Central Europe

SKOPJE/VIENNA, 13 February 2023 — The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani will visit the Republic of Moldova on 13 and 14 February for talks with high-level Moldovan officials and the leadership in Tiraspol.

During his first visit to Moldova as OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Osmani will focus on the OSCE’s work in Moldova, advancing the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, and supporting Moldova in overcoming the effects of the war against Ukraine.

In Chisinau, the OSCE Chairman Osmani will meet with President Maia Sandu, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, Nicolae Popescu, and Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Oleg Serebrian. He will also meet with the President of the Parliament of Moldova, Igor Grosu. In Bender, he will meet with Transdniestrian leader Vadim Krasnoselsky and the Transdniestrian Chief Negotiator Vitaly Ignatiev.

On 14 February, OSCE Chairman-in-Office Osmani will have a press conference with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration Nicolae Popescu at 10:20 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova.

Journalists are also invited to attend a press briefing with Chairman-in-Office Osmani at 18:05 on 14 February inside of the Delegation Hall of the Chisinau International Airport. Please note that the Chairman-in-Office will make a press statement prior to his departure, however there will not be a Q&A opportunity afterwards.

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

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 Boni Cvetanovska from the OSCE Chairmanship of North Macedonia by e-mail: Boni.Cvetanovska@mfa.gov.mk.

The latest information from the OSCE CiO of North Macedonia can be found at https://www.osce.org/chairmanship and on Twitter: @Bujar_O and @OSCECiO.

537299 Željka Šulc

MOSTAR, 11 February 2023 - Ambassador Brian Aggeler, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, visited Mostar region yesterday to open a photo exhibition "National Monuments in Bosnia and Herzegovina" and the best photography award ceremony, hosted and organized by the Foundation Museum Žitomislić and monastery Žitomislić.     

“As we all know, Bosnia and Herzegovina is home to many cultural and historical sites that are shared by all citizens. Recognizing this heritage and working together to preserve and promote it sustainably builds social cohesion, mutual understanding and appreciation for diversity. I am delighted for the Mission’s support to this event and similar causes across the country and I congratulate all the participants of the exhibition for the extraordinary photos.” said Aggeler. 

During his visit, with the Chief Editor of Dnevni List, Ambassador Aggeler discussed the crucial importance of investigative media to a healthy democracy, and offered the Mission's continuous and full support to tacking challenges to media freedom in BiH. 

Ambassador Aggeler also met the church officials of the Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity with whom he talked about the recent attacks on the Cathedral and the general status of Serbs in Mostar.

Marina Đapić of the Association “Rezon” provided Ambassador Aggeler with an alternative tour of Mostar, through the eyes of Mostar Street Arts Festival.

With the representatives of the United World College, People in Need and OKC Abrašević Ambassador Aggeler met to discuss peacebuilding, education and community cohesion initiatives and thank them for their tireless efforts to foster peace and inclusivity in Mostar.

The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue to support different communities across BiH in making the country a better place for all of its citizens. 

537269 Acting OSCE Project Co-ordinator, Hans-Ullrich Ihm, addressing the participants of the International Conference of the Lawyers in Tashkent.

On 10 February 2023, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, in co-operation with the Chamber of Advocates of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Justice and the international NGO Regional Dialogue, co-hosted in Tashkent the International Conference of Lawyers on “The Role of Professional Bar Associations in the Development of the Advocacy”.

Alim Ernazarov, Chairman of the Chamber of Defense Lawyers, opened the conference. High-level guests delivered their opening remarks, including Akmal Saidov, First Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis; Narimon Umarov, Chairman of the Senate Committee of Oliy Majlis on Judicial and Legal issues and Anti-Corruption; Alisher Karimov, Deputy Minister of Justice of Uzbekistan; Mjusa Sever, Director of the Regional Dialogue; and Hans-Ullrich Ihm, Acting OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.

Currently, judicial and legal reforms are one of the main priorities for the Government of Uzbekistan and key among OSCE commitments. Defense lawyers play a crucial role in this process. Taking this into account, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and the Chamber of Advocates Uzbekistan have developed a joint project aimed, inter alia, to assist in studying foreign experience in the development of the institution of the bar.

The Conference offered an opportunity to discuss issues that are significant for the entire legal community, such as organizing the activities of professional associations of defense lawyers, providing ongoing education for them, as well as disciplinary practice and guarantees of defense lawyers’ activity.

More than 100 participants – lawyers of Uzbekistan, representatives of the legal community and experts from foreign countries (representatives of the Slovenian and German Bar Associations and the Committee for Public Counsel Services of Massachusetts, United States) took part in the international conference.

Hans-Ullrich Ihm, the Acting OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, assured that the OSCE will continue supporting the judicial and legal reforms taking place in the country, as well as the institutional and professional development of the Chamber of Advocates of Uzbekistan and its members.

537206 Marina Živaljević

With the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, around 50,000 verbatim records of sessions of Parliament of Montenegro from 1991 to 2008 were digitized and are searchable by date, year, convocation, session, political party and speaker. This process was finalized on 8 February with a training course for parliamentary staff on practical use of the software, developed with the Mission’s support in 2022.

Digitization of records provide more systematic and easier access to archival material for the public, including professionals, historians, students and researchers. Being an important historical testimony of parliamentary life in Montenegro, verbatim records of parliamentary sessions represent a rich political, social and historical source of information for both present and future generations.

Jelisaveta Blagojević-Miljanić, Head of Parliament’s Library and Documentary Centre and Archive, said that this software is a useful tool for Library’s employees, as it enables quick and easy searching of scanned notes, contributing to the efficiency, quality and precision process of responding to MPs’ and citizens’ requests. “Instead of flipping through often physically heavy and voluminous notebooks, employees at the Centre now can use a modern application that enables simple use through clearly defined filters. In addition, we achieve protection and conservation of the original text, as the need for use of printed versions is now reduced,” said Blagojević-Miljanić.

Being in an initial phase of the process, the archive material is currently available only through request sent to Parliament. In 2023, the Mission will support digitization of verbatim records from 1946 to 1988 parliamentary sessions, assisting Parliament in its task to preserve, protect and make this testimony available to the public.

In previous two years, the Mission supported the digitalization of Parliament’s library services and procedures, providing for over 90 per cent of Library holdings to be uploaded into the Co-operative Online Bibliographic System and Services (COBISS). As part of its support to the Library of the Parliament, the Mission also assisted in drafting the Library’s rulebook, which details the day-to-day work of the library and outlines the rights and obligations of users.

PODGORICA, 9 February 2023 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an observation mission for the 19 March presidential election in Montenegro, following an invitation from the national authorities.

The mission is led by Tamás Meszerics and consists of a core team of 10 experts based in Podgorica. ODIHR has requested a secondment of 14 long-term observers by the OSCE participating States, who will be deployed throughout the country from 17 February. ODIHR also plans to request 100 short-term observers, to arrive several days before election day.

The mission will assess the presidential election for its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely monitor the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, campaign activities, including in the media and on social networks, election-related legislation and its implementation, and the resolution of election-related disputes. They will also assess the implementation of previous ODIHR election recommendations. The ODIHR Election Observation Mission will observe and assess political and institutional developments to the extent that they impact the presidential election.

To assess the pre-election activities, the ODIHR mission will hold meetings with representatives of state authorities, political parties and candidates, civil society, the media and the international community.

On election day, the ODIHR mission will join efforts with delegations from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament to observe the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results.

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

The ODIHR Election Observation Mission and the OSCE Mission to Montenegro operate independently under separate mandates. For further information on ODIHR’s election observation activities in the country, please visit:

https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/montenegro

For further information, please contact: 

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

Pietro Tesfamariam, Media Analyst for Election Observation Mission:  pietro.tesfamariam@odihr.me or +382 68 860 873

PODGORICA, 8 February 2023 – Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a press conference on the opening of the observation mission to the forthcoming presidential election in Montenegro on Thursday, 9 February.

What: 

• An introduction to the role of the ODIHR election observation mission and its planned activities

Who: 

• Tamás Meszerics, Head of the ODIHR observation mission

When: 

• 14:00 local time (GMT +1) on 9 February 2023

Where:

• PR Center, Bulevar Josipa Broza Tita 23A, Podgorica

Registration:

• No registration is necessary, but only questions from journalists will be taken.

For further information on ODIHR’s election observation activities in Montenegro, please visit: https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/montenegro

Media Contact:          

Pietro Tesfamariam, Media Analyst: pietro.tesfamariam@odihr.me or +382 68 860 873

ASTANA, 8 February 2023 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 19 March early parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan, following an official invitation from the national authorities and in accordance with its mandate.

The mission is headed by Eoghan Murphy and consists of a core team of 11 international experts based in Astana and 32 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 17 February. ODIHR also plans to request 300 short-term observers, to arrive several days before election day.

The mission will assess the conduct of the elections for its 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 such as the conduct of the campaign including on social networks, the work of the election administration at all levels, election- related legislation and its implementation, respect for fundamental freedoms, media coverage and election dispute resolution. They will also assess the implementation of previous ODIHR election recommendations.

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

On election day, the ODIHR mission will join efforts with the delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) to observe the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results.

An interim report will be published two weeks prior to the elections to update the public and the media on the observation mission’s activities. The day after the elections, a statement of 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.

The ODIHR election observation mission and the OSCE Programme Office in Astana operate independently under their separate mandates. For further information on ODIHR’s election observation activities in the country, please visit: https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/kazakhstan

Media contacts:

Egor Tilpunov, Media Analyst: egor.tilpunov@odihr.kz or +7 702 2193658

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR Spokesperson: +48 609 522 266 (Warsaw mobile), or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl.

SKOPJE, 7 February 2023 – Taking stock of current efforts to counter anti-Semitism, an action that signifies further steps that need to be applied urgently, has been the central message of the participants of the of the 2023 Skopje Conference on Addressing anti-Semitism in the OSCE Region.

The conference marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the landmark 2003 Maastricht Ministerial Council Decision No. 4/03 on Tolerance and Non-discrimination. It focused on addressing anti-Semitic hate crime, identifying challenges and best practices to combat anti-Semitism through a regional perspective and with a focus on the role of youth, as well as the examination of emerging trends and areas of concern, particularly online.

The Chairman in Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani opened the conference and raised many questions vital to addressing the current forms and manifestations of anti-Semitism.

“As we commemorate the memory of our own victims and all those who perished in the Holocaust, North Macedonia also has lessons learned and good practices to share. Hatred and intolerance cannot be fought with more hatred or intolerance, but only through active promotion of tolerance and non-discrimination, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; all this backed by the power of democracy and the rule of law,“ underlined Chairman-in-Office Osmani.

“The OSCE has since been at the international forefront in addressing anti-Semitism through a number of Ministerial Council Decisions. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the 2003 Maastricht Ministerial Council, decided to follow up the work started at the OSCE Conference on anti-Semitism in Vienna that summer. We can also all be proud of the cutting-edge tools and dedicated support programs developed and delivered by ODIHR, many of which North Macedonia and many other participating States have benefited greatly from,“ he added.

“While there has been much progress in the understanding of the importance of combating anti-Semitism over the last two decades, we continue to observe with great concern how anti-Semitic hatred, Holocaust denial and distortion and age-old disinformation about Jews continue to spread and multiply across the OSCE region,” stated the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Matteo Mecacci. “To make a real difference, we need a commitment to dedicate resources to strengthen existing programmes, as well as an innovative approach from governments and civil society alike to tackling the roots of anti-Semitism.”

“In some places, the lessons of the Holocaust have been so universalized that its basic message—that left unchecked, anti-Semitism can in only a few short years lead to genocide—is entirely absent. Finally, the history of those darkest twelve years in the twentieth century must not be separated from learning about the centuries of Jewish life and its contributions to Europe that preceded the Holocaust and the revival of Jewish life in the decades that have followed it,“ stated Rabbi Andrew Baker, the Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Anti-Semitism.

Conference participants gathered to reflect on the progress made to address key areas in the common fight against anti-Semitism, such as countering anti-Semitic hate crime and ensuring the security of Jewish communities, addressing anti-Semitism in and through education, countering Holocaust denial, distortion and trivialization, and promoting Holocaust remembrance. Discussions at the conference also focused on the greatest challenges faced by Jewish communities across the region, including the rise of artificial intelligence and the proliferation of anti-Semitism online.

ASTANA, 6 February 2023 – Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a press conference on the opening of the observation mission to the forthcoming early parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, 8 February.

What: 

• An introduction to the role of the ODIHR election observation mission and its planned activities

Who: 

• Eoghan Murphy, Head of the ODIHR observation mission

When: 

• 15:00 local time (GMT +6) on 8 February 2023

Where:

• Room Saryarka 3, 1st floor, Hotel Radisson, Saryarka Ave 4, Astana

Registration:

• No registration is necessary but only questions from journalists will be taken.

For further information on ODIHR’s election observation activities in Kazakhstan, please visit: https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/kazakhstan

Media Contact:          

Egor Tilpunov, Media Analyst: egor.tilpunov@odihr.kz or +7 702 2193658

The 2O23 OSCE Chairpersonship of North Macedonia is pleased to announce that  the Conference “Addressing Anti-Semitism in the OSCE Region“ will take place on 6-7 February in Skopje.

The Conference will serve to:

• Take stock of the progress made by OSCE participating States to implement their commitments to address anti-Semitism since the adoption of the 2003 Maastricht Ministerial Council Decision.  There will be a particular focus on the themes of (i) recognizing, recording and prosecuting anti-Semitic hate crimes and addressing the security needs of Jewish communities, (ii) addressing anti-Semitism in and through education, and (iii) countering Holocaust denial and distortion and promoting Holocaust remembrance.
• Identify current challenges and best practices in relation to addressing anti-Semitism, in particular through a regional perspective and with a focus on the role of youth.
• Look to the future by surveying emerging trends and key areas of concern pertaining to addressing anti-Semitism, in particular online, in the mid- and long-term.

The conference will gather government representatives, as well as relevant stakeholders from international organisations, academia, civil society organisations and leaders of Jewish communities and local activists, offering a platform for dialogue on challenges and good practices in addressing Anti-Semitism.

537011

Representatives of national institutions responsible for environmental inspection, enforcement and prosecution came together in a technical workshop on 2 February 2023. The event was organized by the OSCE Presence in Albania that has taken the lead in conducting a baseline assessment on the inspection, investigation and punishment of environmental violations, in close co-operation with national institutions.

The workshop discussed the preliminary findings of the baseline assessment. The outcomes and inputs gathered from the institutions during the meeting will be elaborated by the Presence’s contracted experts, and incorporated in the final baseline assessment that will be delivered to the national authorities.

“Environmental violations pose a great threat to the economy, nature and tourism development and they are intricate to be addressed in terms of legal, inter-institutional and technical dimensions,” said Aleksandar Maskovic, Head of the OSCE Presence’s Department on Governance in Economic and Environmental Issues.

Anila Leka, a prosecutor from the General Prosecution Office, said: “Environmental violations must be seen in their complexity, both in the administrative aspect and then in the criminal aspect. We must be clear that the criminalization of violations should only come as a last resort as this is associated with economic costs”.

Josif Shtëmbari from the Albanian State Police said: “Environmental enforcement has become a priority of the State Police and this is also noticed by the increase in the number of cases identified and referred to the Prosecutor".

The workshop provided a platform for the stakeholders to come together and discuss how to work collaboratively and effectively on environmental issues ranging from legal and institutional framework to capacity, infrastructure and more.

The event was part of the “Enhance environmental governance and security in Albania” project, which is implemented by the OSCE Presence in Albania and funded by France and Norway.

Information for Google Short description:  Bosnia and Herzegovina general elections 2022: ODIHR election observation mission final report 537008 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

The October 2022 general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina were well organized and competitive. Nevertheless, universal and equal suffrage is still not guaranteed. Increasing segmentation along ethnic lines and the corresponding divergent views on the future of the country remain a concern for the functioning of democratic institutions. While negotiations among political parties to introduce needed legal reforms failed, recently introduced amendments strengthened some aspects of the electoral process.

Fundamental freedoms were respected during the campaign, but lack of public debate, the use of divisive rhetoric and the limited and biased media coverage reduced voters’ opportunity to make an informed choice.

Election day was overall orderly, but observers noted compromises to the secrecy of the vote due to the layout of polling stations and an inconsistent application of procedural safeguards mainly during the counting process. The observed control count was conducted in an open and transparent manner.

These are some of the main conclusions on the 2 October 2022 general elections, as detailed in the final report published by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The report offers recommendations to bring elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina closer in line with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections.

Key recommendations include:

• Reviewing the legal framework and eliminating discriminatory ethnicity- and residency-based restrictions on the right to stand for elections through an open and inclusive consultation process;
• Ensuring the Central Election Commission is properly resourced and funded to fully implement its mandate, including in non-election years;
• Revising the way polling station commissions are formed to ensure their impartiality and professionalism as well as their timely formation;

• Guaranteeing that members of the election administration are not recalled for arbitrary reasons and are able to conduct their duties without fear of retribution, administrative action or intimidation;

• Encouraging contestants and public officials to refrain from exercising pressure on voters;

• Investigating and deterring practices of pressure and misuse of administrative resources;

• Enhancing efforts aimed at facilitating women’s active participation in public and political life;

• Reinforcing effective protection of journalists from threats and intimidation and ensuring swift investigation of cases of pressure against journalists and media outlets;

• Further educating voters and election officials on how the voters’ right to vote in secrecy in a free atmosphere can be protected.

The ODIHR Election Observation Mission to the 2 October 2022 general elections commenced its work on 22 August and remained in the country until 20 October.

All 57 countries across the OSCE region have formally committed to follow up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.

537002 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

From 30 January to 3 February, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, in co-operation with the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, organized a training course for first responders on handling digital evidence at the Almaty Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

“Almaty Academy is the only law enforcement educational institution in Kazakhstan that provides not only legal education but also technically-oriented professional development and training in the sphere of ICT. We look forward to working with the OSCE on strengthening our capacities to educate police officers on various aspects of conducting criminal investigations in the digital age,“ Zhanat Dilbarkhanova, Deputy Head of the Almaty Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, said in her opening remarks.

“The widespread use of digital technologies means that data can be important evidence in any crime, whether conducted through a computer system or not. Understanding the unique features of digital evidence and being able to identify and properly handle various sources of digital evidence is becoming an essential skill of every police officer,” she added.

Twenty-four representatives of various police units and law enforcement educational institutions from Almaty, Astana, and Karaganda took part in the training course delivered by two expert trainers from Moldova and North Macedonia. The participants learned how to identify, seize and secure potential sources of digital evidence at a crime scene, use open-source forensic tools for first responders, and conduct basic live data forensics and handle volatile data. They were also introduced to the basics of computer networking, online open-source investigations, and anonymity and criminality on the Internet.

The training was delivered under the extra-budgetary project “Capacity Building on Combating Cybercrime in Central Asia”, which is funded by the United States of America, Germany, and the Republic of Korea.

536984

From 31 January to 2 February, 20 women human rights activists from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ukraine, and renowned international experts, gathered in Vienna to provide concrete recommendations for enhancing protection and response to violence against women and girls in conflict and post-conflict settings.

OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues Lara Scarpitta stressed the importance of women-led civil society organizations in her opening remarks. “Women should not be invisible. Women take an active part in addressing the consequences of war, are at the forefront of humanitarian responses and support the survivors of the violence like we see today in Ukraine and we saw many years ago in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are and must be regarded as key counterparts and involved in decision-making processes,” she said.

The participants discussed accountability and the role of civil society organizations in supporting survivors of gender-based violence in armed conflict, based on the experience of participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina and other global practices.

Participants also discussed the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence in the context of conflict and post-conflict settings and the role of the civil society organizations in this process.

Simona Lanzoni, Vice-President of the Council of Europe Expert Group on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO), stressed that: "Istanbul Convention should be implemented by the state that ratified it in peacetime and also - as recalled in article 2 paragraph 3 - in situation of armed conflict. The provisions set a number of essential tools to enable women victims and survivors of all form of violence to get full protection and support in a safe and secure environment that should be provided by a multiagency work and continuos dialogue done between the state and the women civil society.”

The event, the second of its kind, is a part of the multi-year project WIN for Women and Men on strengthening comprehensive security through innovating and networking for gender equality.

VIENNA, 1 February 2023 — OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, made an official visit to Greece from 25 to 26 January 2023. She met with several counterparts, including Secretary General for Communication and Information Dimitris Galamatis, Adviser to the Prime Minister Konstantinos Koutras, Member of Parliament Dimitris Markopolous, President of the Journalists' Union of the Athens Daily Newspapers Maria Antoniadou, as well as journalists from the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation ERT and representatives of the media community.

Ribeiro and her counterparts discussed current challenges to media freedom in Greece, and specifically the issue of surveillance of journalists, such as spyware, which has a negative impact on the work of individual journalists and the overall media landscape. Ribeiro highlighted the 2018 OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on the Safety of Journalists where OSCE participating States committed to addressing the impact of unlawful and arbitrary surveillance of journalists and its undermining of their right to freedom of expression and right to be free from unlawful and arbitrary interference of their privacy.

“The use of wiretapping software is very concerning. It endangers the principle that journalists must be able to work without fear for their own safety and to protect their sources so they can carry out their important democratic function. I encouraged the authorities to ensure a swift and thorough investigation into the issue of spyware surveillance of media workers, as this constitutes a major interference with fundamental rights,” Ribeiro said.

Related to safety of journalists, the Representative stressed the need to make progress on investigating the murder of journalist, Giorgos Karaivaz, and to hold all those responsible to account.

Several government counterparts mentioned recent steps to improve the media freedom situation in the country. These included establishing a task force and the launching of a training centre on safety of journalists; support for the costs of paper, distribution of newspapers, and insurance for journalists; and a recent amendment of Article 191 of the Criminal Code regarding “false information”.

The Representative also reiterated her Office’s readiness to continue providing necessary assistance to the Greek authorities in order to promote an environment that is conducive to media freedom and is in line with international standards and OSCE commitments.

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.

SKOPJE, 1 February 2023 — The Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, Kilian Wahl, and North Macedonia’s Minister of Education and Science, Jeton Shaqiri, signed two agreements today to improve integrated education for children of different communities within the country.

“We are creating a framework for co-operation in integrated education and inter-culturalism as part of our joint efforts to improve quality education for all,” said Wahl. “Our joint projects with the Ministry provide a unique opportunity for school communities of different languages to work together, improving social cohesion throughout North Macedonia.”

The activities in the Memoranda of Understanding agreements are expected to include grants to schools across the country for curricular classes jointly conducted between partner schools using different languages of instruction, as well as continuing the Mission’s support for bilingual classes for high school students in Skopje, which is also part of an initiative by the City of Skopje in select schools.

“The Ministry of Education and Science is determined to promote quality education and necessary reforms at all levels: primary, secondary and higher. A crucial aspect in our context is the multicultural and multilingual background of our students and communities. We must nurture and promote this as a value, which it truly is. We appreciate the co-operation with the OSCE, from which many students have benefited directly,” said Minister Shaqiri.

The agreements signed today build on two programmes the Mission has supported for almost a decade to assist North Macedonia with strengthening social cohesion and integrated education. The first is a pilot programme initiated by the city of Skopje in 2018 for bilingual classes for high schools students. The second is the ‘Building New Bridges’ project that initially provided grants for joint extracurricular activities for students in different languages and now will be providing grants to schools for joint classes for students in different languages. These programmes have already helped more than 35,000 students and teachers across different communities in North Macedonia.

SKOPJE/VIENNA, 31 January 2023 - Rabbi Andrew Baker, Personal Representative on Combating Anti-Semitism, Associate Professor Dr. Regina Polak, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions, and Ambassador Dr. Ismail Hakki Musa, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims made the following statement:

“Recent public burnings of the Quran have drawn international attention and condemnation. We add our voices to others who have rightly criticized these acts, intended as an expression of hatred toward Muslims but an offence to all who believe in tolerance, pluralism, and respect for diversity.

As the Personal Representatives of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, we know that collective security also depends on adherence to human rights and democratic values. Hateful acts such as these incite hostility toward Muslims and could lead to greater conflict and even violence. Thus, we remind OSCE participating States that cultural and religious diversity enriches our individual lives and our respective societies. This diversity should be protected and promoted and more dedicated resources and efforts are needed to promote tolerance and non-discrimination to foster a stronger sense of security in our participating States.

We would also like to commend the relevant authorities for their strong public rejection and condemnation of these manifestations of racism, xenophobia, discrimination and intolerance, including against Muslims while continuing to respect freedom of expression.”

GENEVA/BRUSSELS/VIENNA, 31 January 2023 - The Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions (GID), United Nations Representative to the Geneva International Discussions Cihan Sultanoğlu, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus Viorel Moșanu and European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar, reiterate the full commitment of their respective organizations to the GID process. 

The next round of the Discussions, which was due to be held at the end of February 2023, has been postponed to early April 2023 due to timing issues. 

However, the Co-Chairs reaffirm their readiness to engage in consultations in person with all participants, both on the process generally and on the upcoming meeting particularly.

BRUSSELS, 31 January 2023 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, emphasized the need for comprehensive solutions that put people, their safety and well-being, first to address the security challenges facing Europe during his visit to Brussels today.  

“I came to Brussels as OSCE Chairman-in-Office to explore solutions and offer avenues for co-operation in the light of war of aggression against Ukraine and associated growing tensions across the OSCE region.”

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office Osmani met with Josep Borrell, High Representative/Vice-President of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. He also met with Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, in charge of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid, and European Emergency Response Coordinator. The Chairman also met with Miroslav Lajčák, the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues and other high-level officials.

”Both the OSCE and the EU, despite their different raisons d’étre, are founded on strong pillars of values and vision for the future. The EU and OSCE values and roles largely correspond, both in spirit and letter,” he said following the meeting.  

“Today, when our human, collective and cooperative security is at stake, we need to work together, as hard as ever, to demonstrate our resilience and resoluteness to jointly respond to all pressing challenges to our shared principles. Above all, to support the people and stop human suffering.”

During his visit to Brussels, Chairman-in-Office Osmani met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană and presented the Chairpersonship’s programme to NATO’s North Atlantic Council.

“Ukraine will remain our top priority. We must do our utmost to restore just peace in Ukraine and alleviate human suffering. And it is not only Ukraine. We are witnessing rising frictions across the OSCE region. Regional instability and the potential for new conflicts are real. It is of utmost importance for us to keep a lid on boiling tensions across the OSCE region and beyond. Other crisis settings need our continued attention and engagement,” added Osmani.

“The OSCE’s toolkit is designed to address such situations. Our Organization has a proven track-record in preventing conflicts, diffusing tensions and supporting peace. It is doing good things in supporting people in need.”

“Despite the different nature and purpose, NATO and OSCE have important role to play in the European security architecture and the future of wider continental stability and the security,” he concluded.

The 2023 Chairpersonship of North Macedonia is focused on contributing to the processes of stability and security in the OSCE region. The Chair aims to ensure the OSCE continues its efforts preventing conflict, restoring peace and security, and promoting co-operation. This includes supporting sustainable economic growth and environmental co-operation, as well as upholding human rights and promoting tolerance and non-discrimination.

SOFIA, 31 January 2023 - OSCE Special Representative Valiant Richey and the Executive Secretary to the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA) Petya Nestorova called on Bulgaria to take urgent measures to strengthen its prevention and response to trafficking in human beings.

At joint meetings with the National Commission to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings and the Bulgarian Parliament, the OSCE and Council of Europe officials shared the findings from the Special Representative’s country visit and GRETA’s third evaluation report. They urged Bulgaria to take action in several key areas, such as strengthening co-ordination of anti-trafficking efforts, adopting a new anti-trafficking strategy, and ensuring victims’ access to justice.

OSCE Special Representative Richey highlighted the pressing need to prioritize and invest in anti-trafficking efforts, including by raising the profile of the issue within government and pursuing more ambitious policy action , including on technology-facilitated trafficking in Bulgaria.

“As one of the key countries of origin for human trafficking in Europe, Bulgaria needs a robust strategy with a focus on prevention and bringing traffickers to justice,” he said.

Petya Nestorova, Executive Secretary of the Council of Europe’s anti-trafficking expert group, GRETA, highlighted the need for increased political attention to the issue and adequate budgetary funding, which would ensure the sustainability of anti-trafficking measures and the administration of shelters.  “The latest recommendations made by GRETA to Bulgaria focus on guaranteeing access to justice for victims of trafficking. This requires making compensation effectively accessible to victims, and supporting their economic and social inclusion,” she said.

The OSCE Special Representative conducts multiple country visits each year to support OSCE participating States in addressing human trafficking, share recommendations for further action, and collect best practices for fighting this heinous crime. Richey’s report following his 2021 country visit was published in 2022.

The Council of Europe anti-trafficking expert group, GRETA, monitors the implementation of the Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings by the 48 states that have ratified it. GRETA has evaluated Bulgaria’s action against human trafficking three times (in 2011, 2015, and 2019). The latest GRETA report on Bulgaria was published in April 2021.