it observed a calm situation.

In Donetsk region, the SMM observed a number of ceasefire violations, most of which were registered around “DPR”-controlled Donetsk airport (9km north-west of Donetsk), in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) and in the wider area of Kominternove (23km north-east of Mariupol)[1].

After four consecutive days with no ceasefire violations registered from a position at “DPR”-controlled Donetsk railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), on 10 January, the SMM heard a total of 23 undetermined explosions and approximately 40 bursts of small-arms fire at locations 4-10km north-west, north-north-west, north-north-east and north-east of its position.

At the night of 9 January, positioned in Horlivka, the SMM heard a total of 70 explosions assessed as impacts of 152mm and 122mm artillery fire, and 36 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of 122mm artillery and automatic-grenade-launcher (AGL) fire, both at locations 4-6km north-north-west of its position. On the next morning, it also heard 15 bursts of small-arms and light-weapons fire at a location 4km north-north-west of its position.

On 10 January, in government-controlled Novhorodske (34km north of Donetsk), a resident informed the SMM that at the evening of 7 January shelling had hit his garden. At the location, the SMM saw two relatively fresh craters and assessed that the fire had originated from a south-westerly direction.

In Luhansk region, the SMM observed an overall calm situation, recording only one firing incident during the reporting period. Namely on 9 January, whilst in government-controlled Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard a loud undetermined explosion occurring at a live-fire training range 3km to the north. Subsequently, a Ukrainian Armed Forces person told the SMM that the explosion had been a controlled detonation of an unexploded anti-tank projectile.

In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of measures, the SMM revisited a Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent weapons storage site whose location corresponded with the withdrawal lines. All weapons previously verified as withdrawn to the sites were present.

Beyond the withdrawal lines and outside storage sites, the SMM observed the following Addendum-regulated weapons: On 9 January, a total of 32 tanks (T-72 and T-64) at two separate locations in the area of “DPR”-controlled Ternove (57km east of Donetsk); on 10 January, one tank (T-64) loaded on a military-type truck in the area of “LPR”-controlled Uspenka (23km south-west of Luhansk) heading towards “LPR”-controlled Myrne (41km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons foreseen in the Minsk Package of measures. The SMM has yet to receive the full information requested in the 16 October notification.

The SMM revisited locations known to the SMM as heavy weapons holding areas, even though they did not comply with the specific criteria set out for permanent storage sites in the 16 October notification.

In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such holding areas and observed: 12 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS; BM21 Grad, 122mm) and 15 anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm). Two such areas – where the SMM had previously observed in total 18 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) – were found abandoned as they have been since 18 December 2015 (see: SMM Daily Report 19 December 2015).

In “DPR”-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such holding area and observed six self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm). At one such area, armed personnel did not allow the SMM to write down their serial numbers, while the SMM noted six MLRSs (BM21 Grad, 122mm) present.*

The SMM continued to monitor the security situation in Kominternove (23km north-east of Mariupol). On 9 January, the SMM observed approximately 20 “DPR” members in military-type uniform – some of them armed – around a military-type truck (URAL). On both 9 and 10 January, whilst in Kominternove, the SMM recorded in total two bursts of small arms fire.

On 9 January, the SMM liaised with both Ukrainian and Russian Federation representatives at the JCCC, with the aim of facilitating adherence to the ceasefire and evacuating an injured woman and her husband from a stretch of land between Ukrainian Armed Forces positions and “DPR” positions in Zaitseve (50km north of Donetsk). The two had been allegedly caught in cross-fire and were hiding under a vehicle. After the SMM contacted the woman, she and her husband could move from their location to Ukrainian Armed Forces positions by crawling several meters and the woman was transported to the Artemivsk city hospital (government-controlled, 67km north of Donetsk). On the next day, the SMM visited the injured woman in the hospital, who said that while driving with her husband in Zaitseve on the morning of 9 January, they had noticed three men firing at their vehicle with small arms and she had been wounded in the shoulder.

The SMM monitored the economic and humanitarian situation on both sides of the contact line. In government-controlled Lopaskyne (24km north-west of Luhansk), a group of villagers (men and women, aged 35-60) informed the SMM about poor medical assistance and lack of medication. A nurse, whom the SMM spoke with, stated that half of the residents in the village had contracted influenza and one man in his fifties had died when his influenza developed into pneumonia.  In “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM visited three food stores and found that they were well supplied with food and beverages. It also noted the prices of meat, fruit and dairy products are 10-20 percent higher, and cheese products 40-50 percent higher than in government-controlled areas. In “LPR”-controlled Verhulivka (62km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM spoke with the deputy director of a coal mine, who said that since the conflict began, they had been unable to supply coal to power plants in government-controlled areas and they have acquired no new customers. He added that the number of employees in the mine had decreased from 1,200 before the conflict to 450.

The SMM reached the border area of “LPR”-controlled Sverdlovsk (61km south-east of Luhansk) for the first time in over a month (see: SMM Daily Report 3 December 2015), despite experiencing a restriction to its freedom of movement.* “LPR” members had repeatedly prevented the SMM from travelling towards the city, on most of these occasions citing an allegedly on-going demining operation, anti-terrorist/smuggling operation, or diversionary groups operating in the area as reasons (see for example: SMM Daily Report 8 January). Whilst in Sverdlovsk, several interlocutors told the SMM that the situation had been calm and that they had not seen or heard about on-going demining or anti-diversionary group operations in the area. The SMM also visited the Dolzhanskaya railway station in Sverdlovsk and spoke with two “LPR” “transport police”, who stated that passenger trains run twice a day (morning and evening) between “LPR”-controlled Fashchivka (69km south of Luhansk) and Sverdlovsk. They added that the railway was mainly used for the transportation of coal, which was being exported to the Russian Federation.

The SMM monitored the situation at border crossing points in areas not controlled by the Government, including “DPR”-controlled Marynivka (80km east of Donetsk) and Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk), as well as “LPR”-controlled Chervonopartyzansk and Dolziansky (69 and 84km south-east of Luhansk, respectively). On 10 January, at a border crossing point in Uspenka, the SMM observed 105 civilian vehicles queuing to cross into the Russian Federation. It noted that among them 60 vehicles had Ukrainian license plates, 20 “DPR” plates and 25 Russian Federation plates. The SMM saw a man (in his sixties) changing his “DPR” license plates to Ukrainian plates, after which he was allowed to proceed further in crossing procedure.

The SMM followed up on tensions between two religious communities in Ptycha village (148km north-east of Lviv, Rivne region; latest see: SMM Daily Report 6 January 2016). On 10 January, a representative of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church told the SMM that on the previous day a bus with approximately 20 pilgrims of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church parked near the church building and started singing religious songs. He said that after that local parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate started shaking the bus which ended when police intervened. The interlocutor added that the pilgrims were later beaten up by parishioners of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate when they held a procession through the village. According to the interlocutor, a woman was submitted to Dubno district hospital. The SMM will follow up on this incident.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kherson, Odessa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Chernivtsi, and Kyiv.

*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by the parties and security considerations, including mine threats, damaged infrastructure, and the unpredictability of the situation in Donbas. “LPR” members continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring many areas alongside the border in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government.

Denial of access:

  • On 9 January, at a “DPR” heavy weapons holding area, armed personnel did not allow the SMM monitors to check the weapons’ serial numbers.
  • On 9 January, in “LPR”-controlled Pervomaisk (57km west of Luhansk), an armed person denied the SMM access to a facility guarded by three armed “LPR” members. He explained that the SMM needed “permission”. 
  • On 9 January, at the “LPR”-controlled side of Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk), armed “LPR” members did not allow the SMM to visit a coal mine, citing that it needed “permission”.
  • On 9 January, at a checkpoint in “LPR”-controlled Chervonyi Zhovten (95km south of Luhansk), armed “LPR” members prevented the SMM from proceeding further towards the border area, asking to see “permission”.

Delayed access:

  • On 9 January, at a checkpoint in “DPR”-controlled Olenivka (23km south-west of Donetsk), armed “DPR” members held the SMM for 20 minutes, asking for “written permission”.
  • On 9 January, at a “DPR” heavy weapons holding area, armed “DPR” members initially prevented the SMM from writing down the serial numbers of present weapons.  After the SMM waited for 40 minutes and sought intervention by the JCCC, the armed “DPR” members allowed the SMM to conduct full verification of the withdrawn weapons.
  • On 10 January, in “LPR”-controlled Komsomolskyi (56km south-east of Luhansk), two armed persons initially prevented the SMM from travelling towards “LPR”-controlled Sverdlovsk (61km south-east of Luhansk), citing allegedly on-going demining and anti-diversion operations in the area as a reason. After they contacted their “superior”, they allowed the SMM to proceed further. The SMM was held for ten minutes.

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate”.

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

OSCE/ODIHR Director Link joins with UN officials in calling for closure of detention facility at Guantanamo

OSCE - Mon, 11/01/2016 - 13:15

WARSAW, 11 January 2016 – In an open letter published today, marking 14 years since the opening of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), joined with four UN independent human rights experts in calling on the United States government to close the facility and hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations against detainees, both present and past.

“As the Guantanamo facility enters another year of operation, while we welcome again the intentions of United States President Barack Obama’s administration to develop a plan for its closure, the need for decisive action remains,” the ODIHR Director said. “Our Office continues to call on the United States government either to charge the detainees and ensure they receive fair trials, or to set them free.”

The letter ─ signed by ODIHR Director Link; Juan E. Méndez, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture; Ben Emmerson, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-terrorism; Mónica Pinto, UN Special Rapporteur on independence of the judiciary; and Seong-Phil Hong, the Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention – states that the Guantanamo detainees have suffered years of arbitrary detention without trial, having been placed outside of the rule of law and the reach of U.S. regular courts.  It also notes that no one has been held accountable for the violations of the human rights of the detainees, nor have they had any access to remedy or compensation.

The authors note that President Obama issued an executive order calling for the closure of the detention facility in January 2009. That same month, the letter states, President Obama prohibited the use of torture in any circumstances, a prohibition subsequently reaffirmed by the U.S. Congress. While welcoming these measures, the letter states that the measures fail to fully implement all of the international human rights and international humanitarian law obligations of the U.S.

“The respect for human rights is a necessary component of any effective counter-terrorism strategy,” Director Link said. “As the United States and the rest of the world are confronted with ongoing threats of further terror attacks and acts of violent extremism, it is clear that arbitrary detention and lack of accountability for the mistreatment of current and former Guantanamo detainees continue to undermine the moral authority with which terrorism must be fought.”

On 10 November 2015, ODIHR issued a report on the Human Rights Situation of Detainees at Guantanamo, which examines a broad range of human rights issues, identifies violations of OSCE commitments and other international human rights standards, and offers recommendations to address them.  The report also called on the US to close the detention facility and to either bring the remaining detainees to trial or free them and for a full investigation of past human rights violations and the prosecution of those responsible, as a way of strengthening the country’s counter-terrorism efforts.

For the full text of the open letter see: https://www.osce.org/odihr/215276

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

OSCE Special Monitoring Mission’s Principal Deputy Chief Monitor to visit eastern Ukraine

OSCE - Mon, 11/01/2016 - 09:37

KYIV, 11 January 2016 – The Principal Deputy Chief Monitor (PDCM) of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine Alexander Hug will travel to eastern Ukraine from 14 to 18 January 2016 to assess the security situation, open new Forward Patrol Bases and encourage all concerned to work towards peace and normalization of the situation in Ukraine.

He will visit Soledar, Donetsk, Kominternove, Shyrokyne, Dokuchaievsk, Svitlodarsk, Krasnoarmiisk, Luhansk, Stanytsia-Luhanska and meet the SMM teams, inspect the camera operations, conduct meetings with Joint Centre for Control and Co-operation representatives and other relevant interlocutors. 

Journalists are invited to join PDCM Hug on patrols where he will hold press points. Hug will also hold news briefings, exact time and locations for which will be communicated via social media (@OSCE_SMM,www.facebook.com/oscesmm) closer to the events. Live online streaming of the news briefings will be available at http://ustre.am/1jT6S.

Media representatives need to take care of their own travel arrangements, accommodation as well as their access and ability to work in the areas outside government control. Please note that SMM cannot provide security or access guarantees for the media.

Journalists wishing to join PDCM Hug during the visit should contact the SMM press-service at smm-press@osce.org or contact Iryna Gudyma, Senior Press Assistant: +38 067 4021716, +38 050 388 08 56.

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 8 January 2016

OSCE - Sat, 09/01/2016 - 16:04

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM observed a generally calm situation throughout Donbas, with the exception of Horlivka and Telmanove, where it observed multiple ceasefire violations. In Luhansk region, the Mission observed live-fire training exercises in many areas not controlled by the Government.

The SMM observed a calm situation at and around the destroyed “DPR”-controlled Donetsk airport (12km north-west of Donetsk). Positioned 6km north-west of Donetsk city centre between 9:00 and 14:20hrs[1], the SMM did not observe any ceasefire violations.

Positioned in “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard exchanges of fire from artillery and multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) on the night of 7/8 January. The SMM initially registered three outgoing MLRS salvos 4km north-west of its position, and subsequently, several artillery impacts in the general area from where the MLRS rounds had originated.  The SMM observed another exchange of MLRS and artillery fire 10km south of its position. Whilst in “DPR”-controlled Telmanove (69km south-south-east of Donetsk) between 10:48 and 11:00hrs, the SMM heard approximately 30 undetermined explosions and several small-arms rounds 5km to the south-east.[2]

Positioned at various locations not controlled by the Government in areas south-west of Luhansk, the SMM heard numerous explosions, all assessed to have been part of live-fire training exercises: near Shymshynivka (27km south-west of Luhansk),  15 explosions caused by tank rounds, plus continuous bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, over a 42-minute period, 1.5km to the west; in Alchevsk (40km south-west of Luhansk), 20 explosions 10km to the north-east; in Aleksieyevka (31km south-west of Luhansk), four heavy artillery explosions approximately 10km to the south-east; and, in Alchevsk (40km south-west of Luhansk), 20 explosions 3km to the east.

Beyond the respective withdrawal lines and outside storage sites, the SMM observed the following Addendum-regulated weapons: six tanks near “LPR”-controlled Shymshynivka (27km south-west of Luhansk); and, 26 tanks near “LPR”-controlled Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons foreseen in the Minsk Package of measures. The SMM has yet to receive the full information requested in the 16 October notification.

The SMM revisited locations known to the SMM as heavy weapons holding areas, even though they did not comply with the specific criteria set out for permanent storage sites in the 16 October notification.

In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such holding areas and observed: 16 howitzers (Gvozdika 2C1, 122mm) – one fewer than previously recorded – and six mortars (2B11, 120mm).

The SMM observed the following heavy weapon in an area in violation of the withdrawal lines: a self-propelled MLRS system close to government-controlled Netailove (21km north-west of Donetsk). The SMM also observed heavy weapons in an area beyond the withdrawal lines and outside holding areas: 10 howitzers (Gvozdika 2C1, 122mm) near “LPR”-controlled Aleksieyevka (31km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM monitored the movement of civilians across the contact line. At Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoints close to government-controlled Marinka (23km west-south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed 159 cars and three buses going west. At the “LPR” checkpoint before the foot-bridge immediately south of government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM observed approximately 100 people moving north.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Odessa, Lviv, Kherson, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.

 

*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by the parties and security considerations, including mine threats, damaged infrastructure, and the unpredictability of the situation in Donbas. “LPR” members continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring many areas alongside the border in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government.

Delayed/conditional access:

  • At a “DPR” checkpoint near “DPR”-controlled Oktiabr (29km north-east of Mariupol), the checkpoint “commander” insisted that SMM monitors exit their vehicles and present OSCE identification through an open window to a “DPR” member in an office. The whole procedure took twenty minutes, and was repeated on the way back, but took then only five minutes.

 

[1] All times are in Eastern European Time unless otherwise specified.

[2] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 18 December 2015

OSCE - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 19:35

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM observed ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including the use of multiple-launch rockets systems and mortars. In Luhansk region, the SMM was prevented* to reach the border in an area outside the control of the Government. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor the repairs of a water pipeline in Donetsk region.

The SMM recorded ceasefire violations, including the use of multiple-launch rockets systems (MLRS; BM-21Grad, 122mm) and mortars in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions[1]. From a position at “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled Donetsk railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), between 8:02 and 14:00hrs[2], the SMM heard six explosions, two airbursts and small-arms fire at locations 3-4km north-west of its position. In Staromykhailivka (“DPR”-controlled, 16km west of Donetsk), between 9:09 and 9:18hrs, the SMM heard six undetermined detonations as well as two outgoing salvos of MLRS (BM21 Grad, 122mm) 2-3km west of its position. Whilst in Petrovskyi district (“DPR”-controlled, 12km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard three undetermined explosions 8-10km north-north-west of its position (in the direction of Staromykhailivka).

Whilst approximately 4km south of the “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled town of Kalynove (58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard six MLRS rockets (BM-21 Grad 122mm) being fired approximately 3-5km north from its position. The SMM assessed the location of the firing to be near Kalynove. In Bashtevych (“LPR”-controlled, 39km SW of Luhansk), the SMM heard numerous explosions assessed as live-fire exercise involving the use of artillery and mortars 5-6km north of its position.

In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of measures, the SMM revisited “DPR” permanent weapons storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines and found that all weapons, previously verified as withdrawn to the sites, were present.

In violation of the relevant withdrawal line, in the area of “LPR”-controlled Stakhanov (50km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed a mortar (2B11, 120mm) towed by a truck.

In areas beyond the withdrawal lines and outside storage sites, the SMM observed 11 tanks (T64) stationary in a training area near “DPR”-controlled Ternove (57km east of Donetsk). Additionally, outside this training area, the SMM noted 34 tanks (T64 and T72) stationary in a yard adjacent to a farmhouse. The SMM observed two stationary tanks (T64) (one placed on a trailer) near government-controlled Novoaidar (49km north-west of Luhansk). In government-controlled Oktiabrske (25km north-west of Mariupol), the SMM observed a tank inside a Ukrainian Armed Forces compound.

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons foreseen in the Minsk Package of measures. The SMM is yet to receive the full information requested in the 16 October notification (see SMM Daily Report 14 December 2015).

The SMM revisited locations beyond the respective withdrawal lines known to the SMM as heavy weapons holding areas, even though they did not comply with the specific criteria set out in the 16 October notification.

In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited such holding areas and observed: 36 howitzers (18 2A65 Msta B, 152mm and 18 2A36 Giatsint, 152mm). Two such areas – where the SMM had previously observed in total 18 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika 122mm) – were found abandoned for the first time. Two other areas, where the SMM had observed in total 11 MLRS (BM-21 Grad 122mm), were found again abandoned, as they have been for the past three months.

Near “LPR”-controlled Kalynove (58km west of Luhansk), the SMM observed a UAZ truck loaded with six empty rocket tubes that were consistent with those found on a MLRS (BM-21 Grad, 122mm) moving south-west, away from the contact line. The truck was not a standard trans-loader for this type of MLRS.

The SMM noted that two known training areas beyond the withdrawal lines - in the areas of “LPR”-controlled Myrne and Uspenka (41km south-west and 23km south-west of Luhansk, respectively) – were empty, as they had been observed on 16 December. Earlier in December, the SMM had observed: in the area of Uspenka 14 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika 122mm); in the area of Myrne area – four tanks (see SMM Daily Report 14 December 2015 and SMM Daily Report 9 December 2015 respectively).

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the water pipeline between “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) and government-controlled Maiorsk (45km north-east of Donetsk). In the vicinity of the site – one of the designated priority areas for mine clearance – the SMM heard a series of distant explosions to the north. The chief engineer of the repair team told the SMM that no repair work was to be done in “DPR” areas in the coming days as more demining work had to be done there before repairs could continue. On the Maiorsk side, the SMM noted that repair works continued despite the firing incidents. In “LPR”-controlled Mykolaivka (15km east of Luhansk) the “head” of the “local administration” (woman, approximately 45 years old) told the SMM that running water supply had been restored to the village on 17 December (residents confirmed that to the SMM). According to her, the village had been without water supply for over three weeks, due to issues with the pumping station, which is in a government-controlled area.

Armed “LPR” members prevented the SMM from travelling towards the border area near “LPR”-controlled Diakove (70km south of Luhansk)*. In the border area of government-controlled Harasymivka (38km north-east of Luhansk), a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier told the SMM that the area was calm and that the crossing point was closed due to the presence of mines. The SMM observed a calm situation. At the Uspenka border crossing point (“DPR”-controlled, 73km south-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed a queue of 20 civilian cars, all with Ukrainian licence plates and 20 cargo trucks, all with Ukrainian plates except for one, which had Russian Federation plates, waiting to cross into the Russian Federation. The SMM observed a calm situation.

The SMM met in Mariupol two residents (a man and a woman, approximately 50 years old) of Kominternove (23km east-northeast of Mariupol). According to them, the explosive devices at the south-western entrance to the village (see SMM Daily Report 29 October 2015) were still in place. Both opined that a controlled detonation to remove the devices could damage nearby houses. They claimed that on 16 December they had seen Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers in the village, while on 17 December they had seen a group of “DPR” armed men. They stressed what they said was lack of construction material for winterization in the village and insufficient coal supplies.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.

*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by the parties and security considerations, including mine threats, damaged infrastructure, and the unpredictability of the situation in Donbas. “LPR” members continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring many areas alongside the border in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government.

Denial of access:

  • “LPR” members stopped and prevented the SMM from travelling towards the border area near Diakove.
 

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate”.

[2] All times in this report refer to Eastern European time.

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

OSCE Centre in Bishkek supports discussion on importance of parliamentary monitoring

OSCE - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 14:55

BISHKEK, 18 December 2015 – The OSCE Centre in Bishkek in co-operation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today organized a roundtable discussion for some twenty representatives from the legislature, academia, expert community, think-tanks and international organizations to discuss the importance of civil society’s monitoring of parliament.

Presentations were delivered by experts from the Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society, the Tian-Shan Policy Centre of the American University of Central Asia, the Agency of Social Technologies and the Politmer NGO.

“The monitoring of parliaments by civil society and academia is a feedback instrument that aims to assist democratic parliaments in reflecting on the aspirations of voters and the population in general,” said Diana Digol, Institution-Building Officer at the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.  

The event is part of an OSCE Centre project on promoting parliamentarism in Kyrgyzstan.

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

Press Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

OSCE - Sat, 19/12/2015 - 14:26

BERN, Switzerland, 19 December 2015 – The President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsian and the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held a summit today in Bern under the auspices of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, James Warlick of the United States of America, and Pierre Andrieu of France).  The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated in the summit. 

The summit created an opportunity for the Presidents to clarify their respective positions during their one-on-one meeting.  

The Presidents discussed recent violence and expressed particular concern about casualties, including civilians, caused by the use of heavy weapons.  The Presidents supported the Co-Chairs' ongoing work on proposals regarding measures to reduce the risk of violence along the Line of Contact and Armenia-Azerbaijan border, including an investigation mechanism.

The Presidents confirmed their readiness to continue engagement on proposals regarding a settlement currently under negotiation.  They also reaffirmed their commitment to the Minsk Group format.  

The Co-Chairs remain ready to work with the sides on mediating a peaceful, negotiated settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, based on information received as of 19:30hrs, 17 December 2015

OSCE - Fri, 18/12/2015 - 19:46

This report is for media and the general public.

The SMM observed an increase in ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to previous days*. The SMM encountered restrictions to its freedom of movement, including to a border area not controlled by the Government. The SMM continued to facilitate the enabling of repairs between government and non-government-controlled areas in Donetsk region. In Kyiv the SMM observed a 2,000-participants-strong protest.

The SMM noted an increase in ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared to previous days[1]. From a position at “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled Donetsk railway station (6km north-west of Donetsk city centre), between 8:13 and 14:00hrs[2], the SMM heard bursts of small-arms fire and 157 explosions at locations between 3-10km in areas to the north-west, north and west-south-west including 36 mortar (82mm) explosions in areas ranging from 3-7km north-north-east to the south-west and one mortar (122mm) impact at a location 5-7km north-north-west.

In Luhansk region the SMM heard undetermined mortar explosions near the “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled village of Novooleksandrivka (64km west of Luhansk) and bursts of small-arms and heavy machine-gun fire and mortar shots at the location of the training area near government-controlled Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk).

In relation to the implementation of the Addendum to the Package of measures, the SMM revisited Ukrainian Armed Forces permanent weapons storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines. At one site the SMM observed that three previously recorded mortars (2B9, 82mm) were missing. At another, the SMM observed that three artillery guns (D-44, 85mm) and three mortars (82mm) - previously recorded at this site -were missing. The SMM revisited “DPR” permanent storage sites whose locations corresponded with the withdrawal lines and found that all weapons, previously verified as withdrawn to the sites, were present.

In areas beyond the withdrawal lines and outside storage sites, the SMM observed 30 tanks (T64 and T72) stationary in a training area near “LPR”-controlled Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk).

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of heavy weapons foreseen in the Minsk Package of measures. The SMM is yet to receive the full information requested in the 16 October notification. (See SMM Daily Report 13 December 2015.)

The SMM revisited locations beyond the respective withdrawal lines known to the SMM as heavy weapons holding areas, even though they did not comply with the specific criteria set out in the 16 October notification.

In government-controlled areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines, the SMM revisited six such holding areas and observed: 17 towed anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm); six howitzers (2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm) and 15 multiple launch rocket systems (BM-21 Grad, 122mm). One such area – where the SMM had previously observed 31 tanks (T-64) – was found abandoned for the first time.

The SMM observed two self-propelled howitzers without barrels on stationary trucks near government-controlled Artemivsk (67km north-east of Donetsk), in violation of the respective withdrawal lines.

Beyond withdrawal lines and outside holding areas, the SMM observed a self-propelled howitzer (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) stationary near “LPR”-controlled Uspenka (23km south of Luhansk). A short time later, the SMM observed that the howitzer was no longer at that location.

The SMM observed the presence of other hardware: six infantry fighting vehicles (BMPs) with three anti-aircraft guns (30mm) near government-controlled Novotoshkivske (53km north-west of Luhansk); two BMPs and two anti-aircraft guns (30mm), also near government-controlled Novotoshkivske (53km north-west of Luhansk).

While observing - from a distance - an event marking the rebuilding of a house following shelling in “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (57km north-east of Donetsk), a senior “DPR” member, accompanied by armed men and the media, approached the SMM and asked them what they were doing there. He told the SMM that they were rebuilding Debaltseve and nobody was helping them. He told the SMM that its presence there was “irrational”.

The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the water pipeline between “DPR”-controlled Horlivka (39km north-east of Donetsk) and government-controlled Maiorsk (45km north-east of Donetsk). At the site - a prioritized area where demining work is expected to be conducted - the SMM heard a total of three undetermined explosions (one occurring in a government-controlled area, two in “DPR”-controlled areas). The repair team, and “DPR” members carrying out demining, continued and completed their work as planned for the day.

The SMM observed two convoys of 14 trucks each bearing the inscription “Humanitarian Aid from the Russian Federation” and carrying the insignia of the Russian Federation Ministry of Emergency Situations in Luhansk city. The convoy, accompanied by support vehicles (three cars, one minibus carrying no more than four passengers, one refrigerated truck and two ambulances), was escorted by “LPR” members.

“LPR” members stopped and prevented the SMM from travelling towards the border area near Sverdlovsk (61km south-east of Luhansk)*.

The SMM spoke with civilians living in areas near the contact line. Residents (12 women and men between 20-70 years old) in “LPR”-controlled Novooleksandrivka (65km west of Luhansk) told the SMM they had been without any electricity for 18 months and were also without gas supply as a result of damage caused by shelling. They added that, as they have no coal, they use wood from a nearby forest – believed to be mined - for heating.

The head of the sea port administration in Skadovsk (62km south-east of Kherson) and the head of the commercial seaport told the SMM that for the first time since the events of March 2014 in Crimea, and the interruption of trade with Crimea, a cargo ship had arrived at the port on 9 December bringing produce from Turkey. The interlocutors said they expected more ships to dock at the port in the coming days.

In Kyiv the SMM observed a protest of approximately 2,000 people (mostly men, 30-60 years old) against the proposed adoption of a new tax code by the Parliament. Some protestors, many of whom were farmers, carried banners that claimed the proposed tax code changes would damage the farming sector. Hundreds of police and National Guard officers were present. The protest passed off peacefully.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnepropetrovsk, and Chernivtsi.

*Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by the parties and security considerations, including mine threats, damaged infrastructure, and the unpredictability of the situation in Donbas. “LPR” members continue to prevent the SMM from monitoring many areas alongside the border in parts of Luhansk region not controlled by the Government.

Denial of access:

  • “LPR” members stopped and prevented the SMM from travelling towards the border area near Sverdlovsk (61km south-east of Luhansk).
  • “LPR” members stopped the SMM at a checkpoint in “LPR”-controlled Krasnyi Lyman (30km north-west of Luhansk) and prevented its further travel on the grounds that the road ahead towards the bridge leading to government-controlled Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk) was mined. The last time the SMM travelled on this road - in October - the road was not mined.
  • Two “LPR” members denied the SMM access to the site of the recently damaged television broadcast tower in “LPR”-controlled Rovenky (55km south of Luhansk).
  • Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers prevented the SMM from travelling through a checkpoint near government-controlled Heivka (25km north-west of Luhansk).

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions to SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to the fulfilment of its mandate”.

[2] All times in this report refer to Eastern European time.

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

Efforts to address needs of refugees and migrants have to be stepped up, says OSCE Secretary General Zannier on International Migrants Day

OSCE - Fri, 18/12/2015 - 19:11

VIENNA, 18 December 2015 – We must address ongoing mass movements of people in a humane and comprehensive manner, ensuring the respect of human rights and international obligations, says OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier on International Migrants Day.

“The OSCE provides a political platform for action-oriented discussion for its participating States and Partners for Co-operation in neighbouring regions. Our aim is to strengthen the international response by building synergies with key stakeholders, promote long-term approaches such as integration, tolerance and non-discrimination, while also offering expertise on a range of border-related challenges.”

Zannier noted that the ongoing emergency has created tensions among states. “There are too many dividing lines already. Migration management should be a catalyst for regional dialogue and co-operation between countries of origin, transit and destination.”

“We should strive to put forward a positive narrative on migration, and show that we can be true to the values and principles that have made Europe a beacon for so many,” noted Zannier.

Secretary General Zannier will host a Security Days event devoted to migration on 3-4 March 2016, in Rome. 

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

Municipal representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia complete regional disaster risk reduction training course in Sarajevo

OSCE - Fri, 18/12/2015 - 15:10

SARAJEVO, 18 December 2015 – A three-day regional disaster risk reduction training course organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities and hosted by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, concluded today in Sarajevo.

The training course gathered 38 municipal representatives from Bijeljina, Goražde and Orašje in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Bajina Bašta, Šabac and Priboj from Serbia - border regions that were severely affected by floods or are at high risk of flooding. Staff from eight Aarhus Centres in both countries also took part.

Participants discussed how to strengthen local partnerships, and raise capacities and resilience to natural hazards.

“Disasters are not limited to national boundaries,” said the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, Halil Yurdakul Yiğitgüden. “Sustainable management of natural resources can help reduce or eliminate disaster and conflict risk, as well as provide a strong platform for development, co-operation, stability and peace.”

Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Alexander Chuplygin said: “Progress can be best achieved by maximizing public awareness and encouraging civilian participation in disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction. We strongly believe that local communities and all their relevant members can play a vital role in strengthening the disaster resilience of a community.”

Đorđe Isaković, Secretary of the Šabac Municipal Council, said: “It is very important for us to exchange views, to think about the experiences of other regions in emergency situations, and understand that only together can we forestall and prevent future disasters.”

Assistant Mayor for Civil Defence from Goražde Samira Drakovac, said: “By learning about contemporary methods to tackle disaster risk in the local context, we have gained practical know-how that is applicable in our daily work.”

Darija Šajin of the Aarhus Centre in Novi Sad, Serbia, noted that the opportunity to meet municipal experts at the course would pave the way for improved co-ordination in this field.

Her counterpart in Sarajevo, Sabina Jukan, highlighted the need to strengthen the role that media play in reporting about disasters.

This training course was organized as part of the OSCE Project on disaster risk reduction and security in the OSCE Area, supported by the Governments of Switzerland and Austria.  

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

OSCE Mission to Serbia, ODIHR and civil society partners to follow election of judges to High Judicial Council

OSCE - Fri, 18/12/2015 - 14:39

BELGRADE, 18 December 2015 – The OSCE Mission to Serbia, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and civil society organization Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights (YUCOM) are to follow the election on 21 December of judges to Serbia’s High Judicial Council.

The High Judicial Council is the judicial self-administration body tasked with protecting the independence of the judiciary and is responsible for selecting and evaluating judges.  

“The importance of elections to the High Judicial Council is twofold: first, they allow judges to elect representatives to their own self-governing body; second, if fair and transparent, they are also an opportunity to increase citizens’ trust in the judicial bodies,” said the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Peter Burkhard.

OSCE and YUCOM representatives will follow the voting process in 20 polling stations across Serbia. After the election, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and ODIHR will publish a report on their findings and recommendations for developing and implementing the legal framework governing the High Judicial Council in Serbia.

Following the 2011 election, this is the second time that Serbian judges are selecting their representatives. The OSCE Mission to Serbia accepted the invitation of the High Judicial Council President, Dragomir Milojević, to follow this year’s election.

This activity is part of the Mission’s wider efforts to support judicial reform in Serbia.

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

OSCE-supported conference on accessibility of public buildings for persons with disabilities organized in Budva

OSCE - Fri, 18/12/2015 - 14:17
Mia Lausevic

The accessibility of municipal public buildings for persons with disabilities was the focus of a two-day conference organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro in partnership with the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism and the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro on 16 and 17 December in Budva.

The conference aimed to raise awareness about this issue and analyze the results of efforts by the local authorities to remove physical barriers to disabled access in public buildings.

Government ministers, mayors, municipal officials, heads of local public institutions, architects, urban planners, and NGO representatives and civil society activists dealing with the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, took part in the event.

The Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro Janina Hřebíčková asked participants to think about the space we live in and to consider all the stairs, sidewalks, narrow passages we may encounter as barriers. “These all are easily bridged for all people without disabilities, but for those with disabilities, just a few stairs can be unbeatable obstacle.”

Branimir Gvozdenović, the Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism, said: "Accessibility is a precondition for participation in today’s society and economy. Often the failure to remove architectural barriers is linked to a lack of funds. However, it is necessary that we all together make an effort to overcome this difficulty."

Suad Numanović, the Minister of Human and Minority Rights, said that his Ministry had recently improved accessibility to their building and have also placed all signage in Braille for people with visual impairment.

During the conference, legislation governing this area was presented along with best practices, public authorities’ plans for the future activities as well as an overview of the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in everyday life.

One of conclusions was that the quality of the regulatory framework regarding the accessibility of buildings to persons with disabilities needs to be further upgraded and its implementation needs to be intensified.

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

OSCE Office in Tajikistan supports study tour to Austria for officials from police-dog training centre

OSCE - Fri, 18/12/2015 - 13:28
Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Office in Tajikistan

A five-day OSCE-supported study tour to Austria’s Federal Police Dog Training Centre in Bad Kreuzen by eight mid- and low-level officials from the K-9 police-dog training  centre of Tajikistan’s Interior Ministry concluded on 18 December 2015.

The visit was organized by Austria’s Federal Ministry of Interior in co-operation with the OSCE Office in Tajikistan and focused on diversifying the training capabilities of service dogs as well as methods to build inter-agency and international co-operation in this sphere.

There were also training sessions to acquaint the Tajik officials with the Austrian methods of training dogs for searching drugs, explosives as well as tracking dead bodies.

“Austrian methods and approaches to training dogs will serve as a fundamental principle for providing the basic training of service dogs in Tajikistan,” said Tajik Police Captain and Senior Instructor of the K-9 Centre, Iskandarsho Boronov.

Participants also visited police-dog training centres in Laakirchen and Linz to share experiences with their Austrian counterparts. 

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

States must work to guarantee the human rights of migrants, including in responses to current crisis, says OSCE/ODIHR Director Link

OSCE - Fri, 18/12/2015 - 12:42

WARSAW, 18 December 2015 – States have an obligation to guarantee the human rights of migrants, including in their responses to the current refugee crisis in Europe, Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), stressed in a statement today, on International Migrants Day.

“The refugee crisis in Europe has focused greater attention on the plight of many migrants,” Director Link said. “The issue of migration has been a focus of commitments made by the OSCE participating States dating back to the adoption of the Helsinki Final Act, in 1975, but current circumstances demonstrate that numerous challenges remain.”

The current refugee crisis, he said, highlights challenges faced in ensuring the dignified treatment of migrants, including refugees, at borders, as well as in ensuring that they are not the targets of hate crimes or other forms of intolerance and xenophobia.

“Many refugees, in making perilous journeys to flee countries where their security and lives were seriously threatened, have met with overwhelmed national migration systems, abuse at the hands of authorities, and hate crimes,” the ODIHR Director said. “Unfortunately, this has been the experience not just of many refugees, but often also in the case of economic migrants. Participating States have an obligation to protect and promote the human rights and security of all migrants in their countries.”

While he added that there have been significant efforts by governments and civil society in this direction, more needs to be done, including in promoting integration into society in their destination countries.

“Governments need to step up efforts to promote the integration of migrants into host societies, in the course of developing effective national migration-management policies,” Director Link said. “Our office remains committed to working with participating States, at their request, to assist them in meeting their OSCE human dimension commitments, which apply to economic migrants, asylum seekers and refugees alike.”

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

Press Communiqué of the Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions

OSCE - Wed, 09/12/2015 - 18:22

GENEVA, Switzerland, 9 December 2015 -The thirty-fourth round of the Geneva International Discussions has just ended. The Co-Chairs welcomed the thorough exchanges of views that took place on the security and humanitarian situation on the ground. The participants welcomed the continued constructive cooperation in the meetings of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) in Ergneti and reiterated their calls for the early resumption of the Gali IPRM.

An information session on “issues relating to documentation in conflict-affected areas” was held on the eve of the session and welcomed by all participants.

While most of the exchanges took place in a constructive and open atmosphere, the Co-Chairs regret that the two working groups could not complete their respective agendas. The Co-Chairs call upon all participants to take a constructive approach to ensure progress in the Geneva International Discussions.

The participants agreed to hold their next round on 22-23 March 2016.

Related Stories
Categories: Central Europe

Pages