Central Europe

522574 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

The bodies in charge of administering the 30 January 2022 early parliamentary elections in Portugal enjoyed a high level of confidence among all electoral stakeholders and effectively organized the early elections. The campaign was competitive, allowed voters to make an informed choice and all candidates were able to campaign freely. At the same time, certain aspects of the electoral process, including campaign finance reporting and oversight and the participation of persons with disabilities, would benefit from further review.

These are the main conclusions from the final report on the elections, published today by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The report offers 12 recommendations to improve the conduct of elections and to increase transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.

Key recommendations include:

• Increasing transparency by opening election administration sessions to the public;

• Providing standard uniform training for all lower-level commission members in advance of the elections;
• Removing restrictions on electoral rights based on intellectual or psychosocial disability in line with international standards and considering additional measures to ensure that voters with disabilities can vote independently and have access to campaign materials;
• Further promoting the participation of women in the electoral process as candidates and election officials by ensuring the uniform implementation of the gender quota and collecting and publishing disaggregated data on gender representation in the election administration;
• Introducing interim campaign finance reporting prior to election day;
• Granting institutional and financial autonomy to the campaign finance oversight body.

ODIHR deployed an Election Expert Team for these elections on 16 January 2022. All 57 countries across the OSCE region have formally committed to follow up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.

522523 Communication and Media Relations Section

Aktau in Kazakhstan has become the first port in the country to receive the Ports Environmental Assessment System certification and EcoPorts status from the European Sea Ports Organization (ESPO).

The EcoPorts status is a globally approved standard for environmental management of ports and port terminals that recognizes ports working to reduce their negative impact on the environment.

The achievement was celebrated in an awards ceremony on 12 July, attended by the President of the Aktau Port, the First Deputy akim of the Mangystau region, the Chief Manager of the Technical Policy Department of the Kazakh National Railway (KTZ) and representatives from the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities and the Programme Office in Nur-Sultan.

Aktau Port received the certificate after having been part of the OSCE’s project Promoting green ports and connectivity in the Caspian Sea and beyond. The recognition means Aktau port is aligned with leading ports and global best practices for increasing the sustainability of the transport sector.

“We are proud to have supported the Port of Aktau in becoming EcoPorts certified. We believe this is a milestone for the future development of the port and the region”, said Daniel Kroos, Senior Programme Officer at the OSCE Secretariat.

Partnering with the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, the OCEEA is now working to help more ports in the region to achieve green certification and come into alignment with global net-zero ambitions.

522493 Strengthening Responses to Security Risks from Climate Change in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia

On 12 July 2022, students and young professionals from various academic disciplines and sectors  took part in a training on Climate Change and Security in Central Asia in Bishkek. The Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) and the Berlin-based think tank adelphi organized the event in partnership with the OSCE Academy and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

Throughout the training was stressed that climate change is one of the most pressing issues of the 21st century with implications for sustainable development, prosperity, security, and stability in the OSCE region and beyond. Raising awareness and harnessing youth potential is key to tackling it.

Alexey Rogov, Head of OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, shared that the field operation is following closely the Kyrgyz Republic’s priorities on climate change, including its initiatives in promoting sustainable mountain development at the international level. He underlined the importance of the 2021 OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on climate change to strengthen co-operation in addressing the challenges posed by climate change.  “We will continue to assist the Kyrgyz Republic in the implementation of this Decision and further enhance our work in the regions of Kyrgyzstan in partnership with youth, civil society, and the Aarhus Centres” he added.  

Esra Buttanri, Senior Advisor at the OCEEA, drew attention to the OSCE’s project on climate change and security, which aims, amongst others, to support young people in stepping up their efforts and boosting their skills to address various challenges caused by climate change. “Today’s training also allows us to benefit and be inspired from the perspectives and innovative approaches of youth in our work as agents of change”, Buttanri said.

Lukas Rüttinger, Senior Advisor at adelphi, underlined that climate change is increasingly putting pressures on states and societies. “It compounds risk factors such as political instability, inequality, food insecurity, and economic difficulties that are important drivers of insecurity, tensions, and conflict,” he said.

Alexander Wolters, Director of the OSCE Academy, highlighted that the Academy promotes research into the impact of climate change on Central Asia and has set itself the goal to help increase the resilience of the region's people towards the effects of climate change. “Today’s training is very timely and provides a platform for students and young professional across the region to discuss, work together and learn about the best strategies forward", he added.

The participants were provided with in-depth knowledge of the potential security risks posed by climate change and had the opportunity to develop approaches to solve related problems in a dynamic and interactive environment.

This training was organized within the framework of the OSCE extra-budgetary project “Strengthening Responses to Security Risks from Climate Change in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia funded by Andorra, Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and United States.

522448 Marina Živaljević

On 11 July 2022, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, Dominique Waag, met with Mihailo Jovović, President of the Commission for Monitoring the Actions of Competent Authorities in Investigations of Cases of Threats and Violence against Journalists, Murders of Journalists and Attacks on Media Property.

As part of the OSCE’s commitment to freedom media, shared by all participating States, safety of journalists is an important component, related to the well-functioning of a democracy, which is why the Mission is interested in the work and mandate of the Commission, as well as what kind of support it can provide.

Ambassador Waag praised the role of the President of the Commission and said she appreciates the Commission’s role in reporting to the government and working with institutions to jointly solve cases of attacks on journalists. “Joint efforts by the Commission with institutions is critical in making progress. The Mission is willing to help and, within its mandate, support the Commission, as without safety of investigative journalists, there is neither free or critical thought,” said Ambassador Waag.

Jovović thanked for the interest in the Commission’s work and the opportunity to share his impressions about the challenges it faces, as well as its plans. “Possibilities for co-operation between the Commission and the Mission within its competences and plans will be welcome,” said Jovović.

The Mission will remain ready to support the Commission through strengthening its capacities to deliver on its mandate.

VIENNA/WARSAW, 9 July 2022 — The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau, will visit Belgrade, Sarajevo and Prishtinë/Priština from 11 to 15 July for meetings with political leaders and discuss Poland’s engagement in the region as OSCE Chair.  

During his visit to Serbia, Minister Rau will meet with President Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Selaković.

In Sarajevo, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office will have the opportunity to meet the Members of the Collegiums of BiH’s Parliament, Deputy Foreign Minister, Josip Brkić.

In Prishtinë/Priština, Rau will talk with President Vjosa Osmani, Speaker of the Assembly, Glauk Konjufca, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz and Minister for Communities and Returns, Goran Rakić. The Chairman-in-Office will also visit the Central Election Commission.   

Throughout the visit, Minister Rau will also meet with OSCE field operations staff and civil society representatives.

For more information about Poland's 2022 OSCE Chairmanship, please visit the OSCE website: https://www.osce.org/chairmanship.

522388 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

The promotion of a digital transport corridor and its effective management during emergencies were discussed at an online seminar organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat from 6 to 7 July 2022.

The objective of the two-day seminar was to highlight best practices of the OSCE participating States in ensuring sustainable transport and logistics chains during emergencies. The event also facilitated discussions on key developments in the expansion of international freight transportation in Central Asia and the Caspian region.

The seminar brought together representatives from the Ministry of Finance and Economy, Railway, Air, Road, and Maritime and River Transport Agencies and other state institutions and non-governmental organizations.

The event was facilitated by three international experts who emphasized the role of digital transport corridors in ensuring sustainable transport and logistics chains during and after emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrated the digital transformation of data and documents exchange and shared experiences of multimodal digital transport corridor Black Sea - Baltic Sea.

The experts briefed participants on trends and developments in the digitalization of road transport and information exchange in light of lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on global logistics and transportation systems. They also familiarized participants with new standards for digitalization of data exchange and UN specialized tools for international multimodal transport.

“Ensuring the efficiency of transport networks, developing digitalized transport system and promoting good governance at border crossings support trade facilitation process and the just in time supply chain approach, required by the internationally competitive system, which has been particularly relevant for land-locked countries,” said Ivana Markovic-Boskovic.

“The OSCE offers comparative advantages, expertise and added value, aimed at capacity-building, exchange of best practices, raising awareness, and enhancing the transport dialogue among the OSCE participating States,” added Markovic-Boskovic, referring to the OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on future transport dialogue in the OSCE.

Željka Šulc

SARAJEVO, 8 July 2022 – The Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (OSCE SR/CTHB) and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (OSCE Mission to BiH) organized a roundtable on the nexus between trafficking in human beings and terrorism in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

The roundtable gathered representatives of state agencies, criminal justice practitioners, and civil society organizations who work on anti-trafficking and counter-terrorism. The roundtable presented findings of research conducted by the OSCE SR/CTHB and other international and national organizations on the nexus between trafficking and terrorism. It further created a platform for discussion between anti-trafficking and counter-terrorism specialists on this sensitive topic. The discussions further considered security, vulnerability, gender, justice, and human rights, including whether those associated with terrorist groups should be characterised as victims or perpetrators.

“Today, we make an important step in integrating crucial trafficking considerations into counter-terrorism work,” said OSCE Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings Valiant Richey in opening the roundtable. “We need to ensure victims of trafficking are treated as such, and trafficking crimes committed by terrorist groups are adequately addressed”.

Rebecca Agule, Acting Head of the Rule of Law Section in the OSCE Mission to BiH stressed that the Mission has worked with local partners and institutions to improve domestic responses to serious threats to security, including human trafficking and terrorism since 2003. “This includes ensuring greater protection and support to victims of these serious crimes and that the appropriate institutional and legislative tools are in place,” said Agule.

Ms Hajrija Hadžiomerović-Muftić, anti-trafficking expert and former prosecutor, highlighted that, “The roundtable indeed reaffirmed a need on strengthening the efforts to hold terrorist groups and their members fully accountable for their criminal behavior, while also ensuring an identification and  protection of those who were exploited by these groups .”

The roundtable was implemented as part of the OSCE Mission to BiH’s wider efforts to support the fight against trafficking in human beings and terrorism in BiH by strengthening the capacity of the relevant institutions to detect, investigate, and prosecute these crimes.

522337 Participants during the opening of the two-day training course in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Kunduz Rysbek

On 5-6 July, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department in co-operation with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek organized the training course “Intelligence-Led Policing: from Theory to Practical Implementation” in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Seventeen law enforcement officials from the Criminal Investigation Department and the Republican Training Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic broadened their knowledge of the intelligence-led policing, crime analysis, assessments and decision-making procedures. Participants also discussed its strategic and operational components, and assessed the possible implementation of the intelligence-led policing model in Kyrgyzstan. 

“Analysis and operational information are of particular importance as they help us to combat national and transnational crimes more effectively. This type of work is extremely specific and requires constant modernization on both legislative and practical levels. In this regard, international expertise and best practices are particularly valuable,” said Kylych Kadurkulov, Police Colonel and Director of the Republican Training Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Eduard Lokotunin, Police Affairs Officer on Combating Illicit Drugs and ILP Project Manager, emphasized the preventive nature of the intelligence-led policing approach, its ability to address the complexities and transnational nature of crime, and improve day-to-day proactive planning and overall police management.

This training course builds on the OSCE Guidebook on Intelligence-led Policing and provides trainees with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of its principles, as well as evaluate practical steps for their implementation in Kyrgyzstan.

The training course was organized in the framework of the OSCE extra-budgetary project “Building Intelligence-led Policing capacities on regional and national levels in the OSCE area”. The project aims to enhance the use of intelligence-led policing in the OSCE region. The training course is open to all interested OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation should they request its capacity-building support.

522355 Communication and Media Relations Section Alexandra Taylor

Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office on Youth and Security Maria Raczynska and OSCE Senior Adviser on Gender Issues Lara Scarpitta visited the Polish-Ukrainian border on 4 and 5 July 2022 where they gathered information on the situation of refugees from Ukraine, as 1.2 million (94 % of whom are women and children), are officially registered, with access to health care, education and employment.

“In Poland, society, government, and local administration have displayed enormous solidarity and compassion to the victims of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. But the conflict and needs are far from over. We must do whatever we can to put an end to the war and ensure it does not happen again. At the same time, we must also remember that those young people who seek shelter and our support, will be those who shape the future,” Raczynska said.

“I visited reception centres and transit points at train stations. The emergency is far from over. There are still hundreds of women and children arriving from Ukraine daily. Poland deserves praise for taking on a major responsibility in the face of the refugee crisis caused by this war,” Scarpitta said.

She also underlined the need to address the risks of human trafficking in light of the number of women and children fleeing the war in Ukraine and strengthen response to these challenges.

However, Scarpitta cautioned that a second large wave of refugees can be expected after the summer months, caused largely by the escalation in the armed conflict and the economic situation in Ukraine, but also the lack of fuel and some basic goods.:

“The situation for the neighboring host countries is particularly demanding: Rental prices for housing have sky rocketed, there is a chronic shortage of childcare facilities and the education system is already under strain as is struggles to accommodate additional children.”

Lack of access to childcare represents an additional obstacle for women accessing the labour market, making some women and children vulnerable to prostitution and exploitation, including trafficking.

“I was glad to see the high level of awareness of the risks of trafficking in human beings, especially for young girls and boys who arrived unaccompanied. Services for victims of sexual and gender-based violence need to be strengthened, though,” said the OSCE Senior Gender Adviser.

At the same time, Scarpitta expressed her appreciation for the work that the UNHCR, NGOS and local authorities are doing to provide support and safe spaces for the most vulnerable.

“The war has taken a massive toll on every single person, but in particular women and girls. More assistance is needed both in Ukraine and the neighbouring countries. The OSCE will remain engaged in these efforts,” Scarpitta said.

ASHGABAT, 8 July 2022 – A conference marking 30 years since Turkmenistan signed the Helsinki Final Act, and began its co-operation with the OSCE, took place in Ashgabat yesterday. The conference was organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, in close co-operation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

Opening the conference, Deputy Chairperson of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, stated: “As a participating State, Turkmenistan  is committed to fruitful co-operation with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in strengthening security in the OSCE region." 

The Foreign Minister emphasized that Turkmenistan's priorities in co-operation with the OSCE include the creation of efficient mechanisms of prevention and neutralization of international conflicts, countering political and religious extremism, transnational threats, drug trafficking and cross border crime, as well as the development of a modern model of international co-operation in economic, energy and environmental spheres.

In her video message, OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid stressed: “This is a good opportunity to mark a true milestone in the co-operation between the OSCE and Turkmenistan and to look to the future.”

She also commended Turkmenistan’s efforts and contribution to peace and security in the OSCE area by strengthening regional co-operation and promoting economic connectivity across the Caspian Sea.

John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, added: “OSCE co-operation with Turkmenistan has come a long way in three decades, and we see great prospects for continuing and strengthening our important dialogue for the benefit of Turkmenistan and the whole OSCE region.”

Addressing the session on co-operation in the area of human dimension, Lara Scarpitta, OSCE Senior Advisor on Gender Issues, stressed the importance of OSCE commitments to promoting gender equality.

The conference brought together representatives of the Centre's key partner institutions and organizations in the country, including ministries, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions and civil society organizations.

Many high-level officials and leading experts also participated, including Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Austria and the Head of the Delegation of Turkmenistan to the OSCE, the Ombudsperson of Turkmenistan, the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy, representatives of the Defence Ministry, the State Border Service, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, as well as representatives of the Institute of State, Law and Democracy, institutions of higher education and Keyik Okara public organization.

The participants highlighted the achievements of the OSCE and Turkmenistan partnership across all three dimensions of security. On 8 July 1992, Turkmenistan signed the Helsinki Final Act, the OSCE’s landmark document, and became a participating State of the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), which was transformed into the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) three years later.

Established in 1999, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat is currently assisting Turkmenistan in fulfilling its OSCE commitments across three dimensions of security. 

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, in co-operation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, will organize sporting events in the coming week to commemorate this occasion.

522310 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Umeda Gafurova

On July 1, 2022, the OSCE Border Management Staff College (BMSC) concluded its 32nd Staff Course for Women Leaders in a blended format. Twenty-six mid to senior-ranking security and management officials from border, customs, migration, internal affairs, maritime security, and drug control agencies attended.  They represented twelve OSCE Participating States and Partners for Cooperation, namely Algeria, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Portugal, Romania, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkiye and Uzbekistan.

The four-week event represented the eighth course designed and delivered by the OSCE BMSC exclusively for women leaders of various border security and management agencies. The gender exclusive course aimed to further empower women working in the field of border security and management by further developing their organization-level competencies and professional skills, establishing working relations with counterparts, and promoting gender-sensitivity in the respective professional environment.

In his speech at the closing ceremony, Ambassador Vuk Zugic, Head of the OSCE Program Office in Dushanbe (POiD), noted that the College has been in service for more than thirteen years and continues to provide the highest quality of education and training for senior border security officers from across the OSCE region. All-women staff courses, which are organized once a year, aim at enhancing the involvement of more female border officers and addressing gender imbalance in the border security sector. 

In her closing remarks, Tea Jaliashvili, Deputy Head of the OSCE POiD, encouraged participants to stay in touch with the College, their instructors, and their counterparts to enhance a multi-agency networking to promote interchange of information and best practices among them, to support development of their leadership potential, and to help to advance their training delivery skills.    

Ezgi Arslan, a participant from Ministry of Interior’s Border Management Department of the Republic of Turkiye, thanked the college for the unique opportunity to acquire valuable knowledge in the respective field, which is further augmented by the exploration of other represented countries’ experience(s). Also, the opportunity to be able to contribute to her country’s efforts in border security as she intends to apply the gained knowledge in her professional field.

Irina Turturean, a graduate from the General Inspectorate of Border Police of Romania, noted that the course represented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her to enrich her professional knowledge on a wide variety of border-related subjects. She claimed that everyone who completed the course gained invaluable skills and knowledge. Finally, she noted the value of establishing professional connections and friendships that will last for many years to come.

The BMSC’s Staff Course is comprised of seven study modules. The core course curriculum covers border security and management in the context of the OSCE’s three-dimensional comprehensive security concept. Topics covered during the course included the promotion of border security and management in the OSCE area, border security and management models, organizational management and leadership, as well as basic learning and teaching skills. Participants of the course were also engaged in group research projects related to and covering the OSCE’s three dimensions of security.         

A roundtable discussion entitled “Best Practices in Gender Mainstreaming in Border Security and Management and Governmental Section,” was also conducted in the framework of the course. The event focused on the best approaches adopted by the States of the OSCE region in promoting gender mainstreaming to create more representative and inclusive border management and government institutions.

522304 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Umeda Gafurova

On 24 June 2022, the OSCE’s Border Management Staff College (BMSC) held a roundtable discussion to address the “Best Practices in Gender Mainstreaming in Border Security and Management and Governmental Section.  The panelists exchanged ideas and explored best practices taken by the OSCE States to promote a gender approach, in support of equal treatment of women, men and persons with non-binary gender identities as the foundation of the fundamental human rights.

The roundtable event was held in a blended format, and brought together more than forty-five participants, representing government agencies, civil society, diplomatic missions, international organizations, experts, and mid-to-senior level officers of the 32nd Staff Course representing the countries of Algeria, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Portugal, Romania, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkiye and Uzbekistan.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Vuk Zugic, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (POiD), reiterated the objectives of the OSCE, which are to promote the constructive participation of women in all spheres of public life, including border security and governmental sector, to reflect different perspectives and protect the human rights of both men and women. In doing so, the OSCE strives to end all forms of discrimination, gender-based violence, and any harmful practices against women and men in the public spheres and security sector, thereby increasing their effectiveness.

Ms. Tea Jaliashvili, the Deputy of Head of the POiD, echoed the Ambassador’s comments adding that despite ongoing efforts, the participation of women in the peace-making process, as well as the representation of women in national parliaments, remains relatively low. Ms. Jaliashvili recommended further dialogues that highlight the obstacles to and prospects for gender mainstreaming, and to consider the internalization of gender as an integral part of the fight against human trafficking.

Ihar Kuzminich, the Chief of Training and Education, highlighted that the BMSC regularly organizes roundtable discussions on the most pressing topics and that this event was the second in a series of three roundtable discussions. He further noted that the College has offered eight staff courses exclusively for women-leaders since its inception in 2009, and it is looking forward to increasing this number and further contributing OSCE’s gender mainstreaming efforts.

Ms. Angela Mackay, who is a consultant from Canada and author of the gender and security sector reform toolkit titled “Border Management and Gender,” served as the roundtable’s keynote speaker. She spoke about fostering narrative efforts to promote gender mainstreaming in border management, security and governance, as well as tackling the obstacles, barriers, and limitations. Ms. Mackay also visited the subject of potential prospects for improvement.  She explained that it is important to mainstream gender in border management for many reasons, but most importantly, to increase opportunities for collaboration with both women and men in border communities.

Other contributors to the discussions included Ms. Inesa Nicolaescu, the Associate Border Security Officer at the OSCE Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, who gave an insight on the importantance of engaging men to support gender equality in border security and management. Also, Mr. Robert Heuer, Head of Human Dimension Department at the PoiD, who spoke about integrating gender perspective in the fight against trafficking in human beings.

The conducted roundtable was the second in a series of three roundtable discussions, covering various aspects of international cooperation in the context of border security and management.

522199 Marina Živaljević

On 7 July 2022, as part of its long-term support and in order to support the State Election Commission to address an ODIHR recommendation from the 2020 parliamentary elections, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro provided live streaming video equipment to the Commission, which will enable the public as well as the media to follow the commissions’ sessions.

Dominique Waag, Head of the Mission said that this donation will increase the Commission’s transparency and enable citizens to view the Election Commission’s meetings live over the internet.  “I commend Commission’s unanimous decision to hold public meetings. I believe that this equipment will improve voters’ confidence and increase public trust in the Commission,” said Ambassador Waag.

Chair of the State Election Commission Nikola Mugoša thanked the Mission for the valuable donation, adding that it will undoubtedly improve the transparency of the Commission’s work. “Opening the Commission’s work to the public has been a long outstanding ODIHR priority recommendation and I am pleased to have been able to finally address it.  With the installation of this equipment, our sessions are open to anyone with just one click and all recorded sessions will be archived and available to citizens,” said Mugoša.

A Survey on public perceptions and confidence in election management bodies commissioned by the Mission in October 2021 found that 87.3 per cent of respondents thought that that if the State Election Commission’s meeting were public, it would build public confidence in its work and the election process.

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro works with the State Election Commission and municipal electoral commissions to enhance their institutional capacity to administer elections in line with OSCE and international standards. The Mission also facilitates a dialogue between election management bodies and NGOs to ensure people with disabilities can exercise their right to vote independently and in secret.

522148 Farhod Nabiyulloev Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

On 5 July, the Delegation of the European Union in Tajikistan together with the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe held a handover ceremony to commemorate the completion of the first phase of EU –funded project for renovation of the Training Centre of Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence (Committee) in Karatag, Shahrinav district. The construction was implemented by the OSCE programme office in Dushanbe, and included renovation and equipment of training classes, a canteen, checkpoint and dormitories for 120 trainees and trainers, including two rooms reserved for women participants. . This enhancement will significantly increase the Training Centre’s capability to conduct training courses for Tajik rescuers to protect the communities from the disruptive impacts of natural disasters.

High-level representatives of Tajikistan’s government, European Union, UN agencies, embassies, International Organizations and NGOs participated in the handover ceremony.

“The finalisation of the I phase of the EU-funded project “Stabilization of Tajikistan’s southern borders with Afghanistan” -marks an important a milestone in the trilateral cooperation between the European Union, the OSCE programme office and the Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defence (CoESCD). Primarily by substantively strengthening, the professional capabilities of Tajikistan’s Border troops and the CoESCD, to more effectively respond to natural disasters and illicit activities in the border regions, through tailored practical trainings. To facilitate these trainings the CoESCD Training Center for Rescuers in Karatagh has undergone major renovation works. This includes external engineering structures like water supply, sewerage and electricity, as well as the construction of a security check-point, a two-story classroom, dormitory and sports facility accommodating 120 students, a fully independent canteen serving 80 people as well as the installation of fire alarm and video surveillance systems. For the phase I the EU has provided 3.3 MEUR. The II phase of the project has just been launched and will contribute to adding additional classrooms, administration buildings, auditorium, gymnasium, first aid training stations and sanitary facilities to the Committee’s Training Centre in Karatagh. In addition, 270 officers of the Committee will undergo 14 training courses in order to better manage field operations in the border regions.  

In the II phase, the Programme Office plans to renovate classroom and administration buildings, auditorium, gymnasium, first aid station and sanitary facility in the Committee’s Training Centre in Karatag. In addition, 270 officers of the Committee will undergo 14 training courses to enhance their capabilities to sustain field operations” – noted H.E. Marilyn Josefson, Ambassador of the European Union in Tajikistan.

The Chairperson of Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence, General Colonel of police Rustam Nazarzoda, expressed his gratitude to the European Union and the OSCE for renovating the Centre. He emphasized that there is no analogue of this Centre in Central Asia, and it allows training not only national rescuers but also rescuers from partnering neighbour countries.

“I’m delighted to be here today and see the results of our significant work together. I believe that the Training Centre will help the Committee address the challenges posed by disasters and contribute to the overall increase in security of Tajik citizens,” said Ambassador Vuk Zugic, Acting Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe.

The renovation initiative is part of the OSCE’s project on the Stabilization of Tajikistan’s southern borders with Afghanistan, funded by the European Union. For Phase I the European Union has provided EUR 3.3 MLN, and for the phase II - EUR 4.6 MLN. The project aims to strengthen the professional capacities of both Tajikistan’s Border Troops and the Committee to tackle illicit activities in border regions and respond to natural disasters.

In the project's first phase, the Programme Office conducted 13 training courses for 220 officers of the Committee. In the second phase, the Programme Office plans to renovate classroom and administration buildings, auditorium, gymnasium, first aid station and sanitary facility in the Committee’s Training Centre in Karatag. In addition, 270 officers of the Committee will undergo 14 training courses to enhance their capabilities to sustain field operations.

BIRMINGHAM, 6 July 2022 – In Birmingham, OSCE parliamentarians today voted to condemn in the strongest terms the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine, demanding an immediate ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Russian troops. Containing three general committee resolutions, plus ten supplementary items dealing with a wide range of topics, the Birmingham Declaration was approved with overwhelming support. It was adopted at the close of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 29th Annual Session, which took place 2-6 July in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Referring to the Russian invasion as “a gross violation of the fundamentals of international law” and “a flagrant violation not only of the sovereignty of Ukraine and its territorial integrity, but as an attack against the human rights and fundamental freedoms, most notably of the right to life, of the people of Ukraine,” the Birmingham Declaration “urges all sides to engage in negotiations aimed at a peaceful resolution of the crisis with full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The Birmingham Declaration emphasizes that Russia’s invasion has been “facilitated by Belarus as co-aggressor,” and denounces “the Russian Federation’s illegal occupation and annexation of Crimea and illegitimate ‘recognition’ and occupation of Luhansk and Donetsk regions.” Alarmed that the war has significantly impacted stability, connectivity, and prosperity across the OSCE region, the Birmingham Declaration urges governments “to consider effective and well-coordinated actions in the economic and environmental spheres aimed at mitigating the impact of the conflict and restoring international peace and security.”

It also stresses that “sanctions imposed by many OSCE participating States on the Russian Federation for its aggression against Ukraine are targeted against the leaders of the Russian Federation and not against the Russian people, whose views are not effectively represented due to the undemocratic processes of the modern Russian state.”

Expressing alarm that the war is “exacerbating global food insecurity and causing a humanitarian crisis,” the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly “encourages the intensification of result-oriented mediation efforts and negotiations in the framework of the existing platforms for conflict resolution.”

It reiterates the role of the OSCE “as an effective all-inclusive platform where through the facilitation of diplomatic efforts and co-operation, participating States can rebuild basic trust and confidence.” The Declaration acknowledges in particular the value of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine’s “rigorous work which delivered its mandate under a heightened level of volatility and security uncertainties,” and welcomes “the fact that 45 OSCE participating States, supported by Ukraine, initiated the OSCE Moscow Mechanism, in order to collect evidence of the alleged massive atrocities and war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.”

The Birmingham Declaration also “expresses support for the work of the independent international commission of inquiry mandated by the UN Human Rights Council and the ongoing proceedings at the International Criminal Court, which is conducting an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by any party to the conflict on any part of the territory of Ukraine.”

In addition to the war in Ukraine, the Birmingham Declaration highlights other tensions in the OSCE area, in particular attempts to destabilize the situation in the Transdniestrian region of the Republic of Moldova and expresses “regret over the unresolved conflict between the Russian Federation and Georgia since 2008.” It emphasizes the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and underscores “the importance of security and stability and the related establishment of good-neighbourly relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.”

Regarding COVID-19, the Declaration underlines that the pandemic “produced a further strain on respect for human rights and democratic principles, negatively impacted gender equality, and further exacerbated socio-economic disparities between many groups in our societies.” Expressing concern over “the profound economic and social repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the OSCE PA “calls on the OSCE participating States to strengthen co-operation to achieve sustainable economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by, inter alia, accelerating the deployment of green technologies, enhancing economic growth and connectivity, and supporting human capital development.”

Emphasizing that fossil fuel energy has too many environmental and social drawbacks while new clean energy sources are becoming increasingly viable, the PA expresses a determination to “accelerate the clean energy transition, including through well calibrated carbon pricing, the expansion of carbon-neutral, affordable, and sustainable energy strategies, and sustained investments in research and technological innovation.” It also urges OSCE participating States to phase out imports of Russian fossil fuels and stresses that “enhancing and diversifying energy supplies towards clean energy sources is instrumental to achieve carbon-neutrality, alleviate energy dependency, and make energy more accessible.”

The OSCE PA’s Birmingham Declaration expresses strong support for multilateralism, diplomacy and arms control, urging OSCE participating States “to reinvigorate the debate over the revitalization of the Open Skies Treaty and the full implementation and revision of the Vienna Document in line with new security challenges on the ground.” It calls on all “participating States that have not already done so to develop and implement national action plans on Women, Peace and Security, as required by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.”

Reaffirming “the Reagan-Gorbachev dictum that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,” the Declaration “urges all nuclear-armed and allied states to implement this through no-first-use declarations and agreements, and by further reducing the role of nuclear weapons in security doctrines.” It further encourages “all participating States to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons of 2017.”

The Declaration also “stresses that the need for increased focus and military spending that participating States may feel necessary as a result of the Russian Federation’s attack and disregard for the founding principles of the OSCE should not come at the expense of the socio-economic well-being and human security of their population.” It further underscores “the growing migratory pressure experienced by many participating States within the context of armed conflict, labour, development, and climate, and acknowledging the significant surge in environmentally driven migration and displacement.”

Expressing deep concern over a growing number of political prisoners across the OSCE region, the PA calls on the OSCE and its participating States “to focus greater attention on the issue of political imprisonment as a violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms enumerated in Principle VII of the Helsinki Final Act.” The Declaration also expresses support for independent media as essential for an open exchange of information and views and stresses the continued importance of professional and independent election observation, as conducted by the OSCE through the ODIHR and the Parliamentary Assembly.

Other key recommendations of the Birmingham Declaration include:

• Parliaments should duly regulate conflicts of interest, transparency in party financing and lobbying practices, as well as adopt and implement advanced anti-corruption legislation.
• Affirming the right to seek asylum, it condemns the increase in “pushbacks” of asylum seekers in several participating States as a breach of law and of their basic human rights.
• It calls upon all OSCE participating States to undertake regular reviews of legislation related to the registration and regulation of the work of non-governmental organizations in co-operation with experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to ensure compliance with human rights standards.
• It calls upon all participating States to work with the OSCE/ODIHR to improve the mechanisms they use to record hate crimes and collect data.
• It calls upon the parliaments of OSCE participating States to fully exercise parliamentary oversight over government action to prevent and combat human trafficking.

In addition to the three general committee resolutions, the Assembly adopted ten supplementary items, covering issues such as the Arctic region, combating violence against women journalists and politicians, ensuring the safety of journalists in conflict zones, the implementation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, supporting victims of terrorism, accelerating the green energy transition, and promoting effective youth engagement towards inclusive and democratic societies.

Hosted by the UK Parliament, the Birmingham meeting was the first in-person Annual Session since 2019, due to the COVID-related cancellation of the 2020 Annual Session and the holding of a Remote Session in 2021.

The Birmingham Declaration will now be made available to parliaments and governments of OSCE participating States. To read the full text (in English, French and Russian), please click here.

Video of the Annual Session is available on the OSCE PA’s YouTube and Facebook channels, and photos of the meeting can be found on Flickr.

BIRMINGHAM, 6 July 2022 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt (Sweden) was re-elected in Birmingham today along with Vice-Presidents and Committee Officers. The new Vice-Presidents include Irene Charalambides (Cyprus), Rt. Hon. Mark Pritchard (United Kingdom), Pere Joan Pons (Spain), and Michael Georg Link (Germany).

The election results were announced at today’s closing plenary session of the 29th Annual Session, which also included addresses by the Lord Speaker McFall of Alcluith and OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella, as well as the adoption of the Birmingham Declaration.

In his remarks, the Lord Speaker expressed solidarity with the people of Ukraine and urged resolution of the conflict. He also highlighted challenges such as climate change and stressed that it is up to parliamentarians to scrutinize the work of governments on the global stage. In her closing remarks, President Cederfelt thanked the OSCE parliamentarians for their support and emphasized the need for following up on the recommendations included in the Birmingham Declaration.

Yesterday, the OSCE PA’s general committees elected leadership for the coming year. In the General Committee on Political Affairs and Security, Richard Hudson (United States) was re-elected Chair, Costel Neculai Dunava (Romania) Vice-Chair, and Laurynas Kasciunas (Lithuania) Rapporteur.

In the General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment, Azay Guliyev (Azerbaijan) was elected Chair, with Artur Gerasymov (Ukraine) and Gudrun Kugler (Austria) re-elected Vice-Chair and Rapporteur, respectively.

The General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions elected Nikoloz Samkharadze (Georgia) Chair, Farah Karimi (Netherlands) Vice-Chair, and Johan Buser (Sweden) Rapporteur.

Video of the Annual Session is available on the OSCE PA’s YouTube and Facebook channels, and photos of the meeting can be found on Flickr. Please visit the Annual Session’s web page for more information.

OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized an online training course on interaction between state institutions and media in informing the public about security issues during emergencies from 4 to 5 July 2022.

The two-day event was attended by representatives responsible for providing news coverage of state organizations and ministries, including the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, the State Border, Customs and Migration Services of Turkmenistan, the Civil Defence and Rescue Operations Directorate of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Justice, National Red Crescent Society, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan, as well as lecturers of journalism faculties of higher education institutions and journalists  representing the country’s print, broadcast and online media. .

International experts from Kazakhstan and Lithuania highlighted the principles of communication between organizations and media, the importance and specifics of crisis communication, as well as forms and methods of media messages. The experts also shared their countries' experiences on informing the public during emergencies and discussed how to draw public attention.

Opening the session, John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, said: “State institutions and media are playing a key role in keeping society informed during emergencies.”

“This event is organized as part of the Centre’s support in enhancing professional capacities of journalists and communication specialists to work in the modern environment and we are committed to continuing our co-operation with the host country in this important area,” added MacGregor.

VIENNA, 5 July 2022 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, today expressed her regrets about the recent access ban imposed on portals of the two international broadcasters Deutsche Welle and Voice of America.

The Representative’s comments followed last week’s decision by the Ankara First Criminal Court of Peace to ban the two broadcasters for failing to comply with a request of the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) to apply for an online broadcasting license within the 72-hour deadline in late February 2022.

“The banning of these two news media is a blow to media freedom in the OSCE region and in Türkiye,” the Representative stated. “Not only does it jeopardize the media space for independent and critical journalism, it also strips the public’s undeniable right to freely access information from diverse sources without undue hindrance.”

The basis of this ban is the so-called ‘Regulation on the Presentation of Radio, Television and On-Demand Broadcasting on the Internet’. This regulation was passed in 2019 and mandates all online media service providers to obtain mandatory licensing from RTÜK that provide radio, television and on-demand broadcasting services online targeting the Turkish audience.

The Representative criticized the regulation for being too broadly formulated, while requiring adherence to a wide range of complex rules, with the possible sanction of removal of content based on a wide and loosely defined range of grounds.

“International obligations and standards, including OSCE principles and commitments, prescribe a high bar when considering possible restrictions on broadcasting by media outlets. Such restrictions always have to be legitimate and fall under the scrutiny of a functioning, independent regulatory system, with the possibility to appeal restrictive decisions. I therefore call upon the Turkish authorities to revise the widely-interpreted and burdensome licensing and control regime as well as ensure adequate legal remedies,” the Representative stated.

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

522091 Marina Živaljević

On 4 July 2022, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro facilitated a discussion between the State Election Commission, the Union of the Blind and municipal electoral commissions on how to ensure that people with disabilities can exercise their right to vote in secret in the upcoming municipal elections on 23 October.

The Association of Youth with Disabilities and the Union of the Blind with support from the Mission drafted guidelines for municipal electoral commissions on how to improve the accessibility of polling stations.

In March, the State Election Commission amended its secondary legislation to ensure that people with disabilities can vote independently and in secret. The amendments provide that polling stations must be accessible, including low-level polling booths, and equipment for visually impaired voters improved.

The Chair of the State Election Commission, Nikola Mugoša, said that the drafting process for these changes to the legislation was inclusive and included close co-operation with the Union of the Blind and the Association of Youth with Disabilities, supported by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro. “The aim of this meeting is to put these changes into practice for the October elections,” said Mugoša.

Goran Macanović, Executive Director of the Union of the Blind said he understands the limitations municipal electoral commissions face in terms of resources and support they receive, and added that municipal electoral commissions can find many practical solutions if they accept the importance of this topic.

Katarina Bigović-Kulić, the representative of the Union of the Blind, presented the standards for polling stations to be accessible to people with disabilities.

Darko Brajović, Mission’s Democratization National Programme Officer, explained that to implement these changes, closer co-operation between municipal electoral commissions and the Ministry of Interior is necessary in designating polling stations, as well as between election management bodies and municipal assemblies. “The Mission will continue to work with election management bodies and NGOs to ensure  people with disabilities can exercise their right to vote independently and in secret,” said Brajović.

VIENNA, 5 July 2022- The OSCE Secretary General will be in Brussels from 5 to 8 July.

Schmid will meet with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. The Secretary General will also meet with senior officials and leaders from the EU and NATO.