TASHKENT, 18 May 2018 – Practical measures to combat illicit cross-border trafficking in cultural property in the Central Asian Region was the focus of a five-day regional workshop, which concluded today in Tashkent.
Organized by the Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, with the support of Italy, which is chairing the OSCE in 2018, and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, the workshop was attended by 18 participants from relevant law enforcement services and ministries of culture of all five Central Asian participating States.
“In recent years we have experienced a dramatic upsurge in the destruction and degradation of archaeological sites and in trafficking of cultural property in the OSCE area and beyond,” said Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy to the OSCE, Luca Fratini. “It has become evident that this kind of trafficking is deeply linked to transnational organized crime and corruption networks and the financing of terrorism. Combating the destruction of cultural heritage and trafficking in cultural property is a priority of Italy which is currently chairing the OSCE”
The participants were familiarized with actual cases of trafficking in cultural property and discussed the best ways to respond to this serious transnational threat with the support of international and regional organizations.
Over the course of the workshop, experts from the Carabinieri Command for Protection of Cultural Heritage, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Guardia Civil, INTERPOL, the Spanish National Police as well as the Spanish Ministry of Culture and the World Customs Organization highlighted the international legal framework and best practices in criminal justice responses to trafficking in cultural property. They also spoke about how to implement best practices by respective services in the Central Asia region.
They focused on combating the trafficking of counterfeited works of arts, the role of customs agencies, techniques and best practices in trafficking in cultural property cases, available IT systems and databases in addressing illicit trafficking, international co-operation, and the return of forfeited cultural property.
Participants provided insight into their respective national legal frameworks and discussed ways forward to better address trafficking of cultural property and smuggling of antiquities.
The highlight of the workshop was a study visit to Samarkand, where participants had the opportunity to visit different archeological and cultural sights and to discuss practical measures related to their protection and co-operation between different agencies.
The project under which the workshop took place will continue in 2018 and 2019, with additional regional events in South-Eastern Europe and the Asian Partners for Co-operation.
The latest trends in using the Internet to illegally buy and sell drugs and how to counter this phenomenon were the focus of an OSCE-supported training course for law enforcement officials from Kazakhstan’s Regional Hub to Counter Global Threats which concluded on 18 May 2018 in Astana.
The four-day event brought together some 15 law enforcement officers and instructors from law enforcement educational institutions representing the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Central Asian Regional Information and Co-ordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors (CARICC) and the Interior Ministry’s Anti-Drug Units.
The participants learned about monitoring web-based platforms used for conducting illegal activities, the criminal use of messenger services, payment instruments as well as software for using the Darknet and the Deep Web. Experts referenced case studies to illustrate ways to effectively conduct online investigations.
The course was organized by the Programme Office in Astana in co-operation with the United States Embassy in Astana Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. It is part of the OSCE Programme Office’s multi-year efforts to build the host country’s capacity to effectively address the illicit trafficking of drugs.
This report is for the media and the general public.
The SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM observed fresh damage caused by gunfire and shelling in residential areas of Hranitne, Kozatske and Sakhanka. The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske; it recorded ceasefire violations near the Petrivske and Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and it was restricted also at a checkpoint near Novoazovsk.* Two SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) were jammed while flying near Horlivka.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines in Verkhnoshyrokivske, Pikuzy, Bezimenne, Miusynsk and Fashchivka. The SMM observed new mine hazard signs and anti-tank mines in Avdiivka. The Mission continued to facilitate access to the Donetsk Filtration Station for Voda Donbassa water company employees to keep the station operational and heard ceasefire violations in the area despite security guarantees. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to high-voltage power lines near Almazna and to a water pipeline in Obozne.
In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations[1], including, however, fewer explosions (460), compared with the previous reporting period (about 500 explosions).
On the evening of 15 May, while in Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 60 explosions (one assessed as an artillery round and the remainder undetermined) and two bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all 3-7km at directions ranging from south-south-west to north-north-west.
On the evening of 15 May, while in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard five undetermined explosions and about 40 shots and bursts of small-arms fire, all 3-7km at directions ranging from east to west. During the day on 16 May, while at the same location, the SMM heard five shots of small-arms fire 3-5km south-east.
On the evening of 15 May, while in Mariupol (government-controlled, 102km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 50 undetermined explosions and six minutes of uncountable and overlapping explosions, assessed as outgoing artillery rounds, as well as bursts and shots of infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) cannon fire, all at undetermined distances north-east and east.
On the evening and night of 15-16 May, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) recorded about 30 undetermined explosions and three projectiles in flight from north to south, all 1-5km west.
During the day on 16 May, positioned in Kruta Balka (non-government-controlled, 16km north of Donetsk) for about five hours, the SMM heard 45 undetermined explosions, about 70 shots and bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, as well as 15 minutes of uncountable bursts and undetermined explosions, all 1-4km at directions ranging from south-south-west to north-north-west.
Positioned on the south-western edge of Avdiivka (government-controlled, 17km north of Donetsk) for about two hours, the SMM heard about 100 undetermined explosions and about 100 shots and bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all 2-6km south-east.
Positioned at the railway station in Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk) for about two hours, the SMM heard about 100 undetermined explosions and about 100 shots and bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, 2-6km west-south-west. (The SMM assessed that it heard the same explosions when positioned on the south-western edge of Avdiivka (see above)).
Positioned 2.5km south-east of Lomakyne (government-controlled, 15km north-east of Mariupol) for about 15 minutes, the SMM heard about 50 undetermined explosions and about ten shots of small-arms fire, all at undetermined distances east.
In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded a similar number of ceasefire violations, including about 130 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 100 explosions).
During the day on 16 May, positioned in Myrne (non-government-controlled, 28km south-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard 90 undetermined explosions and about 20 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 2km west and north-west.
The SMM observed fresh damage caused by gunfire and shelling in residential areas of Hranitne (government-controlled, 60km south of Donetsk), Kozatske (non-government-controlled, 86km south of Donetsk) and Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 97km south of Donetsk).
In Hranitne, at 33 Bohdana Khmelnytskoho, the SMM saw a hole in the glass of an east-facing window of a school building and assessed it as caused by a bullet fired from an easterly direction. A woman (aged 50-60), who introduced herself to the SMM as the school director, told the SMM that the school had been hit by small-arms fire on 13 May around 14:00, but no pupils had been in the building at that time.
In Kozatske, at 61 Myru Street, the SMM saw that south-west-facing parts of the roof and metal supporting beams of a church had been destroyed. It also saw fresh shrapnel damage to the south-west-facing outer walls of the building, to a gas pipeline about 10m north-west of the building, to several trees within a 25m radius, as well as to a brick fence about 15m north of the church. Inside the building, the SMM saw shrapnel damage to the south-western end of the ceiling. The SMM assessed the damage as caused by an artillery round (at least 122mm), but could not assess the direction of fire. A man (aged 40-50) told the SMM that he had heard two explosions near the church at around 04:00 on 15 May while he had been at his house in the same neighbourhood.
In Sakhanka, at 1 Vartazarovoi Street, the SMM saw fresh shrapnel damage to the west-facing outer wall of the dining hall of a school, located about 30m south-west of the school’s main building, and to the west-facing part of its roof. The SMM also saw a fresh hole in the west-facing outer wall, as well as five shattered west- and south-facing windows. It assessed the damage as caused by a round from anti-tank guided missile system fired from a westerly direction. Four residents of Sakhanka (a man and three women, all aged 30-40) told the SMM that the incident had occurred at about 11:45 on 16 May and added that pupils had been in the main school building.
The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), as foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016. The SMM’s access remained restricted, but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.*
On the evening and night of 15-16 May, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard 13 explosions assessed as mortar rounds and 22 shots and bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire, all 5-6km south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area) and 18 explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds and six bursts of small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire 2-6km north-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area).
During the day on 16 May, positioned in Petrivske, the SMM heard a shot of small-arms fire 2-4km south-west (unable to assess whether inside or outside the disengagement area).
The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.
In violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas, the SMM saw a tank (T-64) heading south near Fashchivka (60km south-west of Luhansk). An SMM long-range UAV spotted on 15 May a tank (T-64) in a residential area of Verkhnoshyrokivske (85km south of Donetsk), a tank (T-72) in a residential area of Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 92km south of Donetsk), as well as two tanks (T-72) and three self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) in Bezimenne (100km south of Donetsk). Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence on 15 May of eight multiple launch rocket systems (type undetermined) near Miusynsk (62km south-west of Luhansk) (see SMM Daily Report of 26 April 2018).
Beyond the respective withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, an SMM long-range UAV spotted on 15 May seven tanks (T-64) near Zoria (40km north-west of Donetsk). In non-government-controlled areas, aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence on 15 May of ten tanks (type undetermined) and seven towed howitzers (type undetermined) near Miusynsk (see SMM Daily Report of 26 April 2018).
The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[2] in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, the SMM saw an IFV (BTR-60) near Novobakhmutivka (28km north of Donetsk), an armoured personnel carrier in Makarove (19km north-east of Luhansk). An SMM long-range UAV spotted on 15 May an IFV (BMP-1) near Trudivske (47km south of Donetsk), an IFV (BMP-1) near Vodiane (15km north-west of Donetsk) and an IFV (BMP-1) near Talakivka (90km south of Donetsk).
In non-government-controlled areas, an SMM long-range UAV spotted on 15 May an IFV (BMP-2) in a residential area of Verkhnoshyrokivske and an IFV (BMP-1) near Nova Marivka (64km south of Donetsk).
The SMM observed the presence of mines and mine hazard signs. In a field on the south-western edge of Avdiivka, the SMM observed again a red-and-white mine hazard sign with “Mines” written in English and Ukrainian (see SMM Daily Report of 11 April 2018). In a field about 0.2km south of the aforementioned mine hazard sign, the SMM saw for the first time about three parallel rows of red-and-white mine hazard signs with “Mines” written in Ukrainian, as well as a row of about 15 anti-tank mines (TM-62) laid nearby. On a concrete wall surrounding a compound on the south-western edge of Avdiivka, the SMM saw again a sign with “Danger Mines” spray-painted in Ukrainian on it.
The SMM continued to facilitate the access of Voda Donbassa water company employees to the DFS to keep the station operational. On 15 May, positioned at the DFS, as well as in nearby areas, the SMM heard undetermined explosions as well as small-arms fire (see ceasefire violation section above), despite explicit security guarantees.
The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repair works to high-voltage power lines near Almazna (non-government-controlled, 55km west of Luhansk) and the water pipeline in Obozne (non-government-controlled, 18km north of Luhansk). The SMM also facilitated the access of a team of Vodafone employees travelling from government- to non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region.
The SMM visited a border area outside of government control. While at a border crossing point near Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk) for about an hour, the SMM saw 24 cars (seven with Ukrainian, nine with Russian Federation, one with Lithuanian licence plates and seven with “DPR” plates), a van with Ukrainian licence plates, three covered cargo trucks (two with Ukrainian licence plates and one with “DPR” plates) and six pedestrians (five men aged 20-30 and a woman aged 30-40) exiting Ukraine. The SMM saw 14 cars (ten with Russian Federation, three with Ukrainian and one with “DPR” plates), two mini-buses with “DPR” plates and 16 passengers on board, a van with Russian Federation licence plates, as well as nine pedestrians (two men and seven women, all aged 50-60) entering Ukraine.
The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.
*Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate
The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre for Control and Co‑ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (see below). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.
Denial of access:
Related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:
Other impediments:
[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. The SMM camera at the entry-exit checkpoint in Marinka was not operational during the reporting period.
[2] This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.
[3] The SMM informed Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC. Russian Federation Armed Forces officers of the JCCC have withdrawn from the JCCC as of 18 December 2017.
ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 17 May 2018 – The OSCE-supported Ninth Annual Central Asian Forum on Internet Development began today in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
The event’s focus is “Media, State, Society: Digital Security and Media Literacy". Some 120 government officials, representatives from civil society, media-related NGOs, professional associations, experts, lawyers and journalists from Germany, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan as well as Aidar Botagarov, an Adviser from the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media are convening for the two-day event.
Participants will discuss the influence of the Internet on digital safety, protection of personal data; freedom of expression in Central Asia; promotion of media literacy as the most effective instrument for counteracting fake news; xenophobia and hate speech as well as the role of the state in the regulation of the media sphere.
The OSCE Programme Office in Astana organized the event in co-operation with the International Centre for Journalism MediaNet and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Kazakhstan.
“Contemporary security challenges and problems in cyberspace require increased accountability from not only journalists for providing accurate and unbiased information but every single person,” said the Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, György Szabó. “Media literacy becomes an inalienable part of a thoughtful and active role in society.”
Bekzat Rakhimov, Deputy Head of the State Media Policy Committee of the Communication and Information Ministry, added that the state has to take a proactive role in regulating the media sphere. However, the role of the state in the media sphere will decrease proportionally to enhanced self-regulation processes.
The forum is part of the Office’s work to promote freedom of expression and freedom of the media in Kazakhstan and the Central Asia region.
Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Alexander Hug, is travelling to Donbas this evening, 17 May 2018, following a serious deterioration in the security situation in the last 24 hours.
He will assess the security situation along the contact line and its impact on civilians, and discuss with interlocutors measures to reduce tension.
Journalists wishing to cover the visit should contact Tetiana Tesliuchenko: Phone +380 50 334 14 54; +380 67 828 15 78; E-mail tetiana.tesliuchenko@osce.org; smm-media@osce.org
The Central Asian Youth Talks and Model OSCE for 34 young people from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan were organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe from 10 to 15 May 2018 in Dushanbe and in the town of Romit north east of Dushanbe. During these events, participants discussed modern security challenges and the role of youth in addressing them.
Speaking at the panel session entitled “Promoting the power of dialogue for the shared responsibility in Central Asia”, the Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, Tuula Yrjölä, emphasized the increasing attention of the OSCE participating States to the role of young people in addressing modern security threats. “The OSCE recognizes the importance of the young generation and is focused on mainstreaming the youth agenda in its work and activities.”
His Excellency Mohammad Gul Zalmai Yonusi, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Tajikistan, said: “Youth becoming a strong actor in modern politics is an important agent of positive change in the resolution of crisis in Afghanistan. I am really glad to see that young people are ready to talk to each other and issues of security and peace are widely discussed in the context of regional dialogue and confidence building.”
The seminar established a platform of Youth Talks, in which young people throughout the region had a chance to raise important question affecting youth and present their experience and ideas in addressing them.
Presenting their own projects, young people from Central Asia and Afghanistan discussed inclusive education and digital schooling, social entrepreneurship, student self-governance, gender, as well as youth initiatives in rural and remote areas. Thematic workshops on political participation, information management, negotiations and networking enabled the flow of knowledge and skills for responsive citizenship and an inclusive decision-making process.
The event concluded with a Model OSCE simulation, providing young participants with the chance to play the roles of delegates of OSCE participating States dealing with a crisis situation and using the instruments of dialogue and the consensus-based approach.
The event was organized in the framework of the OSCE efforts in supporting democratic political processes in Tajikistan and in Central Asia. The OSCE has facilitated a number of interactive panel discussions exploring the OSCE’s three-dimensional approach to comprehensive security through the high level dialogue, as well as the modus operandi of the Secretariat, its institutions and field operations.
The role of armed and security forces in democratic societies was the focus of a seminar organized by the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre from 14 to 18 May 2018 in Bucharest. The discussion brought together more than 50 participants, including senior officers from the armed forces, senior government officials, representatives of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and representatives of academia and civil society, from Romania and other OSCE participating States.
Democratic control of the armed and security forces, parliamentary oversight and respect for international humanitarian and human rights law for armed forces personnel, as well as migration challenges in relation to the work of the armed forces were the main topics of discussion.
Participants also gathered in working groups to share experiences and best practices in applying the inter- and intra-state level commitments and principles enshrined in the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, a landmark document adopted in 1994 detailing the governance of the security sector and the role of armed and security forces in democratic societies.
“The Code of Conduct has provided continued guidance for Romania and serves as a toolbox for the region,” said George Ciamba, State Secretary at Romania’s Foreign Ministry, as he opened the event. “Importantly, the Code is something to speak about more and not less, and this seminar is an excellent opportunity to exchange good practices in the region.”
Andrej Benedejčič, Chairperson of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) and Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the OSCE, said: “One of the fascinating aspects of the Code is that even though it has never been revised since its adoption, it has not lost its relevance as a unique norm-setting framework document.”
Marcel Peško, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, emphasized that “the Code of Conduct is a visionary document. Besides raising awareness, this seminar creates an opportunity to engage in forward looking dialogue and to build trust.”
The Code of Conduct contains key principles and commitments for the 57 OSCE participating States related to security relations between States and to the control of all armed and security forces within a state.
The seminar was held in line with an FSC decision according to which the OSCE Secretariat is requested to organize at least one specialized seminar or workshop annually in order to facilitate better implementation and promote awareness of the Code of Conduct and support outreach in its regard.
The seminar was co-hosted by the OSCE and Romania, with donor support provided by Germany and Switzerland.
On 11 May 2018, a public dialogue was organized by the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda of the Kyrgyz Republic (CEC) and the public foundation Civic Platform, with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, to discuss ways to improve the electoral legislation and to identify the main strategic directions of electoral reform.
The event brought together election administration officials, Members of Parliament, representatives of the government and civil society, as well as international organizations.
Nurjan Shaildabekova, Chair of the CEC, stressed that “On the way to building democracy, it is important to capitalize on what has already been achieved within the electoral reform framework and to take it even further”.
The discussion focused on the improvement of mechanisms of legal relations between the electorate and candidates, political parties and law enforcement agencies. The effectiveness of tools to prevent violations of the electoral legislation was also debated.
The Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, Pierre von Arx, said that electoral reform is a continuous process: “We enjoy a fruitful partnership with the CEC and will continue to support electoral reform in the future. After all, elections are not just about voting on the election day, they are about a sense of citizenship and a sense of responsibility for the vote that one casts.”
The participants of the public dialogue also discussed the achievements of the Electoral Reform Working Group, which is currently developing a draft strategy on improving the electoral system for the consideration of the National Council for Sustainable Development led by the President. The Working Group, set up in 2013 by presidential decree, was instrumental in initiating and pushing forward the ongoing electoral reform.
The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek will build upon its multi-year efforts to strengthen transparent, fair and free elections in Kyrgyzstan. Within the framework of ODIHR Election Observation Missions’ recommendations, the Programme Office will continue its assistance in improving the country’s electoral system.
MINSK, 16 May 2018 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Martin Sajdik, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG and its Working Groups in Minsk on 16 May 2018:
“At the previous TCG meeting, the situation around Donetsk Filtering Station (DFS) was subject to particular attention. Unfortunately, despite the sides’ security guarantees and the reinforced patrolling by OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, further ceasefire violations near the DFS occurred.
Let me remind you that the DFS, as a part of the enterprise “Voda Donbassa”, provides water for several hundred thousand people on both sides of the contact line.
These issues, among others, were duly considered in the Working Group on Security. At the TCG meeting, it was decided to hold a videoconference of the Working Group on Security concerning the situation in the DFS area next week. In this regard, I call on the sides to provide all the required security guarantees to allow for the uninterrupted operation of the station and to ensure security for DFS employees and SMM monitors.
Besides, the increase in civilian casualties in April raises a major concern. In this respect, I once again call on the sides to do their utmost to avoid civilian casualties. I am determined to repeat these calls to ensure that the interests of the conflict zone residents are properly voiced.
The Working Group on Economic Issues continued its discussion of further steps to restore and improve Vodafone-Ukraine mobile communication in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (CADR and CALR). Moreover, the Group considered the topic of water deliveries in Karbonyt system as well as the crucial environmental issues.
The Working Group on Humanitarian Issues continued its discussion on the topics of detainees exchange and the conditions of their detention, missing persons, as well as improving conditions for the contact line crossing via the entry-exit checkpoints.
The Working Group on Political Issues further considered the implementation of the so-called ‘Steinmeier formula’, amnesty and modalities of local elections in CADR and CARL.”
This report is for the media and the general public.
The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions, compared with the previous reporting period. The Mission continued to facilitate access to the Donetsk Filtration Station for Voda Donbassa water company employees in order to keep the station operational. It heard ceasefire violations close by, despite security guarantees, and immediately left the location and suspended operations in the area of the station. In Betmanove, the Mission followed up on reports of civilian casualties. The SMM followed up on reports of fresh damage to civilian properties caused by small-arms and automatic-grenade-launcher fire in Zolote-4. The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and recorded ceasefire violations near the Zolote and Petrivske disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in all three areas and elsewhere, including in Novolaspa and Kreminets.* The SMM observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Vidrodzhennia. The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repairs to high-voltage power lines near Almazna and to the water pipeline in Obozne. The SMM continued to follow up on media reports of arson at a Roma community camp near Lviv. In Ostroh in Rivne region, the SMM followed up on reports of a break-in at a chapel at a Jewish cemetery. The SMM also followed up on media reports of a raid by the Security Service of Ukraine on the offices of RIA Novosti in Kyiv.
In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations[1], including about 500 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 210 explosions).
On the evening and night of 14-15 May, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) recorded, in sequence, an explosion, a projectile in flight from north to south, and two explosions, all 0.2-5km west.
On the evening and night of 14-15 May, while in Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard about 50 explosions assessed as artillery rounds 3-6km west-north-west, four explosions assessed as outgoing artillery rounds 4-6km north-west and about 50 undetermined explosions 3-6km at directions ranging from south-west to north-west.
On 15 May, positioned 1km north of Pyshchevyk (government-controlled, 25km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard about 110 undetermined explosions at undetermined distances south, an undetermined explosion at an undetermined distance north-east and an undetermined explosion 5-7km south. Positioned 1km north-north-west of the entry-exit checkpoint in Pyshchevyk, the SMM heard an undetermined explosion 5-7km south-east, about 70 undetermined explosions south and south-east and small-arms fire south-west and north at undetermined distances.
Positioned 1km west of Khreshchatytske (formerly Krasnoarmiiske, non-government-controlled, 33km north-east of Mariupol), the SMM heard 13 explosions assessed as outgoing rounds of multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) at undetermined distances south-east and 13 explosions assessed as impacts of MLRS at undetermined distances south, as well as about 70 undetermined explosions at undetermined distances south and south-east.
Positioned in Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM heard 34 undetermined explosions 4-20km at directions ranging from south-east to west-south-west and about 170 bursts and shots of small-arms fire 3-7km at directions ranging from east to south.
Positioned in Novohnativka (government-controlled, 40km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard 36 outgoing explosions 2km south-south-east and six outgoing explosions at an unknown distance south-south-east.
Positioned in Kruta Balka (non-government-controlled, 16km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard 20 explosions 0.5-3km at directions ranging from north-west to north and about 70 bursts of small-arms fire 0.5-2km north-west.
In Luhanskregion, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 100 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (13 explosions). Positioned 1km south of Stepanivka (non-government-controlled, 62km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard an explosion assessed as an outgoing artillery round, an explosion assessed as the impact of a mortar round and 50 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all 4-5km west-north-west.
Positioned 1km south-west of Bile (non-government-controlled, 22km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard about 60 explosions of tank rounds, assessed as outgoing and impacts, 5-10km south-south-east.
The SMM was in close proximity to small-arms fire while monitoring the security situation and facilitating access for employees of the Voda Donbassa water company to the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS). Positioned on road H20, about 1.6km south-east of Kamianka (government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk), the SMM heard the whistling sound of a bullet flying at a distance of 20cm to 1m above their heads, assessed as small-arms fire from an unknown distance south-south-east in an area covered by explicit security guarantees. The SMM patrol immediately left the location and suspended operations in the area of the DFS. (See SMM Spot Report 15 May 2018.)
The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties in Betmanove (non-government-controlled, formerly Krasnyi Partyzan, 23km north-east of Donetsk). The SMM spoke by phone with a woman (aged 57) who said that on 1 May she and her husband (aged 58) were home at 68A Chervona Street in Betmanove when shelling had started at 13:15. The woman said that as they ran towards their shelter, their garage had sustained an impact, but a car in the yard had shielded them from much of the blast. According to her, she sustained a deep shrapnel wound above her right thigh, and her husband sustained injuries from metal fragments to the right rear of his neck. The woman also said that they were treated for two days in Horlivka Hospital No. 2. Earlier in the day in Horlivka, hospital staff told the SMM by phone that the couple had been admitted to the hospital on 1 May, provided a similar description of their injuries, and said that after two days of care the two were released. The SMM could not visit the abovementioned address due to security reasons.
The SMM followed up on reports of fresh damage to civilian properties caused by small-arms and automatic-grenade-launcher fire in Zolote-4/Rodina (government-controlled, 60km north-west of Luhansk). At 6 Ostrovskoho Street, at a two-storey brick house, the SMM observed three fresh divots (2-3cm deep, 10-15cm in diameter) on a wall and door as well as a hole in the glass of a first floor window, all facing east, assessed as caused by small-arms fire. The SMM also observed a number of minor surface scratches on the north-facing wall. Three residents (two women aged 50 and 65, and one man aged 45) told the SMM that the damage had occurred in the late evening of 4 May and that one of the women had been home at the time.
At 7/2 Ostrovskoho Street, at a two-storey brick house, the SMM observed three fresh bullet holes (10mm in diameter) on the south-facing wall and door as well as a hole in the glass of a south-facing second floor window, all assessed as caused by 5.45mm rounds fired from a south-easterly direction. The SMM observed a 5.45mm bullet inside the frame of a double-pane insulated window and another 5.45mm bullet inside the door frame. The SMM spoke with two owners of the house (women aged 25 and 50), one of whom said that the damage had occurred in the late evening of 3 May and that they had been inside the house, together with a two–year-old child, at the time of shooting.
At 7/1 Ostrovskoho Street, at a two-storey brick house, the SMM observed a fresh bullet hole (20mm in diameter) in the east-facing first-floor window, assessed as caused by small-arms fire from a south-easterly direction. The owner (woman aged 30) told the SMM that she had been inside the house when the damage had occurred in the late evening of 3 May.
At 5/2 Ostrovskoho Street, the SMM observed two fresh bullet holes (10mm in diameter) in the south-facing concrete wall of a shed (located 20m west of the house) assessed as caused by small-arms or heavy-machine-gun fire coming from a west-south-westerly direction (likely ricochet), and a minor surface scratch (5-7cm in length) assessed as caused by an automatic-grenade-launcher. About 20m east of the shed,the SMM observed many holes (more than 2mm in diameter, around half of them fresh, assessed as caused by various weapons) in the north-facing metal gate to another property at 4/1 Ostrovskoho Street. The owner (man, aged 40) told the SMM that he had been at home when the damage occurred on the late evening of 3 and 4 May.Otsrovskoho Street is located around 300m north of the contact line and the SMM is aware of Ukrainian Armed Forces positions between 300-400m south-east and south-west of the street.
The SMM continued to monitor the disengagement process and to pursue full access to the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) and Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), as foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016. The SMM’s access remained restricted, but the Mission was able to partially monitor them.*
On 15 May, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded an illumination flare in vertical flight and two undetermined explosions, all 4-12km east-south-east (all assessed as outside the disengagement area).
Positioned in Petrivske, the SMM heard eight undetermined explosions 5-8km south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area).
Positioned near Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area, the SMM noted a calm situation.
The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.
In violation of withdrawal lines in a government-controlled area, the SMM saw a stationary self-propelled howitzer (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) near Vidrodzhennia (66kmnorth-east of Donetsk).
Beyond the respective withdrawal lines but outside designated storage sites in government-controlled areas, the SMM saw five self-propelled howitzers (2S1Gvozdika, 122mm) being transported on trucks travelling near Sloviansk (95km north of Donetsk), two towed howitzers (2A36 Giatsint-B, 152mm) in Khlibodarivka (65km south-west of Donetsk) and three stationary tanks (T-64) in Bakhmut (67km north of Donetsk).
The SMM revisited permanent storage sites whose locations were beyond the respective withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region and noted that six tanks (four T-64 and two T-72) were again missing.
The SMM observed armoured combat vehicles[2], a pontoon bridge and unmanned aerial vehicles in the security zone. In government-controlled areas, on 14 May, an SMM mid-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-2) in Muratove (51km north-west of Luhansk) and an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-variant) in Krymske (42km north-west of Luhansk). On the same day, an SMM mini-UAV spotted a pontoon bridge (PMP-3), two motorboats (BMK-130, BMK-460) and an amphibious transporter (PTS-2) across the Siverskyi Donetsk River, as well as a trench digger (PZM-2) north-west of Krymske. On 15 May, the SMM observed an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-80) in Shchastia (20km north of Luhansk).
In non-government-controlled areas, on 14 May an SMM mini-UAV spotted an IFV (BMP-1), an APC (MT-LB) and a probable APC (MT-LB) in Pryvitne (11km north of Luhansk) and, on 15 May, the SMM saw an IFV (BMP-1) near Starolaspa (51km south of Donetsk).
On both sides of the contact line in the security zone, the SMM heard UAVs. Positioned 2.5km south-east of Lomakyne (government-controlled, 93km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard an unidentified UAV flying east of its position, near the line of contact, from south to north. In a non-government-controlled area, positioned1.5km west of Khreshchatytske, the SMM heard an unidentified UAV flying from east to north-west then north-west to south.
The SMM observed demining activities. In Nikishyne (non-government-controlled, 60km north-east of Donetsk), the SMM observed two trucks, one fitted with blue emergency lights and “demining” written in Russian on the front of the truck, and five men (aged 30-40) in military-style clothing in an uncultivated agricultural field that had been fenced off with wooden stakes and white tape 1km north of the town.
The SMM continued to facilitate and monitor repair works to high-voltage power lines near Almazna (non-government-controlled, 55km west of Luhansk)and the water pipeline in Obozne (non-government-controlled, 18km north of Luhansk).
In Lviv city, the SMM continued to follow up on media reports of arson at a Roma camp on 9 May. On 14 May, the head of the Department of Culture and Religions of the Lviv Regional State Administration told the SMM that prior to the alleged attack approximately 30 people had been living in the settlement in Rudne (11km west of Lviv City). On 15 May, the head of the Rudne village council told the SMM that the affected individuals had been living in the area for the past three years and that there had been no conflict between them and other local residents. The SMM was told the same by members of the local Roma community staying at a different camp in Rudne. (See also SMM Daily Report 14 May 2018.)
The SMM followed up on news reports of unknown persons breaking into a chapel at a Jwish cemetery on Kozatska Street in Ostroh (247 km north-east of Lviv) in Rivne region. At the chapel, the SMM saw three broken windows on the west side of the chapel and a door showing signs of forced entry. According to a cemetery attendant, the damage had occurred on the night of 27-28 April 2018 and the attackers took a small sum of money from the chapel.
In Kyiv, the SMM followed up on media reports of a raid on the offices of the RIA Novosti news agency at 16 Shota Rustaveli Street. At the RIA offices, a security guard told the SMM that at around 09:00 on 15 May he had seen agents of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) enter the building. The SBU published a statement on its website that it had conducted searches in offices of RIA Novosti.
The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Chernivtsi.
*Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate
The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre for Control and Co‑ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (see SMM Daily Report 15 May 2018). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.
Denial of access:
Related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:
Conditional access:
[1]For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. The SMM cameras at the entry-exit checkpoints in Marinka and Pyshchevyk were not operational during the reporting period.
[2]This hardware is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.
[3]The SMM informed Ukrainian Armed Forces officers of the JCCC. Russian Federation Armed Forces officers of the JCCC have withdrawn from the JCCC as of 18 December 2017.
A well-governed security sector, grounded in respect for human rights and the rule of law, strengthens society’s resilience to threats to security and stability, said OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger at a high-level side event on the margins of the 27th Session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna on 16 May 2018.
The side event, organized by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and co-sponsored by the Government of Slovakia and the OSCE, focused on the role of security sector reform and governance as a tool for conflict prevention, particularly in the context of transnational organized crime.
“To meaningfully improve our approaches to peace, security and sustainable development, we need to invest in preventive measures, and commit ourselves to long-term, impact-oriented approaches that address the underlying causes of conflict,” said Greminger. “Preventive efforts – such as supporting improved, democratically controlled security and justice institutions – will reduce the risk of multiple forms of conflict.”
He added that the OSCE has a rich toolbox, including the OSCE Guidelines on Security Sector Governance and Reform, to assist participating States in reforming and strengthening the governance of their security sectors.
The OSCE Secretary General also commended Slovakia and UNODC for their leadership and work in this area.
“I welcome the recent integration of security sector reform and governance as a new topic in the OSCE-UNODC Joint Action Plan for 2018-2019, and I would welcome even closer co-operation in the future,” he said.
Yury Fedotov, UNODC Executive Director, said: “Supporting conflict prevention through security sector reform is a highly relevant priority, which is fully in line with the UN Secretary-General’s vision. This event is an opportunity to discuss current efforts, challenges, linkages and future prospects for security sector reform.”
Michal Mlynár, Permanent Representative of Slovakia to the UN in New York, and Co-Chair of the Group of Friends of Security Sector Reform, said: “A well-governed and accountable security sector is a pre-condition for addressing transnational organized crime effectively. Slovakia remains committed to supporting both the OSCE and the UN in their efforts to improve their partnership on security sector reform and in particular, to prevent violent conflict.”
Also addressing the side event were Ján Kubiš, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq; Jabir Hemaidawi, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the UN in Vienna; and Masood Ahmad Azizi, Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs.
VIENNA/VENICE, Italy, 17 May 2018 – Officials and experts from 57 OSCE participating States and 11 Partners for Co-operation, as well as high-level representatives from international organizations, civil society, academia and the business community will meet on 24 and 25 May in Venice, Italy, to discuss economic progress and security through innovation, human capital development, and good public and corporate governance.
This second preparatory meeting of the 26th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum (EEF) is organized by Italy’s 2018 OSCE Chairmanship and the OSCE Secretariat. Italian OSCE Chairmanship Co-ordinator Vinicio Mati, and Co-Ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities Vuk Žugić will open the meeting.
Paola Severino, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Corruption, and Enzo Quattrociocche, Secretary General of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will address the event as keynote speakers.
The focus of the second EEF preparatory meeting will be on investment policies and the promotion of a business climate favourable to accelerating economic growth in the digital sphere, building knowledge, skills and competencies, ensuring security through social equity and the importance of strengthening good public and corporate governance through transparency and accountability.
Journalists are invited to attend the opening session from 9:30 to 11:00 on Thursday, 24 May, at Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista, San Polo 2454, Venice.
Journalists wishing to attend are required to send an e-mail confirming their attendance to accreditamentostampa@esteri.it no later than Tuesday, 17:00, 22 May. The presentation of a valid ID is required for accreditation at the venue.
Please send all requests for brief interviews with the participants of the event, to press@osce.org or mersiha.causevic-podzic@osce.org.
Follow the Forum activities on Twitter via #EEFOSCE. A detailed agenda can be accessed here.
SARAJEVO, 16 May 2018 – Women journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) are frequently subjected to gender-based and other forms of unequal treatment, harassment and threats while carrying out their professional duties, concluded participants of the two-day conference "Status and Protection of Women Journalists in the BiH Media" today in Sarajevo.
The conference was organized by the BiH Journalists’ Association in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to BiH and the NGO Civil Rights Defenders.
“The problems that women journalists are facing in Bosnia and Herzegovina undermine not only freedom of expression and freedom of the media, but also gender equality, which is why there is a need for women journalists to network and strengthen their solidarity as an interest group. Women journalists are frequently subject to harassment and threats, both online and offline. These issues need to be addressed,” said the Head of the OSCE Mission in BiH Bruce Berton and expressed continuous readiness by this organisation to contribute to the protection of female journalists’ rights in BiH.
Swedish Ambassador in BiH Anders Hagelberg said: “The large number of cases of gender-based attacks against women journalists, registered by the Help Line for journalists, are only part of the reason for considering the idea of establishing a network of women journalists as a platform for solidarity and fighting for their freedom and protection.”
Ena Bavčić, Civil Rights Defenders Programme Advisor, stressed that although attacks against honour, reputation and physical integrity of women journalists are not treated as life-threatening, they still inflict significant damage of a professional and personal nature. “This is the right time to start thinking about the position of women, not only within the journalistic profession but also with respect to their civil and political rights. Women journalists need to be empowered to report such attacks, meaning that the private manner of confrontation with women journalists has to be transferred to the public sphere,” she said.
The BiH Journalists’ Association’s research study on women and the media entitled Women Employees and Managerial Structures was also presented at the conference. The author of this study, Amer Džihana, pointed out three main problems in the context of women and media: the absence of women from the most serious news content, the manner of representation of women in the media and employment and advancement of women within the media industry.
“Women’s share of top managerial positions in BiH media is 25.3 per cent, while men hold 74.7 per cent. The biggest imbalance in terms of managerial positions is in the TV sector, where women hold only 15.8 per cent of top managerial posts,” said Džihana. He added that the largest share of women as editors-in-chief is found in the radio sector (44.7%), while they are least represented in online media, with 21.7 percent of women appointed editors-in-chief.
The recent publications Safety of Female Journalists and Countering Abuse of Female Journalists Online issued by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media were also distributed and discussed at the conference.
Strengthening protection and preparedness against terrorist attacks aimed at critical energy infrastructure was the focus of a risk-assessment and crisis management exercise in Sarajevo on 16 and 17 May 2018, organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Thirty-seven experts from state authorities and private sector energy companies and agencies tested the effectiveness of their existing protection and crisis management systems, including co-ordination with external crisis management mechanisms to mitigate the impact of a terrorist cyber-attack. Based on the Good Practices Guide on Non-Nuclear Critical Energy Infrastructure Protection from Terrorist Attacks Focusing on Threats Emanating from Cyberspace the exercise was held as part of the OSCE’s work to advance the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 2341 (2017) on the protection of critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks and aimed at improving partnerships between the public and private sectors in order to increase the resilience of national energy infrastructure.
“Because of the energy sector’s importance to the region, and the impact a terrorist attack would have on the OSCE area’s energy infrastructure, OSCE participating states have committed to co-operate on this particular topic, and have developed numerous tools to address the regional and national security of critical infrastructure,” said Bruce G. Berton, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. “This exercise will help test and develop BiH’s national, sectoral and company-level capabilities to respond to a terrorist cyber-attack directed at industrial control systems.“
“To be able to adequately protect critical energy infrastructure, we have to make sure that each of its elements is protected to a relatively equal extent (generation, transmission and distribution), which requires the harmonised and coordinated engagement of all relevant government institutions. It is important to note that this exercise will also contribute to introducing a strategic approach, with the view of developing and using available capacities to efficiently fight all forms of attacks in cyber space and reinforce security system in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, said Mladen Mrkaja, Assistant Minister of Security, who addressed the national energy and cyber security experts at the workshop’s opening.
The exercise in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the seventh national exercise on enhancing the capacities of OSCE participating States to mitigate terrorist attacks emanating from cyberspace.
VIENNA, 16 May 2018 - Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl opened today the high-level conference Effective Multilateralism in a Globalized World – The Case of Europe and Asia Pacific in Vienna. The conference takes place in the framework of the Austrian Chairmanship of the OSCE Asian Contact Group. It aims to reassess the main security challenges in both the European and Asia-Pacific regions together with representatives of OSCE participating States, international organizations – the United Nations, the OSCE, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization in particular - but also civil society, academia and the media.
In her opening address, Kneissl stressed the crucial role of effective multilateralism in today’s increasingly complex security environment, dominated by transnational challenges: “For Austria, effective multilateralism is the preferred method of addressing global challenges. During its upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of this year, Austria will do its utmost to focus on making multilateralism relevant again.”
“In my view, we need more. More dialogue. More co-ordination. More co-operation. A retreat into unilateralism or isolationism will not solve any of the challenges our states face. It will not increase our safety or security. In fact, it will further erode the rules-based global order that has been the key to decades of increasing peace and prosperity,” the Foreign Minister added.
“Austria’s current role within the OSCE Asian Contact Group reflects the high geopolitical importance that my Ministry attaches to the Asia-Pacific region. We are well aware of the accelerating geopolitical changes and of the strengthening of this region on the world stage: it has become a necessity for us to look beyond our traditional foreign policy focus and to make this region a full-fledged priority – not only as an area of tremendous economic opportunities, but also of political and security relevance,” Karin Kneissl said.
OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger stressed that now more than ever, multilateral co-operation is needed in an increasingly inter-connected world. Greminger defined dialogue, connectivity and partnership as the main pillars of the OSCE Asian Partnership.
“In the OSCE’s experience, confidence-building measures and a shared normative framework have proven to be truly useful. If this experience can in any way be an inspiration to our Asian partners, the OSCE stands at their disposal”, said the Secretary General. “It is clear that we have a common interest to work together and to learn from each other. In that sense, the OSCE Asian Partnership provides a unique forum for a meaningful exchange of best practices on how to address complex threats and challenges that defy borders and, quite simply, to stay in touch.”
Secretary General Greminger pointed out that more can be done to advance structured co-operation with Asian regional organizations, including exploring possibilities for greater working-level co-operation. “Having partnerships is vital, but we also need to leverage them. Effective multilateralism means playing to our strengths,” concluded Greminger.
Today’s conference takes place in a global security environment that is characterized by instability, complex transnational threats, regional conflicts and rapid technological change. The event addresses the urgent need for a better understanding of the underlying trends and factors of the erosion of the common security architecture. The discussions aim at renewing impetus for strengthening effective multilateral co-operation.
Thematic sessions will explore regional approaches to security and related threats to geopolitical and human security as well as promoting partnerships between international organizations, civil society and academia. Participants will also address the OSCE’s “second dimension” – economic and environmental security – by discussing how better economic connectivity could boost multilateral agreements and regional co-operation.
A side-event will be devoted to building cross-regional alliances to better combat the trafficking of human beings in Europe and the Asia-Pacific.
Over 30 parliamentarians, holders of executive positions, and experts from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia gathered on 15 May 2018 in Sarajevo at a regional meeting on gender equality and corruption hosted by the OSCE Mission to BiH, in co-operation with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the OSCE field operations in the region.
The event represented a unique opportunity to examine how to best fight corruption, from the specific and essential angle of gender equality, particularly how to strengthen the role of parliaments in this area.
“Corruption is a serious threat to core democratic values, human rights, and the rule of law, and gender inequality only exacerbates this threat,” said Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Bruce G. Berton. “As it stands, research by anti-corruption experts shows that women are more adversely affected by corruption, due to unequal societal gender dynamics.”
The Director of the BiH Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and Co-ordination of the Fight against Corruption, Hasim Šabotić, said effective legislation is essential for the prevention of corruption and stressed the responsibility of parliamentarians in passing such laws.
Ivan Vilibor Sinčić, Member of the Croatian Parliament and President of the Gender Equality Committee, emphasized the importance of exchange of information: “I am glad to see so many colleagues from the region sharing their perspectives on some aspects of the fight against corruption and gender equality that we are unable to see from our point of view. Corruption does not know borders and if it is to be suppressed, then the co-operation between politics and judiciary should be much stronger.”
Gordana Čomić, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and Member of the Women’s Parliamentary Network, said: “There should be enough will of women so we can finally change the regional agenda and start fighting corruption and take it seriously.”
This report is for the media and the general public.
At 09:30 on 15 May, an SMM patrol consisting of six members and two armoured vehicles positioned itself on the H20 road about 1.6km south-east of Kamianka (government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk) and about 1km west of the contact line. The patrol was monitoring the security situation and facilitating access for employees of the Voda Donbassa water company to the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) to keep the station operational. At 09:34, three monitoring officers were standing close to the SMM vehicles when they heard the whistling sound of a bullet flying at a distance of approximately 20cm to 1m above their heads, assessed as small-arms fire originating from a south-south-easterly direction at an unknown distance. The incident occurred in an area covered by explicit security guarantees provided by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the armed formations.
The SMM patrol safely left the location at once. As a result of the incident, the SMM suspended operations in the area of the DFS and the facilitation of access for Voda Donbassa employees to the DFS was not completed.
ERGNETI, 15 May 2018 - The 86th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meeting was held in Ergneti, on 15 May 2018. The meeting was conducted in a business-like atmosphere.
Erik Høeg, Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), and Ambassador Günther Bächler, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, co-facilitated the meeting.
Mr. Høeg provided a brief overview of events that occurred since the last IPRM meeting on 1 March 2018. The security situation along the administrative boundary line was assessed as relatively calm and stable.
The case of the tragic death of Mr. Tatunashvili was discussed at length. The co-facilitators insisted on a thorough and transparent investigation, and called for a cooperative approach on all aspects of the case. The co-facilitators reaffirmed their readiness to support ongoing investigation and to facilitate exchange of information. A technical meeting of experts was also proposed. The case of Mr. Basharuli was also discussed.
The issue of borderisation was discussed by participants. The dismantling of vacant houses in South Ossetia and access to agricultural land, on both sides of the administrative boundary line, was also addressed. Water supply issues were also addressed during the meeting. The co-facilitators encouraged dialogue to find mutually acceptable solutions for those farming in the vicinity of the administrative boundary line and called for a humanitarian approach.
The co-facilitators stressed the need for the EUMM to be allowed to conduct its monitoring activities unhindered, in line with its mandate.
All participants reiterated their willingness to exchange information addressing any security concerns in the vicinity of the administrative boundary line in a timely manner and commended the effective use of the Hotline.
The next IPRM meeting will take place in June 2018.
VIENNA, 15 May 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir raised concern today over a raid by security services of Ukraine against Russian state news agency RIA Novosti and TV channel RT offices today in Kyiv as well as the searches of homes of journalists and their arrests.
“I express serious concern about this morning’s raid on Russian media offices in Kyiv, the arrest of journalists, and the search of journalists’ homes. I reiterate my call on the authorities to refrain from imposing unnecessary limitations on the work of foreign journalists, which affects the free flow of information and freedom of the media. I recall that under the Helsinki Final Act, the OSCE participating States have committed to facilitating the conditions under which journalists from one participating State exercise their profession in another participating State,” Désir said. “This applies to the accreditation of journalists and correspondents of foreign media.”
“The fight against propaganda must not fall short of international standards and should not represent disproportionate interference in media activities,” the Representative said.
According to reports, Ukrainian security services raided the RIA Novosti and TV Channel RT offices in Kyiv this morning. The bureau chief of RIA Novosti Ukraine, Kirill Vyshinsky, a Ukrainian citizen who also has a Russian passport, was arrested along with other journalists.
The authorities are accusing the media outlets of anti-Ukrainian activities and announced several raids as part of the investigation.
The Representative continues to follow the developments surrounding today’s searches by the Ukrainian security services closely.
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He 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.
VIENNA, 9 May 2018 – Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl will open the high-level conference on “Effective Multilateralism in a Globalized World – The Case of Europe and Asia Pacific” on 16 May 2018 in Vienna.
Reflecting the OSCE’s inclusive security approach, the conference will focus on multilateral security mechanisms in Europe and the Asia Pacific region, as well as on economic connectivity and co-operation. A side-event will look into ways of effectively fighting against trafficking in Human Beings in the region with Madina Jarbussynova, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Geoffrey Shaw, Australian Government Ambassador for People Smuggling and Human Trafficking, and Hannes Schreiber, Head of Division for Asylum, Migration, Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, MFA Austria.
Kneissl’s keynote speech on the role of effective multilateralism in our two regions will be followed by high-level opening statements by OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger, Director General of the Office of the UN in Vienna and UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov tbc, Director General of the IAEO, Yukiya Amano tbc, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia Natalia Gherman, and CTBTO Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo.
The discussion will focus on “Regional approaches to security in Europe and Asia” and “Towards a Common Economic Space: how to enhance economic connectivity and cooperation between the Euro-Atlantic and the Eurasian-Pacific Area.”
Further information about the conference as well as the draft agenda can be found online: https://www.osce.org/partners-for-cooperation/asian/380467
Media representatives are invited to cover the Conference on 16 May from 09:00 to 16:00 at the Palais Niederösterreich, Herrengasse 13, 1010 Vienna (first floor).
Media representatives wishing to cover this event must register by sending an e-mail to pk-anmeldungen@bmeia.gv.at by 17:00, Tuesday, 15 May 2018. Registered media representatives must bring a photo ID in order to gain access to the conference venue.
Contacts
Communication and Media Relations Section
OSCE Secretariat
Phone: + 43 676 71 74 592
Helene Spitzer
Press Officer
Ministry of Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria
Office: +43 (0) 50 11 50 33 95