Central Europe

HELSINKI/WARSAW, 27 January 2025 – This year we mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. As the living memory of the Holocaust fades, we have a profound responsibility to commemorate the victims of this atrocity and to understand its ongoing meaning and consequences, the OSCE said on today’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

“Anti-Semitism poses a threat not only to Jewish way of life and culture, but also to democracy and a free and diverse society,” said the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen. “We must continue our tireless work to defend our shared values and build a secure region where human rights, democracy, rule of law and equality are fully realized.”

The Holocaust demonstrates the horrific consequences of prejudice and hatred when they are not only allowed, but encouraged and rewarded. Governments have a particular responsibility for combating and preventing anti-Semitism as well as other forms of hate, while at the same time ensuring the safety of all citizens.

“We must always remember that the truth of the Holocaust is not just a list of statistics or dates, but a human story – one filled with unspeakable suffering, but also stories of resistance, courage, and survival,” said Maria Telalian, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). “Understanding the horrors of the past gives us a deeper appreciation of the need to combat hatred and ensure that what happened once can never happen again.”

In an age when technology has made it easier to spread both knowledge and falsehood, safeguarding the memory of the Holocaust and its millions of victims is more important than ever. We are witnessing an alarming rise in Holocaust denial, distortion and trivialization that is not a mere misunderstanding of what happened but a deliberate attempt to undermine lived experience and the historical record. This is not just an attack on history, but an attack on human dignity.

We must therefore redouble our efforts to educate both young and old through innovative and engaging teaching and content that resonates with people, but at the same time conveys the full tragedy of what took place. In this way, we will ensure that the Holocaust remains an integral part of our collective memory and that future generations understand the depths to which prejudice and intolerance can lead.

Across the OSCE region we continue to witness anti-Semitism, ranging from online and offline hate speech, through threats, to violence. Finding strategies to counter anti-Semitism requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach that brings together government, civil society, faith communities, the private sector, media, and educational institutions. Especially on this day, we commit ourselves to promoting tolerance and inclusion and to build societies in which diversity is celebrated and the inherent dignity of every individual is respected.

“It is deeply troubling that in parts of the OSCE region the history of the Holocaust is being distorted and its memory trivialized for populist and extremist political purposes,” said Rabbi Andrew Baker, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chair on Combating Anti-Semitism. “We have the tools to identify these forms of antisemitism, and participating States have pledged to combat them. On this Holocaust Remembrance Day, we must turn these tools and promises into action.”

All OSCE countries have “clearly and unequivocally” condemned anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance. With its biennial report ‘Holocaust Memorial Days: An overview of remembrance and education in the OSCE region’, ODIHR underlines its commitment to ensuring that the memory of the Holocaust is kept alive and encourages governments to continue developing their activities to combat anti-Semitism, discrimination, and all forms of hatred.

584944 Željka Šulc SARAJEVO, 24 January 2025 -  Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH (Mission) welcomes efforts by authorities in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) to improve the legal framework governing gender-based violence in FBiH, including efforts to strengthen the FBiH Law on Domestic Violence and Violence against Women (Law). 

The adoption of this law by the House of Representatives of the Parliament of FBiH on 28 January in its expected form, would constitute a decisive step forward in ensuring and promoting zero tolerance to domestic violence and violence against women in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Ahead of the session, the Mission kindly urges parliamentarians to also ensure an applicable legal mechanism that fully protects victims during the transition to the new Law, namely during the finalization of relevant bylaws and the provision of necessary training to practitioners. In line with the conclusions from the series of joint sessions of four FBiH parliamentary committees held during 2024, the Mission would further ask the Parliament of FBiH, to maintain strong oversight of the implementation of the new Law, ensuring accountability form the responsible institutions.  

The Mission remains fully committed to supporting institutions at all levels in the implementation of the Law. Working with institutions is one of the Mission’s three key pillars of engagement - along with the engagement with legislators and political parties - to establish sustainable, effective and victim-centric responses to domestic and gender-based violence, in line with BiH’s international commitments.  

VIENNA, 23 January 2025 — Upholding OSCE principles and supporting Ukraine were core messages from OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen at the inauguration of the 2025 Finnish Chairpersonship during the OSCE Permanent Council meeting in Vienna today.

“The security situation in Europe has not been this unpredictable or unstable since the Second World War,” said Chairperson Valtonen during her opening remarks.

Stressing the importance of defending the OSCE’s shared principles, Valtonen explained how these principles shape co-operation between states and protect the freedoms and the very foundations of a stable society.

“Our task as Chair is to ensure that our shared principles are not merely memories of the past but continue to live and guide us through these difficult times,” Valtonen said.

The Chairperson spoke of the steps Finland will take to strengthen co-operation between the participating States and ensure the OSCE is well-equipped to respond to crises and security threats.

She emphasized that supporting Ukraine and its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence will remain a central focus of the OSCE’s work under the Finnish Chairpersonship.

“Almost three years have passed since the Russian Federation started its war of aggression in Ukraine. The war undermined the European security order. Supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence is at the heart of the OSCE’s work and our Chairpersonship,” Minister Valtonen said.

Turning to the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security, Minister Valtonen stressed that the Chairpersonship’s priorities will also include protecting and promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law, as well as gender equality, inclusion of people with disabilities, and engaging young people and civil society.

“The OSCE’s extensive geographical coverage and comprehensive concept of security make it a unique security organization. OSCE provides invaluable support to the participating States across all dimensions and regions,” Chairperson Valtonen said.

Minister Valtonen highlighted the challenges faced by the OSCE as an organization and Finland’s focus on strengthening the Organization’s operational capacity while safeguarding its unique role as a forum for political dialogue. A special Helsinki+50 Fund set up by the Finnish Chairpersonship, in partnership with interested participating States and the OSCE Secretariat, will further bolster the Organization’s work, she said.

“It is our collective duty to ensure that the OSCE survives not only to its 50th anniversary but also beyond,” Chairperson Valtonen said.

Find more about the framework and goals for the OSCE's activities in 2025 in Finland's Chairpersonship programme (https://www.osce.org/chairpersonship/583975). The overarching theme is resilience. The programme is built on three guiding principles: 1) Respect the OSCE principles and commitments, 2) Respond to today’s challenges, and 3) Prepare the OSCE for the future.

Follow Finland's Chairpersonship on X:

• @elinavaltonen
• @Finland_OSCE
• @Ulkoministerio

DUSHANBE, 22 January 2025 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 2 March parliamentary elections in Tajikistan, following an official invitation from the national authorities.

The mission is headed by Ditmir Bushati and consists of a core team of 11 international experts based in Dushanbe and 22 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 29 January. ODIHR will request 150 short-term observers 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 for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely monitor all aspects of the elections, including pre- and post-election developments. Specific areas of focus include the implementation of the legal framework, the conduct of the campaign, including on social networks, the work of the election administration at all levels, election dispute resolution and media coverage. The observers will also assess the implementation of previous ODIHR election recommendations.

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

An interim report will be published some two weeks prior to election day to update the public and the media on the observation mission’s activities. The day after the elections, the mission’s preliminary findings and conclusions will be presented at a press conference. A final report with an assessment of the entire election process and containing recommendations will be published some months after the elections.

Media contacts:

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

Silvia de Félix Gracia, Media Analyst with the Election Observation Mission: +992 98 111 3698 or silvia.defelix@odihr-tajikistan@org

584856 Communication and Media Relations Section

From 21 to 24 January, the OSCE conducted two workshops in Yerevan focused on addressing the complexities of virtual assets in today’s financial landscape. The first workshop aimed at enhancing capacities of relevant practitioners in investigating crypto-related financial crimes, while the second workshop focused on regulating virtual assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers.

The workshops brought together practitioners from a wide range of government institutions in Armenia, including the Central Bank, Ministry of Internal Affairs, General Prosecutor’s Office, Financial Monitoring Center and others, providing an opportunity to network, exchange knowledge and understand the various roles and challenges of each institution with regards to virtual assets and the related threats. Both workshops included real-world case studies and referred to international good practices and standards in investigations, as well as regulatory frameworks.

“Digital innovations such as virtual assets provide opportunities, but also require us to stay ahead of emerging threats,” said one of the participants from the Financial Monitoring Center. “This training provided us with the opportunity to explore practices from other countries and exchange knowledge so we are better positioned to address regulatory challenges and to investigate cases involving virtual assets,” she added.

The two workshops were organized within the framework of the extra-budgetary project “Innovative Policy Solutions to Mitigate Money-Laundering Risks of Virtual Assets”, implemented by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities. The project is financially supported by Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States.

584844 Marina Živaljević

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro congratulates journalists on the Day of Journalists, 23 January, commemorating this day in 1871 when a weekly magazine for politics and culture, “Crnogorac” was first published in Cetinje.

OSCE participating states have recognized the essential role that media can play in democratic societies and the strong influence it can have in countering misperceptions or prejudices.

On this day, the Mission appreciates the professional and dedicated work of journalists and the Mission stands ready to continue its support of media actors in Montenegro, including in furtherance of their efforts to develop a press safety mechanism that would provide an institutional framework to protect them.

584835

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD) and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Skopje, delivered a training course on improved interagency co-operation for effective financial investigations on 21 and 22 January.

In opening the event, the Chief Public Prosecutor of the Basic Prosecutor’s Office Skopje, Gavril Bubevski, highlighted that the “effective punishment of organized crimes is impossible without uncovering illicitly gained assets and ensuring their confiscation. Establishing clear procedures for all the institutions working on financial investigations is essential to ensure corruption and organized crime do not go undetected and unpunished.”

This event supports North Macedonia’s commitment to consistently conducting financial investigations in all cases involving illicit property, where interagency co-operation is critical to the successful identification, seizure and confiscation of illegally acquired assets. Through interactive discussions and hands-on simulations of case studies, participants explored strategies for overcoming current challenges.  

“We are in an era where the fight against financial crime is not only about tracking illicit transactions but also about understanding the broader impact on our economies, communities and societies. By leveraging our collective knowledge and resources, we can drive meaningful change and ensure that those who exploit the system face justice,” stated Mr Michael McKee, Law Enforcement Attaché at the United States Embassy in Skopje.

The activity brought together the main institutions involved in financial investigations in North Macedonia. These included the Criminal Investigation Sector and the Financial Investigations Sector of the Police, prosecutors from the Public Prosecutor Office for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption, the Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Skopje, Gostivar and Shtip, Customs Administration, the Ministry of Finance and Agency for the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets.

The training course was organized as part of the OSCE extra-budgetary project “Strengthening Efforts to Combat Organized Crime in the OSCE Region,” funded by Austria, Germany, Italy and the United States of America.

VIENNA, 20 January 2025 — The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, will present the programme of the 2025 Chairpersonship of Finland to the OSCE Permanent Council at the Vienna Hofburg on Thursday, 23 January.

Journalists are invited to cover Valtonen’s speech as part of a pool (spaces limited) starting at 11:30 a.m. (CET) on Thursday, 23 January. The remarks will also be livestreamed on https://www.osce.org/live.

Following the inaugural Permanent Council session with Finland as OSCE Chair, a press conference by Chairperson-in-Office Valtonen and OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu will take place at 1:45 p.m. (CET). The press conference will be held in English and will also be livestreamed on https://www.osce.org/live.

To attend either event in person, please register by 12:00 (noon, CET) on 22 January by sending an email to press@osce.org with your name, outlet and position. Please also indicate which event(s) you would like to participate in.

Finland took over the OSCE Chairpersonship from Malta on 1 January 2025. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Valtonen will outline the programme of Finland for the 2025 OSCE Chairpersonship, with a focus on upholding OSCE principles and strengthening the Organization’s resilience to address complex security challenges.

Supporting Ukraine will remain a central priority for Finland during its Chairpersonship, as well as promoting co-operative security through the OSCE region. The Chair will also prioritise gender equality and the functioning of a free civil society, and will work towards improving opportunities for young people and persons with disabilities to participate in the OSCE’s work.

The latest information from Finland’s 2025 OSCE Chairpersonship can be found at https://www.osce.org/chairpersonship and on X: @Finland_OSCE and @elinavaltonen.

The OSCE Permanent Council is the decision-making body gathering representatives of all 57 participating States of the Organization and 11 Partners for Co-operation. It convenes weekly in Vienna to discuss developments in the OSCE area.

HELSINKI, 17 January 2025 — OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu concluded his visit to Helsinki today, marking his first official visit as OSCE Secretary General.

During his trip he met with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, marking the first official meeting of Secretary General Sinirlioğlu and Chairperson-in-Office Valtonen in their new leadership roles within the OSCE.

In discussions with the Chair, the Secretary General underscored his commitment to working together to create a strong and resilient Organization that can foster a more secure OSCE region, and to prepare for the future.

“These are challenging times, but I am confident that through hard diplomatic work we will be able to strengthen the Organization and contribute to a safer, more secure Europe and beyond,” said OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu.

They also discussed the priorities of the Finnish Chairpersonship and addressed some of the key security issues faced by the region, including the war in Ukraine.

“Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is a violation of international law and all the key principles of the OSCE. Finland continues to stand with Ukraine. Ukraine is at the heart of our Chairpersonship,” said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Valtonen.

During his visit, Secretary General Sinirlioğlu met also with a number of high-level officials from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and members of the parliament including from the Foreign Affairs Committee and the delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. He also met with civil society representatives and the OSCE research network.

For more information about Secretary General Sinirlioğlu, please visit Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu | OSCE

For more information about the 2025 OSCE Chairpersonship, please visit OSCE Chairpersonship 2025 | OSCE

VIENNA, 15 January, 2025 — OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu will travel to Helsinki on 16 January on his first official visit as OSCE Secretary General, where he will meet with OSCE Chair-in-Office Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and other high-level officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the visit, Secretary General Sinirlioğlu will also meet with parliamentarians, representatives from civil society and researchers.

The visit marks the first official meeting of Secretary General Sinirlioğlu and Chair-in-Office Valtonen in their new roles, and they are expected to discuss several key issues including strengthening the OSCE, the priorities of the Finnish Chairpersonship and addressing key security issues across the OSCE region, including the war against Ukraine.

Secretary General Sinirlioğlu and Chair-in-Office Valtonen will hold a press conference on 16 January at the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 10:15 GMT+2.

For media representatives interested in attending the press conference in person, please contact Miia Vihola at Miia.Vihola@gov.fi by January 15 at 16:15 GMT+2.

For more information about Secretary General Sinirlioğlu, please visit Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu | OSCE

For more information about the 2025 OSCE Chairpersonship, please visit OSCE Chairpersonship 2025 | OSCE

585181 Participants in an OSCE training-for-trainers course on identifying forged documents and imposters in Chișinău, 29 January 2025. Communication and Media Relations Section

From 27 to 31 January, the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department held a training-of-trainers course for the Moldova Border Police and the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) in Chișinău, Moldova. The event focused on developing the instructional skills of the seven participating border officers so that they may conduct future training within their national services on identifying forged documents and imposters at border crossing points. This is the first joint training-of-trainers course on this topic for the neighbouring participating States.

Moldova shares a 1,222 km border with Ukraine and has seen over 1.2 million border crossings since February 2022, the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. This significant rise in crossings has led to an increased workload for border officers in both Moldova and Ukraine, who have also noticed a greater variety of travel documents being presented. Given this reality, fostering joint border control operations has become a central focus to enhance connectivity and streamline cross-border travel.

During the interactive training session, which was conducted by two document experts from Greece and two from the Main Forensic Centre of the SBGS, participants engaged in comprehensive discussions on evidence-based adult learning techniques and tips to conduct concise, resource-efficient training sessions at the beginning of shifts. Additionally, good practices for developing tailored training programmes were reviewed. Equipped with enhanced knowledge, the participants will return to their respective services able to train their colleagues on key security features in travel documents.

This training course marked the third step in the training cycle, in which every participant had previously completed basic and advanced courses in September 2024. The next and final step will be a study visit in 2026 to disseminate good practices and further enhance the trainers’ knowledge of new technologies in detecting forged documents and imposters at border crossing points.

The training was part of an ongoing project supporting the OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation in reducing the illegal crossing of borders by using a fake or stolen identity. This project is generously funded by the United States of America.

CHISINAU, 9 January 2025 — The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, concluded her first official visit to the Republic of Moldova as OSCE Chairperson today.

In Chisinau, Minister Valtonen met with Prime Minister Dorin Recean, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova Mihai Popșoi, and Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Oleg Serebrian. In Bender, she met with Transdniestrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky and Transdniestrian Chief Negotiator Vitaly Ignatiev. The Minister was accompanied by the Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova Ambassador Kelly Keiderling and the newly appointed Chairperson-in-Office’s Special Representative for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, Ambassador Thomas Lenk.

The discussions focused on OSCE efforts towards a comprehensive and lasting political settlement of the Transdniestrian conflict in all its aspects, strengthening the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognized borders, with a special status for Transdniestria.

“The OSCE has a strong mandate to advance the resolution of the Transdniestrian conflict and to support Moldova and its sovereignty. As the OSCE Chair, Finland is committed to working towards these goals,“ Valtonen said.

Chairperson Valtonen underlined the need for continued, open, and constructive dialogue between the Sides to further build trust and resolve any disputes that affect the lives of people living on both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River. She commended the Sides for their commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

The meetings also addressed the critical energy situation with an impact on the population on both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River.

“Finding joint solutions through dialogue between the Sides is critical to resolving the energy emergency. We stand with Moldova and its citizens in this challenging situation,” Valtonen said.

During the course of her visit, the Chairperson also met with civil society representatives, and visited the OSCE Mission to Moldova.

584448 Željka Šulc

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mission) urges Republika Srpska to uphold the rule of law and abide by the final and binding decisions of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Mission further condemns the glorification of war criminals and all demonstrations of intolerance, which were seen again this year and regrettably regularly constitute part of the 9 January celebrations; any actions of this nature must be swiftly investigated and prosecuted.  

The official sponsorship and endorsement by the Government of Republika Srpska of the celebration of the so-called “Day of Republika Srpska” on 9 January violates the 26 November 2015 decision of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which determined that this celebration is unconstitutional as it is exclusionary, especially to non-Serbs, thereby directly contravening the constitutions of both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska.

In a nation as ethnically diverse as Bosnia and Herzegovina, with sensitivities remaining from its devastating conflict, respecting judicial decisions and the institutions that issue them fosters unity and reconciliation and reaffirms the principle that all citizens, regardless of ethnicity or religion, deserve equal consideration and respect in public life. Flouting such rulings risks deepening divisions and perpetuating ethnic tensions.  

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina remains committed to supporting authorities in fulfilling their legal obligations to uphold equality, non-discrimination, and the rule of law, promoting mutual respect and a brighter future for all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

WARSAW/COPENHAGEN, 9 January 2025 – The decision of the Belarusian authorities not to invite OSCE participating States to observe the country’s presidential election on 26 January is deeply regrettable and prevents an impartial and independent assessment of the election process, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) said in a statement today.

“I deeply regret the decision of the Belarusian authorities not to invite OSCE states through ODIHR to observe the forthcoming presidential election, depriving the country’s citizens of a transparent and full assessment of the entire process,” said ODIHR Director Maria Telalian. “This decision underscores the continued lack of commitment by the Belarusian authorities to invite other OSCE states to observe and provide an independent view on whether the elections are held in line with OSCE commitments and international democratic standards.”

ODIHR has made efforts in recent months to engage with the Belarusian authorities regarding the invitation to observe. With election day less than three weeks away, ODIHR has been unable to monitor key stages of the process.

“Once again, the Belarusian government has decided to disregard its obligation as a signatory to the 1990 Copenhagen Document to invite observers from other OSCE participating States for its elections,” said OSCE PA President Pia Kauma. “This decision is deeply regrettable. The lack of co-operation from Belarus diminishes the spirit of trust that underpins the OSCE even more and the lack of transparency further undermines faith in the electoral system of Belarus.”

This is the third time since the August 2020 presidential elections that ODIHR has been unable to observe elections in Belarus due to the lack of a timely invitation. All OSCE states have repeatedly recognized the value of ODIHR’s observation and the effectiveness of its comprehensive and objective methodology that is applied in the same way in every country. They have also committed to inviting observers from other OSCE participating States to observe, as well as following up swiftly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.

While ODIHR will not observe the forthcoming presidential election, the Office continues to monitor events in Belarus within all the areas covered by its mandate.

KYIV, 8 January 2025 - The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, completed her first visit to Ukraine as the OSCE’s Chair.

In Kyiv, the Chairperson-in-Office Valtonen met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha. The Minister was accompanied by Catherine Fearon, Director of the Conflict Prevention Centre and Deputy Head of the OSCE Secretariat, and Petr Mareš, Special Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office – Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.

During the meetings, the Chairperson-in-Office reiterated that support to Ukraine is Finnish Chairpersonship and the OSCE priority and that the Organization remains fully engaged and committed to assisting the government, civil society and people of Ukraine through the OSCE’s extensive project portfolio - most prominently through the Extra-budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU) - as the country continues to face the dire consequences of Russia’s war.

“The OSCE remains unwavering in its commitment to support Ukraine, its sovereignty, and its territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. We remain steadfast in addressing the challenges Ukraine continues to face as a result of ongoing Russian aggression,” Minister Valtonen said.

During her visit, Chairperson-in-Office Valtonen also met with civil society representatives and SPU staff. Minister Valtonen also underlined the urgency of the release of three OSCE officials — Vadym Golda, Maksym Petrov, and Dmytro Shabanov — detained in Donetsk and Luhansk.

“I express my gratitude to the OSCE staff working with Ukraine for their service and dedication. We strongly condemn the ongoing detention of three OSCE officials in Donetsk and Luhansk, which has lasted for over 1,000 days, and call for their immediate release,“ she emphasized.

The Chairperson-in-Office also strongly condemned the attack on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia and extended her condolences to the victims' families and relatives.

HELSINKI/VIENNA, 8 January 2025 — The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will visit the Republic of Moldova on 9 January for talks with authorities from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River.

During her first visit to Moldova as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Valtonen will focus on the OSCE’s efforts in Moldova, advancing the Transdniestrian Settlement Process and supporting the country in overcoming the effects of the war against Ukraine and other issues.

In Chisinau, the OSCE Chairperson Valtonen will meet with Prime Minister Dorin Recean, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Popșoi, and Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Oleg Serebrian.

In Bender, she will meet with Transdniestrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky and the Transdniestrian Chief Negotiator Vitaly Ignatiev.

On 9 January, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Valtonen will have a press conference with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Popșoi at 11.20 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Journalists are also invited to attend a press briefing with Chairperson-in-Office Valtonen at 17:25-17:35  inside of the Delegation Hall of the Chisinau International Airport. 

Media representatives are reminded to have their press accreditation documents on them to be able to attend the press briefing.

For more information, please contact the Press Office of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, at +373 22 887 887 (landline), e-mail: mtmpress@osce.org.

For other requests regarding the visit, please contact Toni Sandell, Deputy Head of the Task Force for the Finnish OSCE Chairpersonship by e-mail: Toni.Sandell@gov.fi.

The latest information from the OSCE CiO of Finland can be found at https://www.osce.org/chairpersonship and on X: @Finland_OSCE

584366 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

On 30 December 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe hosted a one-day workshop focused on the implementation of the Green Economy Strategy and its accompanying Action Plan. This event marked a logical continuation and conclusion of the activities planned for 2024, following a series of regional information sessions that had recently taken place.

In co-operation with Tajikistan’s Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the workshop brought together approximately 60 participants, representing both government agencies and civil society organizations. The event provided a platform for exchanging ideas, discussing the progress of the Strategy's implementation, and identifying the next steps in alignment with the existing Action Plan. Participants also explored potential recommendations for developing the next Action Plan, which is scheduled for drafting in the upcoming year.

This workshop aligns with the broader mission of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe to support Tajikistan in implementing environmental legislation and policies. It is part of a series of initiatives aimed at raising awareness about the implementation of the Green Economy Strategy across the regions throughout the year.

584360 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

From November to December 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized a series of informational sessions for local state authorities under the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade across various regions. These sessions took place in Darvoz, Garm, Kulob, Bokhtar, and Khujand, attracting approximately 150 participants (119 males and 31 females) representing 12 subsectors defined in the Green Economy Strategy.

The purpose of these sessions was to raise awareness about Tajikistan's Green Economy Strategy and its sustainability principles, with the overarching goal of promoting green initiatives within local communities. The programme included theoretical discussions, visual presentations showcasing leading international practices, and opportunities for active knowledge exchange. Representatives from the Aarhus Centres in Bokhtar, Dushanbe and Khujand (two male and one female) also participated in the events, presenting their green economy projects.

This initiative aligns with the broader mission of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe to assist Tajikistan in implementing environmental legislation and policy. It is part of a series of activities designed to promote the implementation of the Green Economy Strategy throughout the country over the course of the year.

584354 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

From 21 to 23 December 2024, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized a three-day training session focused on implementing the SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) system, a crucial technology aimed at enhancing conservation efforts in specially protected natural areas.

The event, conducted in co-operation with the Committee for Environmental Protection, brought together approximately 24 participants, including 3 females and 21 males, from five protected areas: Pamir National Park, Ramit Biosphere Reserve, Tigrovaya Balka State Nature Reserve, Zorkul State Nature Reserve, and Shirkent Natural Historical Park, as well as representatives from the Committee and civil society.

This training provided a valuable platform to introduce SMART technologies and showcase their importance in strengthening conservation efforts. An experienced international trainer led the sessions, combining theoretical knowledge with practical exercises and actively engaging all participants through interactive methods.

This initiative aligns with the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe's broader mission to enhance the capacity of protected area staff and promote the integration of innovative technologies into conservation practices.

584348 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized a five-day training course focused on Project Development, Management, Reporting, and Fundraising Skills, which took place from 16 to 20 December 2024. A total of 14 Heads of OSCE-supported Women's Resource Centres (WRCs) attended the course, including 9 women.

The training covered a wide range of topics, including the design and components of project proposals, project budgeting, the development of high-quality descriptive and financial reports, research skills, data analysis methods, strategic planning, and organizational development. Participants engaged in practical exercises that highlighted the importance of strategic planning in organizational growth, resource mobilization (fundraising), relationship management with donors, the internal donor market, self-financing opportunities (commercialization), elements of self-financing, social entrepreneurship, partnerships with the business sector, and management and leadership skills. Participants not only learned the theoretical aspects of these topics, but also took part in individual and group exercises to enhance their skills in project development, management, reporting, and fundraising.

Mohsimo Abdushahidova, Director of WRC "Zanoni Sharq," expressed gratitude for the productive seminar organized by OSCE for heads of Women's Resource Support Centres. She highlighted its focus on practical experience and leadership skills, covering essential topics like project proposals, budgeting, reporting, research, data analysis, strategic planning, social entrepreneurship, and fundraising. Abdushahidova noted that the insights gained will significantly enhance their services to clients in the future.

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe supports victims of domestic violence across the regions through a network of 13 OSCE-established WRCs in collaboration with local authorities. This ongoing project, titled "Supporting and Strengthening the Women’s Resource Centres in Tajikistan," is funded by Norway, the United States of America, Finland, the European Union, Andorra, and Germany.