Central Europe

VIENNA, 16 June 2015 – In view of the upcoming 32nd round of the Geneva International Discussions which is scheduled for 30 June to 1 July, Ambassador Angelo Gnaedinger, the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, Ambassador Herbert Salber, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, as well as UN Senior Political Affairs Advisor Hailu Mamo held consultations with participants in Tbilisi, Sukhumi, Tskhinvali and Moscow.

The co-chairing teams focused in their consultations on the agenda of the upcoming round, on security as well as on humanitarian questions such as missing persons, internally displaced persons and cultural heritage. They used the opportunity to travel to the Gali district, to Akhalgori and to meet with representatives of international organizations and the civil society.

Referring to the March round which had turned out to be difficult, Ambassador Gnaedinger encouraged participants to work in a constructive and result-oriented manner during the 32nd round. “I’m convinced that the Geneva Discussions and the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms have significantly contributed to security on the ground and that co-chairs and participants share a responsibility for achieving progress in the process,” underlined Gnaedinger.  

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Promoting greater political participation for migrants was the focus of a conference organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), in co-operation with the European University Institute (EUI), on 18 and 19 June 2015 in Florence.

The conference "Exploring challenges to political participation of migrants in the OSCE region" gathered some 30 senior public officials and academics from across the OSCE region as well as the representatives of ODIHR and the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities.

"The participation of all members of society, including migrants, in political decision-making is crucial to the legitimacy of democratic political systems," said Marcin Walecki, Chief of ODIHR's Democratic Governance and Gender Unit. "ODIHR supports OSCE participating States in sharing their experiences and know-how in broadening political participation opportunities for migrants."

The event provided a forum for participants to exchange good practices and analyze challenges and lessons learned in implementing relevant OSCE commitments and international standards focused on the political participation of migrants.

"Opportunities for migrants’ political participation depend on non-discrimination in the exercise of political liberties, access to citizenship status, and voting rights for non-citizen residents," said Professor Rainer Bauböck, Chair in Social and Political Theory at EUI’s Department of Political and Social Sciences.

The conference was organized as part of ODIHR’s broader support to participating States in implementing relevant OSCE commitments in the areas of democratic governance and migrant integration.

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DUSHANBE, 16 June 2015 – The annual forum of the OSCE–Tajikistan Task Force took place today in Dushanbe, where high-ranking officials from the OSCE and the Tajik government as well as representatives of civil society highlighted their recent major achievements and identified priorities for national and regional co-operation in 2016.

The meeting explored opportunities to intensify the OSCE’s assistance to Tajikistan to foster comprehensive security in the OSCE’s three dimensions. The participants particularly focused on support to the provinces of Tajikistan, particularly in the economic and environmental dimension. New threats to security such as combating Violent Extremism and Radicalization that lead to Terrorism (VERLT) were also discussed.

“The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan appreciates co-operation with the OSCE and its active role in the further democratization of our society,” said the country’s Deputy Foreign Minister Nizomiddin Zohidi. “The annual Task Force Meetings are a remarkable example of the excellent co-operation between our country and the OSCE. We believe that this is the most appropriate mechanism for assessing the results of co-operation and a long-term planning.”

Markus Mueller, Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, said: “This year we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, and the 21st anniversary of the opening of an OSCE presence in Tajikistan. The OSCE presence in Tajikistan was established precisely to support the country’s commitments to the Helsinki Final Act and subsequent documents. The security challenges in the last 21 years have evolved, but the principle from 40 years ago that a security threat to one country poses a threat to all others remains true today more than ever.”

The annual forum has been meeting in this format since 2007 to discuss the OSCE's work in Tajikistan. 

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MINSK, 16 June 2015 – Strengthening OSCE engagement with Belarus was the focus of a two-day visit to Minsk by OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier and Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Michael Georg Link which concluded today.

Zannier and Link met President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly Viktor Guminsky and other members of the National Assembly. Zannier also met with Defence Minister Andrei Ravkov.

“I am pleased that we are launching a new package of projects in Belarus in all three OSCE dimensions of security”, the OSCE Secretary General said. These projects include, among others, assisting Belarus to dispose of highly toxic liquid rocket fuel components; building capacity to prevent floods through ecosystem restoration; and establishing mentoring networks for the economic empowerment of women.

“I look forward to productive cooperation and engagement with our Belarusian partners in all relevant areas,” he said.

ODIHR Director Link added, “I am pleased that the new OSCE package includes several projects in the human dimension, and ODIHR looks forward to working with Belarus on their implementation.”

Zannier also discussed the crisis in and around Ukraine and praised Belarus’ support for efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. “I commend Belarus’ ongoing commitment to facilitate the political process by hosting meetings of the Trilateral Contact Group and its Working Groups.” Three of the four Working Groups are meeting today in Minsk.

The ODIHR Director held a separate meeting with the Head of the Central Electoral Commission, Lidia Yermoshina. “ODIHR is ready to deploy an election observation mission for the upcoming presidential elections and looks forward to a timely invitation,” he said.

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164626 Thomas Rymer, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Guidelines for Educators on Countering Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims: Addressing Islamophobia through Education Combating racism, xenophobia and discrimination Combating discrimination against Muslims

Discrimination preventing Muslim women and women of African descent face from achieving equal access to education and employment was the focus of a workshop organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw on 15 and 16 June 2015.

Nineteen women, including legal specialists and community leaders, from 11 participating States shared their experiences of discrimination in the workplace and classrooms, as well as their expertise on measures OSCE participating States can take to prevent these human rights abuses.  

"Everyone participating in the workshop has experienced exclusion and discrimination. The women here are in a unique position to identify the causes and mechanisms through which so many of them are excluded from education and work," said Cristina Finch, Head of ODIHR's Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department. "We hope to use their knowledge to develop strategies that help participating States counter discrimination while empowering women and raising awareness of the challenges they face."  

Kahina Rabahi, from the French civil society group Collectif contre l'Islamophobie en France (CCIF), said: “We deal with discrimination on a daily basis in working to change things in our respective countries, using our expertise and experience in opposing discrimination and supporting victims. I believe this workshop is an opportunity to influence policies in addressing the challenges that women face.”

This workshop builds on focus groups and a training-of-trainers event for Muslim women and women of African descent held in 2014, which identified discrimination limiting access to work and education as critical obstacles, and identified strategies for their further engagement. 

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This report is provided for the media and the general public.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by third parties and security considerations*. The SMM observed numerous ceasefire violations at and around Donetsk airport. The SMM visited weapons holding areas and observed that some weapons previously documented were no longer present, both at government-controlled and “DPR”-controlled sites.

During the weekend, fighting intensified in Donetsk, with substantially more shelling observed. The level of violence in areas around “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled Donetsk airport remains high.

Over a period of two days, the SMM at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) observation point at Donetsk central railway station (“DPR”-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk city centre) observed a total of at least 594 explosions caused by incoming and outgoing artillery and mortar fire, as well as small arms and light weapons (SALW), including heavy machine-gun fire. The SMM concluded that the explosions occurred at locations to the north, north-west, north-east, west, and south-west and at distances ranging between 2 and 10km from its position.

At the JCCC headquarters in government-controlled Soledar (77km north-north-east of Donetsk) the SMM was presented with separate ceasefire log files covering 11 June by representatives of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and representatives of the Russian Federation Armed Forces. The Ukrainian Armed Forces had logged 99 violations and reported six Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers killed and eleven wounded in action, and the Russian Federation Armed Forces had logged 103 violations. While the majority of violations in the Ukrainian Armed Forces log targeted Ukrainian positions in and around Donetsk airport, violations were also recorded in Horlivka (“DPR”-controlled, 37km north-east of Donetsk) and in the Luhansk region. 

From observation points located 1.5 and 3.5km west of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol), over two days the SMM observed a total of 180 explosions caused by 82mm and 120mm mortars, automatic grenade launchers and artillery, as well as small arms, including heavy machine-gun fire. An SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted six mortar positions in Shyrokyne on 13 June.

On 13 June, the SMM observed a military parade held in Mariupol (government-controlled, 103km south of Donetsk). The parade was organized by the Azov volunteer battalion within the Ministry of Internal Affairs to mark the first anniversary of what the Ukrainian authorities refer to as the liberation of the city of Mariupol from “DPR” forces, and was attended by the Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council and the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine as well as other high-ranking government officials. There were some 100 regular Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel and Azov battalion members present. The parade consisted of three trucks pulling artillery pieces (one 100mm 2A29 “Rapira” and two 122mm D30 howitzers), present in violation of Minsk withdrawal lines; one armoured personnel vehicle (BTR); one “Spartan” armoured vehicle; and twelve pick-ups with “Azov” insignia. Four vehicles were pulling mortars (2B11 “Sani”, 122mm). The military parade was followed by a concert attended by up to 1,000 people.

During the weekend, the overall situation in Luhansk remained calm. On 14 June, while stationary in government-controlled Toshkivka (60km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM heard a series of 10 to 12 incoming and outgoing explosions from a south-easterly direction 10km from its position.

On 14 June, five kilometres north of government-controlled Troitske (69km west of Luhansk) the SMM observed four impact craters, each with a diameter of 3-5m and a depth of 1 to 1.5m. The SMM observed the remains of a rocket and identified it as having been fired from a multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) (BM-21 “Grad”, 120mm). The positioning indicated that the rocket was likely fired from an east-north-easterly direction.

On 14 June, in government-controlled Trokhizbenka (33km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM was told by residents about early morning grenade and Grad rocket explosions. The SMM observed a hole in the roof of an abandoned building. On the ground near the building the SMM observed metal pieces from the rockets. Five metres south of the village’s main road, the SMM located a crater with a Grad rocket casing. Another crater was observed approximately 30m from the road in the area of the local tuberculosis hospital. The SMM observed several metal pieces around the crater. Based on analysis at the scene, the fire had been incoming from the south-west. No casualties were reported.

On 13 June, the SMM visited the Luhansk water supply company customer service department to gather updates on the current water supply situation. Two administrative staff told the SMM that the water supply had been restored in all districts in Luhansk city in the past week. This was due, they said, to the partial re-opening of government-controlled supply systems, and Luhansk city households are now provided with water for four hours every evening. The current water supply is limited to 30% of the usual supply capacity. The deputy head of the Luhansk regional state administration said the supply of water from government-controlled areas to “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled areas had been limited due to technical reasons.

During a two-day period, the SMM revisited seven “DPR” weapons holding areas, whose locations comply with the respective withdrawal lines. At five of them, all weapons previously observed were in situ. Two of them, each of which had previously stored six 122mm howitzers, were abandoned. At one of the sites, only one SMM patrol member was permitted to enter the venue.

On 14 June, the SMM was not granted access to a Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding area as the commander was not present nor reachable via phone despite several attempts.  The SMM revisited three Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding areas in the vicinity of Soledar, whose locations comply with the respective withdrawal lines. At the first site the SMM was initially denied entry. Following intercession by the JCCC, the SMM was granted access and observed only two self-propelled howitzers (2S1 “Gvozdika”, 122mm) and two self-propelled howitzers (2S3 “Akatsiya”, 152mm) at the site, where nine 2S1 and eight 2S3 systems were previously recorded. Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel stated that the missing weapons were used for training in the area. The SMM also noted that two anti-aircraft missile systems (9K35 “Strela-10”) previously present at the position were now absent. The SMM visited another Ukrainian Armed Forces holding area where twelve anti-tank guns (MT-12, 100mm) had previously been present. This site was found to be unoccupied. At a third holding area, the SMM confirmed that five MT-12 guns remained in place in accordance with SMM records.

Despite claims that the withdrawal of heavy weapons was complete, the SMM observed weapons in areas that are in violation of Minsk withdrawal lines. On 13 June, the SMM observed two MBTs (one T-64, the other unidentified) being transported southward from Luhansk city on trailers. On 13 June, on the outskirts of Amrosiivka (“DPR”-controlled, 53km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed six self-propelled howitzers (122mm, 2S1) heading south. In Ternove (60km south-east of Donetsk, “DPR” controlled), the SMM observed a shooting range used by the “DPR” on both 13 and 14 June and on both occasions saw 18 stationary main battle tanks (MBT) (T-64s and T-72s), and other military vehicles.

On 14 June, the SMM observed ten self-propelled howitzers (2S3 “Akatsiya”, 152mm) moving away from the line of contact along the road from Soledar to Sloviansk (government-controlled, 95km north of Donetsk). On 14 June, an SMM UAV observed a concentration of 53 MBTs (unknown type), six towed howitzers (D30, 122mm) and ten military trucks in Torez (“DPR”-controlled, 60km east of Donetsk); seven MBTs (unknown type), 23 armoured personnel carriers (APC) and at least nine trucks and other vehicles in Komsomolske (“DPR”-controlled, 43km south of Donetsk); four self-propelled howitzers in Vasylivka (“DPR”-controlled, 50km south-east of Donetsk); one MBT (unknown type), 14 APCs, and six military trucks in Bezimenne (“DPR”-controlled, 28km east of Mariupol). In addition, an SMM UAV observed six covered artillery pieces in Paraskoviivka (government-controlled, 29km south-west of Donetsk) and additional surface-to-air missile systems in the region.

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

 

 

* Restrictions on SMM monitoring, access and freedom of movement:

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by third parties and security considerations including the presence of mines, the lack of information on whereabouts of landmines, as well as damaged infrastructure. The security situation in Donbas is fluid and unpredictable and the ceasefire does not hold everywhere. Self-imposed restrictions on movement into high risk areas have impinged on SMM patrolling activities, particularly in areas not controlled by the government.

Delays:

• On 13 June, the SMM was held at the checkpoint south of Artemivsk (government-controlled, 67km north of Donetsk) for approximately 50 minutes, ostensibly due to the disposal of an unexploded 82mm mortar round. However, the SMM did not hear any explosions that would have indicated ordnance disposal.
• On 14 June, at a Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding area, the SMM was initially denied entry. Following intercession by the JCCC, the SMM was granted access to the site.

Prevented access:

• On 13 June, the SMM observed a possible “LPR” heavy weapons holding area. The SMM conducted an unannounced visit to the site. At the gate, the SMM spoke with two armed personnel, one of whom identified himself as the Cossack commander of the site. The interlocutor denied the SMM access, saying the facility was a “military installation” and only the “director” based in Luhansk could grant approval. The interlocutor refused to give a name or contact details of his superior. The SMM then left the area after approximately five minutes at the site.
• On 13 June, while visiting a “DPR”-controlled heavy weapons holding area, only one SMM patrol member was permitted to enter the site.
• On 14 June, at a checkpoint located immediately outside “LPR”-controlled Brianka (49km west of Luhansk), the checkpoint commander did not allow the SMM to proceed to Pervomaisk (“LPR”-controlled, 70km west of Luhansk), citing ongoing shelling in the area.
• On 14 June, the SMM was not granted access to a Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding area, as the commander was not present or reachable via phone despite several attempts. 
  
  For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.

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As part of its three-year project to support the engagement of Gagauz minority youth and civil society in public discussions and public service, a roundtable was held at the OSCE Mission to Moldova on 10 June 2015.

At the event, independent researchers from the NGO Piligrim-Demo, which is based in Comrat,  Gagauzia (Gagauz-Yeri), presented their report on the implementation of the Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia, which  explores some of the legal framework challenges facing Chisinau and Comrat in the implementation of Gagauzia as an Autonomous Territorial Unit.

Some 25 representatives from the Moldovan Parliament, the Gagauz People’s Assembly, the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and the international community took part in the discussions that followed.

“We welcome the contribution of civil society researchers to the discussion and their interest in this issue,” said Ambassador Michael Scanlan, Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova. “We believe that it is important to generate dialogue and public engagement on these issues, in particular among young people and civil society, and hope that all involved have benefited from today’s exchange of views.”

Participants from Comrat and Chisinau welcomed the fact that a representative of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities participated in the roundtable discussion. 

 

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Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Office in Tajikistan

The High-level International Conference on the implementation of the International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, 2005-2015 took place from 8 to 10 June 2015, in Dushanbe.

The Conference provided a forum to discuss the implementation of the International Decade and to develop recommendations for further action to be taken after 2015, including contributing to the development of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to water resources. The conference program included a variety of activities, including plenary and thematic sessions, sessions on regional perspectives, an exhibition and a field trip to the hydro-electric station Nurek.

The event brought together more than 1,500 participants from more than 99 countries of the world, several UN agencies, international and regional organizations as well as NGOs and, universities.

During the opening ceremony, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon reinforced the importance of hydropower as the country’s main source of power supply. He also added that despite the enormous hydropower potential, the population faces severe power shortages during the winter season. This situation has a negative impact on the socio-economic development of the country and the achievement of all development goals.UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also added that the key priority areas are the access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.

The  Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities Halil Yurdakul Yigitguden emphasized the importance of regional co-operation on shared water resources and stated that the “OSCE will continue to foster water co-operation and good water governance; it will further facilitate the exchange of experiences among and beyond the OSCE region.”

The OSCE Office in Tajikistan, in close co-operation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), organized the side-event entitled “Facilitation of transboundary water co-operation: new developments”. The Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Yigitgüden, the Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan Ambassador Markus Mueller, Bo Libert, UNECE Regional Environmental Advisor, Oihon Sharipova, Deputy Chair of the State Committee for Environmental Protection and Alice Aureli (UNESCO International Hydrological Programme), members of the Afghan delegation and others participated in discussion.

Ambassador Markus Mueller stated in his conclusion that the main aim of international trans-boundary water conventions is a sufficient and good quality of water to all riparian regions. “In order to achieve this, institutions in charge of water management, communities and governments have to join forces across borders for the benefit of all people in the basin.”

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This report is provided for the media and the general public.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by third parties and security considerations*. The SMM observed ongoing ceasefire violations at and around Donetsk airport. In line with current security considerations, the SMM did not conduct monitoring activities in the area of Shyrokyne. An SMM UAV spotted a large concentration of weapons in the vicinity of “DPR”-controlled Komsomolske. The SMM observed the Equality March in Kyiv on 6 June.

 

The SMM observed ongoing ceasefire violations at and around Donetsk airport[1] (“Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled, 12km north-west of Donetsk city centre). Over a period of two days, the SMM at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) observation point at Donetsk central railway station (“DPR”-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk city centre) heard a total of at least 111 explosions caused by incoming and outgoing artillery and mortar fire, as well as small arms and light weapons (SALW) fire including heavy machine gun fire. The SMM concluded that the explosions occurred at locations to the west, north-west and north and at distances ranging between 2 and 8km from its position.

Furthermore, on 6 June an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) observed a burning building in central Donetsk.

On 7 June, while at a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint in the vicinity of government-controlled Marinka (23km west, south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard and saw SALW fire (7-10 single shots and at least 3-4 bursts) incoming from a north-easterly direction and impacting 3-5m next to SMM vehicles in sand bags and concrete blocks. The soldiers laid down for cover. The SMM immediately left the scene. No injuries or damage were reported.

An SMM UAV spotted a concentration of 40 military-type trucks in Petrovskyi district (“DPR”-controlled, 20km south-west of Donetsk city centre).

On 6 June in Petrovskyi district, the SMM spoke to a group of citizens from “DPR”-controlled Trudovskyi sub-district residing close to Petrovskoho Street (1.5km east of Marinka). One female interlocutor said that the sub-district had been subjected to heavy shelling on 3 June. The SMM met with five female and three male residents who said that no humanitarian aid had been delivered to that area due to the security situation. According to them no ambulance would drive into the area in the event of an emergency, and there was no possibility for their children to attend a summer school outside the affected area.

In Kuibyshevskyi district (“DPR”-controlled, 10km west-north-west of Donetsk city centre) the SMM monitored damage caused by shelling on 6 June reported by both sides of the JCCC and “DPR”. The SMM examined several impacts in the area. The first impact was at a flat located on the top floor of a building in Kremlynskaya Street. The roof of the building was damaged by an explosion. The SMM found inside the flat the remnants of a projectile, specifically the tail of a 120mm mortar round. The SMM could not determine the origin, distance or direction of the mortar. The other impact area was located behind another building on the same street, where a mortar round had hit the tarmac sidewalk. The SMM conducted crater analysis, determining that it was caused by a mortar round (120mm) from a north-westerly direction.

At the train station in Khartsyzk (“DPR”-controlled, 25km east of Donetsk) the SMM observed a train (no locomotive) consisting of eight empty freight wagons, two sealed 20-foot containers, one flat wagon loaded with round timber. According to SMM’s observations this is the same type of timber used to reinforce fighting positions.

In line with current security considerations, the SMM did not conduct monitoring activities in the area of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol). However, an SMM UAV on 6 June spotted two mortar positions in immediate proximity to civilian houses in “DPR”-controlled areas of the village and the following day a burning building, also in the village itself.

The SMM monitored from a distance of approximately 4km a military training range close to  “DPR”-controlled Debaltseve (55km north-east of Donetsk) located on the E50/M03 cross road to the administrative boundary line between the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The SMM observed five armed individuals leaving the training centre in a civilian vehicle with bags and personal weapons in the direction of Debaltseve. The SMM saw that at the camp there were a dozen white tents. No military weapons or activity were visible from the SMM observation point. However, at 11:35hrs on 6 June, the SMM heard an incoming explosion (likely mortar or grenade) from a northerly direction.

On 7 June, between 11:15 and 11:25hrs, at the government-controlled Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk) bridge, the SMM heard ten explosions, probably originating from a mortar (82mm calibre). The shells landed approximately 100-500 metres north and south of the SMM’s position in the area around the bridge.

In government-controlled Stanytsia Luhanska (16km north-east of Luhansk), Chernihiv battalion personnel serving under the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior informed the SMM that on the evening of 5 June, from 21:00-24:00hrs, there was an exchange of fire between their battalion and “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”) armed groups. The SMM spoke with three female residents (two young and one elderly) who spoke of the lack of electricity, which caused water supply problems. According to them, for the last seven days there was no electricity and water. They said that residents were using wells and hand pumps to obtain water. According to the interlocutors, the kindergarten was closed, due to the lack of water and electricity.

Despite claims that the withdrawal of heavy weapons has been complete, the SMM observed the following weapons movements/presence in areas that are in violation of the Minsk withdrawal lines: in government-controlled areas, 14 main battle tanks (MBTs) and three artillery pieces; and, in “DPR”-controlled areas, 16 MBTs and five artillery pieces.

Of particular note – amongst the weapons observed by SMM UAVs was a concentration at a railway station between the “DPR”-controlled Komsomolske (45km south-east of Donetsk) and Andriivka (45km south-east of Donetsk), namely seven MBTs. In the same area, the UAV spotted 35 military trucks and 25 armoured personnel carriers. Also, of note was a concentration around “DPR”-controlled Oktyabr (85km south of Donetsk), namely, three artillery pieces and two MBTs.

On 6 June, the SMM monitored in the city centre of Lviv two different protests. The first protest was organized by Pravyy Sektor against what they called “misgovernment” of President Poroshenko. Approximately 150 Right Sector supporters participated, mostly young males, of whom around 80 where in military fatigues but unarmed. Pravyy Sektor local leaders demanded from President Poroshenko the disclosure of preliminary results of the investigation of the events on Maidan in Kyiv in 2014, where 100 people lost their lives. They also demanded the legalization of Pravyy Sektor volunteer groups fighting alongside regular Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone. The SMM observed ten male police officers. The event ended peacefully.

The other protest observed by the SMM in Lviv was against rising living costs. The event was organized by the Svoboda political party. Approximately 200 supporters, evenly mixed in gender, participated. Several activists criticized the government’s handling of the current economic situation in the country, as well as oligarchs’ involvement in ruling Ukraine. The SMM observed 20 male police officers. The event ended peacefully.

On 7 June, the SMM met in Rivne (223km north-east of Lviv) with the local head of Pravyy Sektor, who said his organization had recently issued an ultimatum to all village council heads, heads of district state administration and the regional state administration demanding until 9 June 2015 the demolition of all monuments affiliated with the communist regime. According to him, the demand was in line with a recent bill passed in the Verkhovna Rada against communist symbols. In case the ultimatum is not observed, the Pravyy Sektor would embark on demolishing the monuments itself, the head said.

In Kyiv, the SMM observed on 6 June the venue of the “Equality March" organized by activists of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, in Obolon district. The SMM saw approximately 400 police officers and 35 police buses and 15 other police vehicles. The SMM observed three male individuals (25 to 35 years old) who were being held by police at the venue. The SMM observed a pool of blood and three detonated pyrotechnics. The SMM saw police transporting the three men held, from the scene at 11:50hrs. The SMM did not observe any activists from the LGBT community. According to the organizer of the Equality March to whom the SMM spoke, the participants were attacked during the march by approximately 40 men. The interlocutor suggested the men to be members of “Dynamo Kyiv Ultras” football hooligans. The hooligans had burning flares in their hands and were shooting fireworks in the directions of the march participants. According to the interlocutor the attackers had thrown several home-made firecrackers towards the police and two loud detonations had been heard. The firecrackers seemed to contain metal objects and one device detonated close to a police officer who got seriously injured, the Equality March organizer said.

On 7 June, the SMM spoke with the Head of the Department of Press Communication of the Ministry of Interior, who said that nine male police officers had been wounded at the Equality March. One of the police officers was in a critical condition with a wound in his neck, caused by firecrackers, containing metal objects. According to the interlocutor there had been 2,000 police officers designated to this event and approximately 200 activists participated in the march. She said that the police detained 30 people due to hooliganism. Seven of them are still under arrest. The SMM spoke in Kyiv with the spokesperson of Pravyy Sektor, whom the SMM saw at the venue of the march, who said that 150 members had been present at the venue of the march. According to him Pravyy Sektor members had not participated in the violence on 6 June. The spokesperson confirmed that four members of his party were detained by the police.

On 6 June, the SMM observed approximately 3,000 people (majority women, 15 to 75 years old) marching in Kyiv in opposition to President Poroshenko from Khreshchatyk Street, to European Square and the Parliament. The demonstrators held a large, crudely written banner, calling for the impeachment of the President. The SMM observed 10 police officers. The event lasted for approximately three hours and ended peacefully.

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

 

* Restrictions on SMM monitoring, access and freedom of movement:

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by third parties and security considerations including the lack of information on whereabouts of landmines.

 

The security situation in Donbas is fluid and unpredictable and the ceasefire does not hold everywhere.

 

-         On 7 June the SMM was informed by an “LPR” “mobile border patrol” in “LPR”-controlled Diakove (70km south of Luhansk) of the presence of “subversive groups” and mines in “LPR”-controlled areas towards the Ukraine-Russian Federation international border. The “LPR” members said further movement of the SMM from Diakove towards the border was restricted. The SMM returned to Luhansk.

-         An SMM UAV experienced jamming of unspecified time on two occasions: between Dokuchaievsk (30km south, south-east of Donetsk) and Michurine 61km south of Donetsk), both “DPR”-controlled, on 6 June and, the following day in the vicinity of government-controlled Krasnoarmiisk (54km north-east of Donetsk).

 

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

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VIENNA, 8 June 2015 – The significance of the Open Skies Treaty remains a vital instrument for confidence building and promoting the openness of military forces, said participants of the third Treaty Review Conference, which opened today in Vienna. The three-day meeting will review the functioning and implementation of the landmark Open Skies Treaty.

The Treaty allows its State Parties to conduct peaceful aerial observations over each other’s territories.

Opening the meeting, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Aleksandr Mikhnevich, in his address as Chairperson of the Conference, said that the Open Skies Treaty is one of the most important and effective military-political instruments aimed at building trust and increasing transparency among the OSCE participating States.

Mikhnevich also stressed the importance of conventional arms control and confidence- and security-building measures in the light of the security crisis in Europe caused by developments in and around Ukraine.

These mechanisms, including the Open Skies Treaty, cannot on their own to bring a solution to the current situation there, Mikhnevich said, but he pointed out that “they can make a substantial contribution to reducing tension by means of addressing various concerns in the area of security and restoring the atmosphere of trust.”

Mikhnevich also noted the importance of the Open Skies Treaty for his country. “It was one of the first international legal instruments to which the Belarusian state signed up to after gaining its independence, thereby demonstrating its adherence to strengthening security and stability in the area from Vancouver to Vladivostok,” he said.

Ambassador Robert Kvile, Permanent Representative of Norway to the OSCE and the current Chairperson of the Vienna-based Open Skies Consultative Commission, the Treaty’s implementing body, said that the Conference is an important milestone in the Treaty’s history. “We are about to take the Treaty one step further with today’s technology,” he said referring to efforts to take it into the digital era.

“The hard work performed by the Informal Working Groups on Sensors and Certification during the past years has resulted in significant achievements for the future functioning of the Treaty,” he said.

At the same time, he also touched upon certain challenges related to the functioning and implementation of the Treaty since the Second review Conference in 2010. “Selective implementation of the treaty is of specific concern. There is need for a frank discussion on such issues at this review conference,” Kvile noted.

The Open Skies Treaty was signed in 2002 and calls for a review conference to be held every five years. There are 34 State Parties, including most European states, the United States and Canada. More than 1,100 observations flights have been carried out under the Treaty since it came into force.

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Iva Scepanovic Joana Karapataqi, OSCE Presence in Albania

The first bilateral meeting on gender equality issues of Parliamentary Committees from Montenegro and Albania took place on 7 June 2015 in Budva, Montenegro.

Parliamentarians from two countries gathered to talk about an access to financial means for women entrepreneurs, successful practices, recommendations and possible joint initiatives.

The meeting was organised by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the OSCE Presence in Albania in order to initiate and strengthen bilateral co-operation between two parliaments on issues of joint interest.

The members of the Committees discussed different aspects and challenges for women entrepreneurship and concluded that both countries have similar experiences and obstacles. It was decided that these meetings need to be continued with full committee participation. The next meeting will focus on more concrete steps and joint initiatives.

 

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PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 8 June 2015 – The OSCE Mission in Kosovo will host a regional conference on challenges and best practices in the implementation of non-discrimination legislation in Prishtinё/Priština tomorrow.

Prominent human rights experts, members of the judiciary, Ombudsperson institutions and civil society organizations from Belgrade, Podgorica, Prishtinё/Priština, Sarajevo, Skopje and Tirana, including representatives from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), will explore domestic frameworks on non-discrimination, experiences of Ombudsperson institutions in dealing with discrimination cases, judicial responses to discrimination and the role of civil society.  

The conference aims to identify effective measures that can improve the enforcement of legal frameworks and reduce instances of discrimination across the region.

The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger, will speak at the event. 

Media representatives are invited to the conference on Tuesday, 9 June 2015, at 10:00 hrs, at Swiss Diamond Hotel in Prishtinë/Priština. 

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VIENNA, 8 June 2015 – OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier and EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, in a meeting on 6 June, reviewed with concern the state of affairs in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and discussed next steps needed to rapidly overcome current political tensions.

Zannier thanked Commissioner Hahn for his personal role in the cross-party dialogue facilitated by the EU, and stressed that it was critical for all political parties to remain engaged and committed to open dialogue in a constructive and transparent manner.  He expressed hope that at their next meeting in Brussels on 10 June the parties would find solutions to the remaining points.

Zannier and Hahn agreed that holding early elections by April 2016, as agreed by the country’s leaders last week, would be an important step towards normalization. "Free and fair elections are vital to strengthening democratic processes in the country,” Zannier said. “I expect that the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will again engage robustly in observing the elections, particularly at this crucial time."

Noting that ODIHR’s final report on its observation of the 2014 early parliamentary elections pointed to a number of shortcomings, Zannier underlined the need for the country’s responsible institutions to fully and urgently implement ODIHR’s recommendations on electoral processes. 

Acknowledging the preliminary agreement reached by the political parties on 2 June, Zannier said, “Political leaders have demonstrated a willingness to settle outstanding issues, and I encourage them to come to an agreement to overcome the current crisis.”

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ANKARA, 8 June 2015 – The 7 June parliamentary elections in Turkey were characterized by active and high citizen participation, during the campaign and on election day. Voters could choose from a wide range of political parties, but the 10 per cent threshold to enter parliament limits political pluralism, international observers said in a statement issued today. Media freedom is an area of serious concern, with media outlets and individual journalists critical of the ruling party being subject to pressure and intimidation during the campaign, the observers said.

“The elections engaged society in a vibrant and hard-fought campaign, and demonstrated that there is a real choice from among strong political forces in Turkey,” said Vilija Aleknaitė Abramikienė, Special Co-ordinator and Leader of the Short-Term OSCE Observer Mission. “I was impressed yesterday to see people so actively going to the polls, especially after the recent violence and tragic loss of life. Their continued engagement demonstrates commitment to democratic elections. Remaining challenges, including on media freedoms and the high threshold for entry into the parliament, should be addressed to better reflect people’s choices.”

Fundamental freedoms were generally respected. Unfortunately, the campaign was tainted by a high number of attacks on party offices and serious incidents of physical attacks, some resulting in fatalities.

The elections were organized professionally in general, but greater transparency in the election administration would increase trust in the electoral process, the statement said. Several Supreme Board of Elections decisions were inconsistent with legislation, including in relation to campaigning and election administration, and the lack of judicial review of those decisions challenges the separation of powers and prevents access to judicial remedy in election matters.

“We praise the active participation of citizens, the high voter turnout and the broad observation activities by parties, as well as by citizen observer groups, which in the future should be granted legal status,” said Tiny Kox, Head of the PACE Delegation. “The 10 per cent threshold limits political pluralism, and we continue to urge that it be lowered substantially.”

International observers were accredited for these elections. The law, however, does not create a legal basis for citizen and international observation, and two citizen observer groups were denied accreditation by the Supreme Board of Elections.

The President played an active role in the election campaign, even though the constitution obliges him to be non-partisan, attending an extraordinary number of public events, which were used as opportunities to campaign in favour of the ruling party and to criticize opposition figures, the observers noted.

Twenty parties and 165 independent candidates took part in the elections. They were generally able to campaign freely and did so extensively, although there were isolated instances of the cancellation of or restrictions on rallies for opposition parties in favour of events organized for the President or Prime Minister, the statement says.

“While Turkey has a history of a generally functioning, pluralistic system, challenges related to freedom of expression and the dominant role played by the President in the campaign partially undermined fairness in this election,” said Ignacio Sanchez Amor, Head of the OSCE PA Delegation. “Turkey clearly plays a stabilizing role in a tough neighbourhood, but these security challenges cannot be a justification for backsliding on democratic commitments. The strong engagement of people across the country during the campaign and yesterday is a good sign for Turkey’s future.”

The media environment is vibrant, with a wide range of broadcast and print outlets, but undue restrictions remain and media critical of the ruling party faced increasing pressure and intimidation by public figures and political actors during the election period. Media monitoring results showed that the coverage was polarized along partisan lines, with three of the five television channels monitored, including the public broadcaster, displaying a significant bias in favour of the ruling party.

“The results of our observation are not a black-and-white picture. I trust that the competent authorities will concentrate on the messages contained in the critical points and on the recommendations that will come in the ODIHR final report, rather than on the defense of sometimes-flawed practice,” said Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission. “In this respect, rectification is better than justification or denial. All in all, these elections were an impressive exercise in democracy.”

In the limited number of polling stations visited by international observers, election day was well organized, with a few localized security incidents. The counting and tabulation processes were noted as generally transparent, although some important procedural errors were observed and, in some instances, international observers were denied access to tabulation facilities.

For further information contact:

Richard Solash, OSCE PA, +90 (0)539 925 5962 or +45 60 10 83 80, richard@oscepa.dk

Thomas Rymer, OSCE/ODIHR, +90 (0)539 924 6115 or +48 609 522 266, thomas.rymer@odihr.pl

Nathalie Bargellini, PACE, +90 (0)534 054 8924 or +33 (0) 6 65 40 32 82, nathalie.bargellini@coe.int

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SKOPJE, 6 June 2015 -- The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Special Representative on South East Europe, Roberto Battelli (MP, Slovenia), visited the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on 4-5 June, stressing the urgent need for crisis-resolution, the return of a functioning parliament and broad national dialogue in meetings with governmental and parliamentary leaders.

The Special Representative also discussed the recent tragic events in Kumanovo during his meetings and the framework deal facilitated by EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn that political leaders agreed on 2 June.

In a joint meeting with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki on 5 June, Battelli received detailed information from the government’s perspective on the Kumanovo incident and on developments toward political resolution. The Special Representative encouraged the government to take all steps to regain credibility, including by initiating dialogue formats with the political opposition and NGOs that aim to expedite necessary reforms. 

The Special Representative noted the Prime Minister’s assurance that the majority of the opposition’s requests will be met, with the exception of their call for a “technical” government.

The sides also discussed the work of the committee that will investigate the contents of audio recordings released by the leader of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), Zoran Zaev. Battelli raised the question of the possible impact of the committee’s work on the government’s operability.

The Special Representative noted the Prime Minister’s reaffirmation that the Kumanovo incident had been perpetrated by well-known criminals whose aim was to destabilize the country and that they did not receive support from neighboring countries or the Albanian community within in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. 

In a separate meeting with Foreign Minister Poposki, the sides also discussed the status of the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration and the issue of ethnic integration within society. Battelli called upon the government to speedily start implementing the much-needed strategy for integration in the educational system.

“At the same time, the EU and its members should not create artificial obstacles to the enlargement process, and this is a point that the OSCE PA has endorsed,” the Special Representative noted.

Battelli also met with SDSM leader Zoran Zaev while in Skopje. He received further details of the EU-facilitated agreement, in particular regarding the early elections planned for April 2016 and the envisaged changes in the composition of the government. 

Battelli encouraged the opposition to promote a negotiated solution to the political crisis by considering that unrealistic expectations could endanger the success of the reform process.

In meetings with Speaker of Parliament Trajko Veljanovski and with the country’s Delegation to the OSCE PA, the Special Representative further emphasized the need to fully implement the EU-facilitated agreement in order to allow for urgent discussions about the country’s future and to enable the parliament to fulfill its critical role of driving reform. 

Battelli also welcomed opposition’s stated readiness to end their year-long boycott of the parliament, underscoring that it the duty of the majority to enable the opposition to play its critical role in the democratic process. 

“It is now high time to move to the implementation of the reform promises and legislation. This is the responsibility of the country and its leadership, and not something that can be done by the international community,” Battelli said. 

“I am sure the EU will have a close look at this process,” he added, also offering the support of the OSCE PA and its members, if needed and requested.

The Special Representative also met with Ali Ahmeti, the leader of the Albanian party DUI, which is currently in the governing coalition. He expressed his support for Ahmeti’s request for a thorough and unbiased investigation into the Kumanovo incident and expressed further appreciation for Ahmeti’s calls for an inclusive roundtable involving all political actors in the country and for his role in past reconciliation processes.

Battelli also met with a broad range of civil society organizations while in Skopje.

“In speaking with opposition politicians, and in my meetings with NGO representatives in particular, I was disturbed to hear them describe an increasing climate of suspicion and intimidation and the return of inter-ethnic tensions. I am convinced that it is essential for both the opposition and civil society organizations to be better integrated into problem-solving in this country in order to change this dangerous course,” he said. 

Battelli agreed with the NGO representatives that problem-solving would have to include the establishment of internal party democracy and a more transparent process of further negotiations.  

“I therefore understand the doubts of my civil society interlocutors regarding the timeline for elections that the parties agreed on, and their fear that there will be insufficient time to resolve the burning issues,” he added.

The Special Representative also held meetings with representatives of international organizations and received thorough briefings by the staff of the OSCE Mission to Skopje. He was accompanied in Skopje by the OSCE PA’s Special Representative in Vienna, Ambassador Andreas Nothelle, the Acting Head of the OSCE Mission, Ambassador Marianne Berecz, and the Mission's Political Officer, James DeWitt.

Earlier in the week Battelli visited Belgrade and Prishtine/Pristina. Further information is available here.

Photos from the visit are available here. 

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This report is provided for the media and the general public.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by third parties and significant caution regarding security considerations*. Ceasefire violations continued at and around Donetsk airport, and the SMM continued to note challenges with access to medical services and water supply in certain areas.

The SMM observed ongoing ceasefire violations at and around Donetsk airport[1] (“Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled, 12km north-west of Donetsk). On the morning of 5 June, while at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) observation point at the Donetsk central railway station (“DPR”-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk city centre), the SMM observed a total of 88 explosions, most of which were part of an exchange of fire between “DPR”-controlled Spartak (immediately to the east of Donetsk airport) and government-controlled positions in Vodiane (20km north-west of Donetsk city centre) and Opytne (20km north-north-west of Donetsk city centre). The SMM assessed that the weapons being fired were artillery over 100mm.

While at the Donetsk central railway station observation point on the afternoon of 5 June, the SMM heard a total of 111 explosions, anti-aircraft and small arms. The SMM also heard an intensive exchange of anti-aircraft gun fire which it assessed to be between the “Muraveynik” area (government-controlled, 11.6km north-west of Donetsk city centre) and the “Zhabunki” area (“DPR”-controlled, 12km north-west of Donetsk city centre).

The SMM spoke with the “human rights ombudsperson” of the “DPR” who stated that on 3 June, four people had died in the “DPR”-controlled area, while 36 civilians (21 female, 15 male) and 25 armed “DPR” members were injured.  On 4 June, one civilian had died, while four civilians (one female, three male) were injured. According to the interlocutor, from 30 May to 4 June, six female corpses and 38 male corpses were delivered to morgues with causes of death injuries received as a result of shelling.

In Petrovskyi district of Donetsk city, the SMM visited a hospital, where the deputy head informed the SMM that on 3 June 84 military men and 21 civilians (four men, 17 women, mostly elderly) had been treated in the hospital for shrapnel injuries as a result of shelling. One civilian and one armed “DPR” member had died from their injuries. He further told the SMM that there is a lack of certain medicines and key supplies in the hospital.

The SMM visited Telmanove (“DPR”-controlled, 67km south-south-east of Donetsk) in order to monitor and assess the damage and confirm the civilian casualties caused by shelling on 4 June. The SMM analyzed 13 craters in an area of 1 square kilometre. At seven of these impact sites, the SMM determined that the shelling had originated from a westerly direction. At six impact sites, the SMM could identify that the type of the weapon used was a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), and in two cases the SMM could specify the type of MLRS as a BM-21 GRAD.  The SMM visited the local hospital and spoke to the deputy head doctor, who stated that a four-year-old boy was killed in his home by the shelling.  The SMM spoke to a “DPR” “policeman” who confirmed this and further stated that three elderly female residents had also been injured due to the shelling.

In Slovyansk (government-controlled, 95km north of Donetsk), at a weekly security meeting a representative of the department responsible for the collaboration between the military and civilians within the Donetsk oblast Civil-Military Administration (CIMIC) reported that a plan had been developed to evacuate approximately 1,500 residents from the recently shelled Marinka and Krasnohorivka (government-controlled; 23km west-south-west and 20km west of Donetsk, respectively). He stated that all the checkpoints in that area were currently closed and roads were heavily damaged and mined. The residents of Marinka and Krasnohorivka were concerned for their safety, he stated. The CIMIC representative explained that the evacuees from Marinka and Krasnohorivka were likely going to be accommodated in Artemivsk and Kostiantynivka (both government-controlled, 66km north-north-east and 58km north of Donetsk, respectively).

At the first government-controlled checkpoint on the road from Donetsk to Kurakhove (government-controlled, 50km west of Donetsk), the SMM noticed that the checkpoint had fortifications and lanes of anti-tank mines along the road.

The SMM visited Telmanove (“DPR”-controlled, 67km south-south-east of Donetsk) in order to monitor and assess the damage and confirm the civilian casualties caused by shelling on 4 June. The SMM analyzed 13 craters in an area of 1 square kilometre. At seven of these impact sites, the SMM determined that the shelling had originated from a westerly direction. At six impact sites, the SMM could identify that the type of the weapon used was a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), and in two cases the SMM could specify the type of MLRS as a BM-21 GRAD.  The SMM visited the local hospital and spoke to the deputy head doctor, who stated that a four-year-old boy was killed in his home by the shelling.  The SMM spoke to a “DPR” “policeman” who confirmed this and further stated that three elderly female residents had also been injured due to the shelling.

The security situation in and around Mariupol (government-controlled, 103km south of Donetsk) remained calm. In line with current security considerations, the SMM did not conduct monitoring activities in the area of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol). The SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) observed a house burning in Shyrokyne.

The SMM visited Hranitne (47km northeast of Mariupol, government-controlled), 13km across the contact line from Telmanove, and met with three female members of the village administration.  They reported that their electricity supply is frequently interrupted due to damage to the power line caused by shelling.  The SMM analyzed 15 recent craters and assessed that four of them were caused by mortar shelling originating from the south-east.

At the JCCC headquarters in Soledar (government-controlled, 77km north-north-east of Donetsk), the SMM was presented with two log files of ceasefire violations of 4 June, compiled independently by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Russian Federation Armed Forces officers at the JCCC and containing 88 and 100 violations respectively.  The former log attributed a clear majority of the violations to “DPR” and “LPR” forces; the latter equally between the government and the “DPR”/ “LPR” forces.

The SMM observed that the overall situation in the Luhansk region remained generally calm, but whilst in “Luhansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled Slovianoserbsk (28km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 15 artillery explosions 6km north of its position.[2] In government-controlled Shchastia (20km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard one outgoing mortar shot incoming from approximately one kilometre north-east of the SMM’s position.  This was followed by an intensive exchange (incoming and outgoing) of small-arms fire, automatic grenade launchers and mortars, lasting just over ten minutes.

In Slovianoserbsk, the head doctor of the psychiatric hospital told the SMM that his facility faces a lack of basic medications, especially pain killers, antibiotics, and psychiatric remedies. According to her, the last humanitarian aid had been delivered in December 2014 by Médecins Sans Frontières. The clinic does not have enough fresh meat and milk products, while gas and electricity supply is sufficient. Patients’ relatives are not able to visit due to the closure of the checkpoints on the government side of the contact line.

On 4 June, the “head” of the “LPR”-controlled Komisarivka (61km west-south-west of Luhansk) “village council” told the SMM that the village had relied before the conflict on water supplied from government-controlled Zolote (60km north-west of Luhansk), but that this source has been cut off and the village is now relying for its water supply on “LPR”-controlled Verhulivka (62km west-south-west of Luhansk). Also on 4 June, the “head” of the “LPR”-controlled Yuzhne Lomuvatka  (60km west-south-west of Luhansk) “village council” told the SMM that the village’s water supply, which had previously come from government-controlled Zolote, was cut off two weeks ago. He told the SMM that one water truck supplies the village once or twice a week and that agricultural activities in the village have ceased because of the threat of mines and unexploded ordinance.

Despite claims that heavy weapons have been withdrawn, the SMM continued to observe the presence and movement of heavy weapons in places proscribed by Minsk, including by its UAV.  In government-controlled areas, SMM patrols observed two T-64 main battle tanks (MBT) and SMM UAVs observed 6 MBTs. In “DPR”-controlled areas, SMM UAVs observed one artillery piece in Telmanove but was subject to jamming while flying over Dzerzhinske (“DPR”-controlled, 30km east of Mariupol).  SMM UAVs observed defensive positions, military vehicles and shelling marks on both sides of the contact line in multiple locations.

In Kharkiv region, on 4 June, when arriving in Vovchansk (87km north-east of Kharkiv and 6km from the Russian border), the SMM was stopped for approximately ten minutes at a Ukrainian Armed Forces check point which has been in place since at least May 2014. The soldiers registered the names of the SMM monitors and asked about their citizenship. This was the first time that the SMM monitors have been asked about their citizenship at a checkpoint in the Kharkiv area.

On 4 June, SMM went to Pavlohrad (61 km east of Dnepropetrovsk) to follow up on media reports that a Rinat Ahmetov Foundation humanitarian aid convoy destined for Donbas was stuck in Pavlohrad due to an increase in hostilities along the contact line. The humanitarian convoy leader, whom the SMM contacted by phone, said that the convoy, consisting of 39 trucks, reached the government-controlled checkpoint at Andronivka (80km east-south-east of Pavlohrad) and decided not to proceed into the conflict zone after learning of increased hostilities in the area.  He stated that the convoy returned to Pavlohrad on 3 June, where it is parked until the security situation permits the delivery of the aid to Donetsk.

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

* Restrictions on SMM monitoring, access and freedom of movement:

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by third parties and security considerations including the lack of information on whereabouts of landmines.

The security situation in Donbas is fluid and unpredictable and the cease-fire does not hold everywhere.

• A representative of the “DPR commandatura” in Ilovaisk (“DPR”-controlled, 31 km south-east of Donetsk) at a railroad office south of Ilovaisk advised the SMM that its presence at such facilities should be reported first to his office, providing details on SMM’s patrol reason, so that he might provide “DPR” escort and protection from inter alia “renegades and mine hazards.” SMM decided to cancel the patrol in the area.
• At the checkpoint at the entrance of the village of Berezove (government-controlled, 35km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM was denied passage.
• The SMM was initially turned back at the first government-controlled checkpoint on the road from Donetsk to Kurakhove but was able to pass through the checkpoint 30 minutes later.
• On several occasions, Ukrainian Armed Forces at checkpoints stopped SMM patrols to inquire about the nationalities of patrol members. At a checkpoint four kilometers west of Hranitne, the SMM was asked to disclose the nationalities of the patrol team.  The SMM was allowed to pass through the checkpoint after a 25-minute delay. At other checkpoints, SMM patrols were able to pass after shorter delays.
• In Kharkiv region, on 4 June, when arriving in Vovchansk, the SMM was stopped for approximately ten minutes at a Ukrainian Armed Forces check point which has been in place since at least May 2014. The soldiers registered the names of the SMM monitors and asked about their citizenship. This was the first time that the SMM monitors have been asked about their citizenship at a checkpoint in the Kharkiv area.

• The SMM UAV was subject to jamming while flying over Dzerzhinske (“DPR”-controlled, 30km east of Mariupol). 

 

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

 

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VIENNA, 5 June 2015 –  On World Environment Day, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić stresses the need for co-operation to protect environment at all levels.

The theme of this year’s United Nations Environment Programme World Environment Day, “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care”, highlights consumption patterns of water, food, energy and all natural resources and calls for ensuring a decent quality of life for all people without increasing environmental degradation, and without compromising the resource needs of future generations.

“Environmental degradation has the potential to contribute to conflicts,” said Dačić. “Poor governance, mismanagement and depletion of natural resources can undermine prosperity and sustainable development. Addressing these challenges is one of the many ways the OSCE works to enhance security and to improve living conditions for people across the OSCE region.”

OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier underscored the importance of environmental co-operation in the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security: “This year’s World Environmental Day motto reminds us that we need to share the limited resources of our planet responsibly if we want to ensure peace and prosperity for all.”

Acknowledging the importance of environmental issues, the Serbian Chairmanship has made water governance one of its priorities.

“Safeguarding our environment for future generations also requires investing in sustainable energy,” said Dačić. “Sustainable energy solutions are essential to effectively addressing the challenges of global climate change as well as security concerns that come along.”

Dačić commended the Joint Declaration for co-operation signed by the Aarhus Centres in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia during the 2015 Aarhus Centres Annual meeting on 3 June as a good example of trans-boundary co-operation to address common environmental challenges. “This step is very much welcomed by the Serbian 2015 OSCE Chairmanship,” he said.

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162586 Training Against Hate Crimes for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE): Programme Description

The crucial role police officers play in countering hate crime was the focus of a training-of-trainers workshop, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Riga from 3 to 5 June 2015.

The workshop, which is the first step in implementing ODIHR’s Training against Hate Crime for Law Enforcement (TAHCLE) programme in Latvia, familiarized 18 experienced police officers and instructors with the concept of hate crime, relevant legislation, strategies for investigation and effective responses to these crimes. It also examined the skills necessary for training cadets and police officers, so that participants will be able to share this knowledge with their peers.

“This training-of-trainers workshop will raise awareness on the complexities of dealing with hate crimes by making sure that instructors understand the problem, and that they can then share this information with their colleagues,” said Larry Olomofe, Training Co-ordinator and Adviser on Combating Racism and Xenophobia in ODIHR's Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department. “With this workshop, we are transferring knowledge and strengthening skills to ensure that Latvian law-enforcement officials have the tools that they need to effectively address hate crime.”

TAHCLE is part of ODIHR's continued assistance to OSCE participating States in their efforts to build the capacity of law-enforcement agencies to prevent and respond to hate crime. In addition to Latvia, the programme is underway in Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Lithuania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland and Ukraine. The programme is also being implemented in Kosovo.

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ANKARA, 5 June 2015 – The international observers monitoring the parliamentary elections in Turkey will present their preliminary post-election statement at a news conference on Monday, 8 June, in Ankara.

The international observation mission is a common endeavour involving the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

The statement will be delivered by Vilija Aleknaitė Abramikienė, Special Co-ordinator and Leader of the Short-Term OSCE Observer Mission, followed by Tiny Kox, Head of the PACE Delegation, Ignacio Sanchez Amor, Head of the OSCE PA Delegation, and Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission.

This common endeavour comprises 128 observers from 33 countries, including 59 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA, 36 long-term observers and experts from the OSCE/ODIHR, and 35 parliamentarians and staff from PACE.

Live stream of the press conference is available at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/turkey-parliamentary-press-conference, on the OSCE/ODIHR homepage at http://www.osce.org/odihr, and on the OSCE PA homepage at www.oscepa.org.

Journalists are invited to attend the news conference on Monday, 8 June, at 13:30, in Kavaklidere rooms 1 and 2 of the Ankara HiltonSA Hotel, Kavaklidere Mh., Tahran Caddesi 12, Ankara.

For further information contact:

Richard Solash, OSCE PA, +90 (0)539 925 5962 or +45 60 10 83 80, richard@oscepa.dk

Thomas Rymer, OSCE/ODIHR, +90 (0)539 924 6115 or +48 609 522 266, thomas.rymer@odihr.pl

Nathalie Bargellini, PACE, +90 (0)534 054 8924 or +33 (0) 6 65 40 32 82, nathalie.bargellini@coe.int

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VIENNA, 5 June 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today said recent attacks and threats against journalists in Albania are unacceptable.

On 2 June, Aurora Koromani, journalist with the Gazeta Shqiptare newspaper, received a threat from an alleged Islamic militant. She reported the threat to the police who deemed it as serious, and the police are now providing protection for Koromani.

In another incident on 4 June, a car belonging to Enver Doci, a television journalist with News 24 TV, was set on fire and destroyed in the town of Burrel in northern Albania.

“These attacks are totally unacceptable and they constitute a direct threat to free media,” Mijatović said. “I welcome the fact that the authorities quickly have launched investigations of these incidents, and that the police are providing protection for Koromani. There must be no impunity for attacks or threats against journalists.”

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.  

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