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Die weltweite Krise der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit lässt sich nicht durch Maximalversprechen im Hinblick auf die Leistungsfähigkeit dieses Politikfelds lösen. Hauptziel muss die Verbesserung der Lebensbedingungen vor Ort bleiben – eine Überfrachtung mit Nebenzielen führt oft nur dazu, dass kein Ziel mehr realistisch erreicht werden kann. Immer knappere Ressourcen zwingen Projekte ohnehin, sich thematisch zu fokussieren.

Die weltweite Krise der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit lässt sich nicht durch Maximalversprechen im Hinblick auf die Leistungsfähigkeit dieses Politikfelds lösen. Hauptziel muss die Verbesserung der Lebensbedingungen vor Ort bleiben – eine Überfrachtung mit Nebenzielen führt oft nur dazu, dass kein Ziel mehr realistisch erreicht werden kann. Immer knappere Ressourcen zwingen Projekte ohnehin, sich thematisch zu fokussieren.

Die weltweite Krise der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit lässt sich nicht durch Maximalversprechen im Hinblick auf die Leistungsfähigkeit dieses Politikfelds lösen. Hauptziel muss die Verbesserung der Lebensbedingungen vor Ort bleiben – eine Überfrachtung mit Nebenzielen führt oft nur dazu, dass kein Ziel mehr realistisch erreicht werden kann. Immer knappere Ressourcen zwingen Projekte ohnehin, sich thematisch zu fokussieren.

596426 Željka Šulc

SARAJEVO, 14 August 2025 - Ambassador Richard (Rick) Holtzapple, a career diplomat with the U.S. Department of State, assumed his duties as the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 14 August 2025. 

Ambassador Holtzapple served as the United States Deputy Permanent Representative to NATO in Brussels, Belgium from 2021 to 2024. He also previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires at the United States Embassy in Benin, overseeing a staff of 300 and implementing a quintupling of U.S. assistance to the country.

He has extensive diplomatic experience in Southeast Europe, beginning with his first diplomatic assignment (1992-1995) at the U.S. Embassy in Croatia, followed by service as Political Advisor to the United Nations Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES) in 1996-1997. He has been the National Democratic Institute’s Senior Program Manager for Kosovo and Montenegro and served twice as Director for Balkan Affairs for the National Security Council at the White House.

In Washington, among other assignments, he headed the State Department’s Office for OSCE and NATO Affairs, as well as its Office for European Union Relations, and served on the faculty of the National Defense University, teaching Economics and Strategic Thinking.  Other overseas assignments have been in Kinshasa, Djibouti, and Paris.

Ambassador Holtzapple holds a Master of Arts degree with distinction in International Affairs and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction in International Relations from Stanford University in California. He speaks English, Croatian, and French. He is married with two adult children.

Mercredi soir, plusieurs villes de Serbie ont été le théâtre d'affrontements violents entre manifestants étudiants et partisans du SNS, soutenus par des forces parapolicières et militaires, mettant en lumière une escalade inédite dans le bras de fer entre la population et le pouvoir.

- Le fil de l'Info / Serbie, Politique, Courrier des Balkans, Vucic

Les observateurs s'étonnent de la capacité du Hamas à payer les salaires de ses employés, étant donné que la zone est petite et en grande partie détruite.

Parents are struggling to feed their children in war-hit Sudan's Darfur region.

Albanie, Grèce, Monténégro... Cet été, beaucoup de pays des Balkans connaissent des incendies particulièrement dévastateurs. La région est exposée aux conséquences du dérèglement climatique, tandis que les États sont démunis pour faire face à de telles catastrophes. Tour d'horizon avec nos correspondant.e.s.

- Le fil de l'Info / Courrier des Balkans, changement climatique, Albanie, Serbie, Environnement, Monténégro, Grèce

Albanie, Grèce, Monténégro... Cet été, beaucoup de pays des Balkans connaissent des incendies particulièrement dévastateurs. La région est exposée aux conséquences du dérèglement climatique, tandis que les États sont démunis pour faire face à de telles catastrophes. Tour d'horizon avec nos correspondant.e.s.

- Le fil de l'Info / Courrier des Balkans, changement climatique, Albanie, Serbie, Environnement, Monténégro, Grèce

Albanie, Grèce, Monténégro... Cet été, beaucoup de pays des Balkans connaissent des incendies particulièrement dévastateurs. La région est exposée aux conséquences du dérèglement climatique, tandis que les États sont démunis pour faire face à de telles catastrophes. Tour d'horizon avec nos correspondant.e.s.

- Le fil de l'Info / Courrier des Balkans, changement climatique, Albanie, Serbie, Environnement, Monténégro, Grèce

Le Premier ministre Edi Rama a fait fermer la chaîne de télévision News24 sans décision de justice. Un nouveau « caprice du prince » qui ravive toutes les inquiétudes pour la liberté de la presse et la survie de la démocratie en Albanie.

- Le fil de l'Info / Albanie, Courrier des Balkans, Médias indépendants, PS Albanie, Politique, Médias

Donald Trump ist es gelungen, Indiens Vertrauen in die USA im Eiltempo zu zerstören. Ein Vasall Washingtons will Neu Delhi nicht werden, analysiert ein Südasienwissenschaftler.

Eine belgische NGO hat mit „Virtual Donors“ eine Kampagne gestartet, die in populäre Videospiele wie Minecraft, Fortnite und Baldur’s Gate 3 integriert ist – mit dem Ziel, die Registrierung von Organspendern zu fördern.

Le dirigeant français cite les figures emblématiques de l'indépendance qui ont été tuées lors d'opérations militaires menées par les forces françaises.

Der ungarische Ministerpräsident Viktor Orbán hat am Dienstag erklärt, Russland habe den Krieg in der Ukraine gewonnen – nur wenige Tage bevor US-Präsident Donald Trump am Freitag zu einem Treffen mit Wladimir Putin zusammenkommt.

596318 Željka Šulc

TRAVNIK, 13 August 2025 – The Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission), Zahid Movlazada, visited Travnik and Busovača, where he met with Radoje Vidović, the President of HDZ BiH Central Bosnia Canton Board, Tahir Lendo, Prime Minister of Central Bosnia Canton, and Asim Mekić, Mayor of Busovača.

The discussions focused on political developments in the canton, institutional response to bias-motivated incidents, hate crimes and related preventive activities as well as efforts to advance education reform and the promotion of gender equality.

Movlazada reaffirmed the Mission’s commitment to supporting inclusive progress across communities, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among local authorities and all relevant stakeholders.

Deputy Head of Mission Movlazada visited the Mission’s Field Office in Travnik, where he met with staff to discuss implementation the OSCE mandate in Zenica-Doboj Canton and Central Bosnia Canton, aimed at strengthening support for institutions, civil society, and communities across the cantons.

The OSCE Mission to BiH remains committed to promote inclusive dialogue, protect fundamental rights, and strengthen democratic institutions.

596306

An OSCE pilot ‘train-the-trainers’ initiative is helping freshly trained Ukrainian border guards test their skills as trainers in document security at border crossing points. This initiative was part of a two-week training course in Lviv organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, from 11 to 12 August 2025.

The hands-on training, delivered by six of the newly qualified trainers who completed last week’s OSCE-led Training of Trainers course in Lviv, Ukraine, marked the first time this initiative has provided instruction directly at border crossing points. Two trainers, while mentored and observed by OSCE personnel, deployed to Rava-Ruska border crossing point (BCP) at the Ukrainian-Polish border to conduct training. Four additional trainers concurrently deployed to different BCPs in Odesa region, including Odesa and Izmail Sea Ports and Mohyliv-Podilsky and Palanca BCPs at the Ukrainian-Moldovan border to train their peers.

The new trainers developed and delivered presentations on key topics from the basic training curriculum in document security and forgery detection. They also used OSCE-provided magnifiers to help their trainees deepen their hands-on experience with examining genuine, forged, and counterfeit travel documents.

The pilot initiative was developed in response to a request by the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service to trial run a train-the-trainers approach similar to the Dutch model they observed during an OSCE-supported study visit to the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee’s Identity Fraud and Documents Centre of Expertise (ECID) in April 2025. The Dutch model involves a two-week training course where the second week is dedicated to the trainers-in-training applying their newly learned skills to lead five full days of basic training for their peers.  

Senior Administration officers highlighted the importance of this training program development. “Conducting a training session directly at the border crossing point serves as a logical continuation of the study visit to the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee’s Identity Fraud and Document Centre of Expertise (ECID). This is an example of how the experience gained through the support of the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department is being translated into practical skills applied directly during border control operations by Ukrainian border guards. Such trainings are important for enhancing the professional competence of the personnel of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and for integrating European border control standards into its daily operations.”

The pilot initiative and training course were part of an ongoing extrabudgetary project supporting the OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation in reducing illegal border crossings by using a fake or stolen identity. This project is funded by the United States.

596297

The OSCE Mission to Skopje marked International Youth Day by celebrating the power of youth civic engagement at the “Youth Civic Engagement Award” ceremony, held at Suli An in Skopje’s Old Bazaar.

Organized by the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth and the National Youth Council of Macedonia, with the Mission’s support, the event honoured young individuals, informal groups, and youth organizations whose initiatives are transforming communities across North Macedonia.

In her address, Enrica Vida, Head of the Mission’s Office of Political Affairs and Communications, praised the “creativity, passion, and leadership” of young people and announced a new Youth and Security Award, which the Mission will launch in 2026. The award will recognize young leaders and organizations contributing to safer and more resilient communities, reinforcing the Mission’s commitment to the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda.

“Youth participation is more than a right – it is a responsibility, and a unique opportunity to shape our shared future,” said Vida. “From financial literacy projects linking Skopje and Costa Rica, to grassroots campaigns on gender equality, safety, and intercultural dialogue, you are showing that civic engagement is democracy in action.”

The ceremony showcased inspiring examples of youth-led initiatives, from urban revitalization projects in Skopje to intercultural summer camps for children from crisis-affected areas. These stories, Vida noted, are “sparks” that grow into lasting change.

As part of its three-year strategy, the Mission will continue to support youth-informed policies, structured dialogue with institutions, and initiatives such as the forthcoming National Youth Violence Prevention Task Force, a joint effort with the Ministry to develop evidence-based solutions reflecting young people’s needs and perspectives.

By bringing together decision-makers, civil society, and young leaders, this year’s International Youth Day reaffirmed a shared commitment: empowering youth as essential partners in building democratic, inclusive, and peaceful societies.

CHIŞINĂU, 15 August 2025 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an observation mission for the 28 September parliamentary elections in Moldova, following an invitation from the national authorities.

The mission is led by Jillian Stirk and consists of a core team of 15 experts based in Chişinău. ODIHR will be joined by 30 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 22 August. The Office also plans to request 200 short-term observers, due to arrive several days before election day.

The mission will assess the conduct of the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards, as well as with national legislation. 

Observers will closely monitor all aspects of the electoral process, including the conduct of the campaign, also on social networks, the work of the election administration at all levels, election legislation and its implementation, campaign finance, media coverage, and the resolution of election disputes. Observers will also assess the implementation of previous ODIHR election recommendations.

Meetings with representatives of national authorities and political parties, the judiciary, civil society, the media and the international community form an integral part of the observation.

On election day, the ODIHR mission will be joined by delegations from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament to observe the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of votes and the tabulation of results.

ODIHR will publish an interim report some two weeks before the elections, and the observation mission’s preliminary findings and conclusions will be presented at a press conference the day after the elections. A final report assessing the entire election process and containing recommendations will be published by ODIHR some months after the end of the election process. 

The ODIHR Election Observation Mission and the OSCE Mission to Moldova operate independently under separate mandates.

Further information on ODIHR’s election observation activities in Moldova is available here: https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/moldova

For further information, please contact: 

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR Spokesperson: Katya.Andrusz@odihr.pl or +48 609 522 266

Egor Tilpunov, Media Analyst with the Election Observation Mission: Egor.Tilpunov@odihr.md or +373 69 805 126

BBC Sport Africa analyse les troubles liés au surnombre, les graves manquements à la sécurité et les problèmes de billetterie rencontrés lors du Championnat d'Afrique des Nations au Kenya.