OSCE

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.

522043 Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Ton van den Brandt

From 29 June to 1 July 2022, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro conducted her first official visit to Serbia.

During her three-day visit, the Representative met with high-level government representatives and senior officials, including the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Ana Brnabić, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selaković, the Minister of Culture and Information Maja Gojković and the Speaker of the National Assembly Ivica Dačić. Ribeiro also met with the Republic Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Serbia Zagorka Dolovac and her Deputy Branko Stamenković, as well with representatives from the Ministry of Interior, including the Ministry’s Media Advisor Jasna Popović-Ćosić and Chief Coordinator Bekir Dudić.

The Representative further met with the management of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), the management of the public service broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) and with several journalists and representatives from media associations and investigative outlets.

Ribeiro addressed with her counterparts several issues pertinent to media freedom in Serbia, including progress made, as well as gaps and challenges related to the implementation of the national Media Strategy and its Action Plan, both of which were adopted by the Serbian government in 2020, in an effort to strengthen the media landscape in the country.

Also in the focus of the discussions, were legal, physical and digital safety conditions of journalists; media pluralism and sustainability; editorial independence and functioning of the media regulatory authority and public service media. Ribeiro stressed the need for a whole-of-society approach in addressing these issues to ensure effective decision-making in the public interest, as envisioned under the national Media Strategy, specifically by ensuring inclusive and transparent legislative processes, the involvement of all relevant stakeholders, including media, civil society and academia..

Among the main concerns raised by media representatives were difficult working conditions, especially in local media, including low salaries, layoffs, disproportionate allocation of public funds and access to public information, verbal attacks and harassment by public figures and a rising number of lawsuits intended to silence and discourage critical reporting.

While the Representative commended some rapid response initiatives by the government undertaken in the area of safety of journalists (such as the establishment of the Permanent Working Group for Safety of Journalists, the Government Working Group for Safety of Journalists, the designation of contact points in the law enforcement and public prosecutor’s offices, and the launch of the 24-hour SOS phone line for reporting attacks on and harassment of journalists), she stressed that more concerted action and political commitment are needed to secure a safe, free, functional and pluralistic media landscape in Serbia. Ribeiro expressed her readiness to provide all necessary assistance and support to Serbia in strengthening the media environment in the country in line with her mandate.

The Representative used the visit also to launch her Policy Manual “Spotlight on Artificial Intelligence on Freedom of Expression (SAIFE)”, which was translated into Serbian language. The event included a panel discussion on the impact of artificial intelligence on freedom of expression, organized in co-operation with the OSCE Mission to Serbia and with the support of USAID, and gathered participants from the media community and policy makers in Serbia.

522004 Communication and Media Relations Section

A meeting of OSCE Mediterranean Points of Contact Network on Border Security and Management, organized by the Border Security and Management Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the Spanish Policía Nacional concluded today. The Spanish National Police hosted this meeting in Madrid on 4 and 5 July and brought together high-level participants from the border and customs services of Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Morocco.

“We all belong to the Mediterranean region; therefore we share many cultural links and traditions. As representatives from Law Enforcement Agencies, we also face an increasing range of transnational threats affecting the whole region. Illegal immigration, trafficking in human beings and foreign terrorist fighters pose a major threat to global security and the Mediterranean route, that we all share due to our geographical situation, is heavily affected”, said Senior Police Commissioner Alicia Malo Sánchez, Head of the International Co-operation Division of the Spanish National Police, at the event’s opening.

Participants exchanged information on current border security related challenges in the region and have identified future training and co-operation needs. The Permanent Mission of North Macedonia, as Chair of the OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation Group, presented its priorities while the Spanish National Police provided insight on its efforts to prevent and combat terrorist attacks and the cross-border travel of foreign terrorist fighters (FTF).

Participants also engaged in interactive exercises on behavioral analysis and on the identification of FTFs at the borders. International expert and former FBI Agent Bret Hood conducted this segment, which examined harmful biases and stereotyping in this context, including a gender and human rights perspective.

The highlight was a study visit to the Spanish National Coordination Center for Border Crossing Points (CEFRONT), where participants were introduced to the European Union’s “Smart Borders” project and the work of the Center on preventing and identifying the cross-border travel of FTFs and perpetrators of cross-border crimes.

This meeting was the ninth activity of the OSCE’s initiative aimed at strengthening co-operation mechanisms between the border security and management agencies of the OSCE participating States and the Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation.

522031 Marina Živaljević

Almost half of the respondents in a survey polled perceive the national public service broadcaster – Radio Television Montenegro (RTCG) as a metaphor for the term “television”, about 27 per cent watch the RTCG on a daily basis, while RTCG channels, in comparison to other TV stations, are the second most viewed in Montenegro. A large number of citizens noticed a positive change on RTCG 1, in relation to 2020 and, statistically, the trust in RTCG information program has increased, while 16% of respondents watch RTCG more today than a year ago.

These are some of the key findings from a survey Exploring RTCG brand strength, commissioned by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and conducted by the Damar agency, and presented on 5 July 2022 in Podgorica.

The research was conducted in June on a sample of 1,015 citizens. Its goal is to measure awareness of the RTCG brand and the public’s perception of its programmes, in order to support RTCG development strategy.

“RTCG 1 is recognized as a TV station with a long tradition, with consistent quality, that is improving. Respondents thought  that the information programmes, including the morning show,  documentaries,  scientific, educational, cultural and sports programmes are  the best that RTCG can offer, although there was a concern about the lack of  entertainment, film and music programmes,” said Miloš Vukanović from Damar Agency.

Following the presentation, Dominique Waag, Head of the Mission said that Public Service Broadcasters in every democratic society play an important role in the public interest, in order to reflect the society, its culture and diversity, to inform and investigate independently, adhering to ethical standards of journalism, and to educate.  “The poll’s findings should provide information on what needs to be changed to meet the expectations of its audience, achieve the highest professional standards and be more recognizable,” said Ambassador Waag.

Boris Raonić, General Director of the RTCG said that they are encouraged and motivated by the latest research results. “Comparative data for 2020 show that trust in RTCG has increased by 6 per cent, while 41 per cent of respondents’ believe in the accuracy and impartiality of our information, an increase of 9 per cent from 2020. A further 37 per cent of respondents recognize the RTCG as a medium that promotes the true spirit of citizens, with a growth trend of nine per cent,” said Raonić, adding that it is their goal to ensure the continuity of success and growing trust that people have in the public service.

The research results will support the development and implementation of the RTCG Communications Strategy and Action Plan and map areas for improvement. After six months, a second round of public opinion polls will be conducted to see how the changes affected the public and whether they met the needs and expectations of RTCG.

LONDON, 5 July 2022 — The OSCE Secretary General, Helga Maria Schmid, has concluded her visit to the United Kingdom where she met with high-level British and OSCE officials and attended the 29th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA).

Addressing the Opening Plenary of the OSCE PA Annual Session in Birmingham amidst Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, Schmid focused on the shared resolve of OSCE executive structures and parliamentarians to “uphold the OSCE’s principles, continue project support to Ukraine, and ensure the OSCE keeps providing practical, beneficial support assistance to participating States each and every day”.

While attending the OSCE PA Annual Session, the Secretary General met with OSCE PA President, Margareta Cederfelt, its Secretary General, Roberto Montella, and several parliamentary delegations from OSCE participating States, including Ukraine.

In London, Schmid met with Lord Tariq Ahmad, Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, as well as other senior stakeholders. Discussions focused on the continuation of OSCE project activities in Ukraine, the implications in Central Asia of instability emanating from Afghanistan, as well as efforts to promote gender equality and combat gender-based violence across the OSCE region.

521860 Farhod Nabiyulloev Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

The further support the efforts of the Government of Tajikistan in the process of police reform, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (Programme Office) handed over three minibuses to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Interior (Ministry) on 29 June in Dushanbe.

The minibuses will serve as mobile police receptions, which will create better working conditions for police officers to travel to rural areas and provide legal assistance to local citizens. The minibuses are furnished and equipped with a laptop, GPS, printer, mobile phone and internet connection.

Acting Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe Ambassador Vuk Zugic and Interior Minister of Tajikistan Colonel General Rahimzoda Ramazon Hamro participated in the handover ceremony of minibuses. Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Zugic said: “We are certain that the minibuses handed over today will be effectively used for providing services to the population, while implementing the community policing program and receiving applications and appeals from citizens in remote areas.”

Interior Minister of Tajikistan Colonel General Rahimzoda Ramazon Hamro thanked the OSCE for supporting his Ministry in establishing mobile police receptions and emphasized the important role and contribution of joint initiative of OSCE and the Ministry in the process of implementation of police reform.

In 2021, the Programme Office provided four minibuses to the Ministry to expand the network of mobile police receptions throughout the country. Five additional minivans will be provided, adding up to the overall 12 minibuses, which the Programme Office will donate to the Ministry by the end of the year.

VIENNA, 1 July 2022 — The OSCE Secretary General, Helga Maria Schmid, will visit the United Kingdom from 2 to 5 July for meetings with high-level officials and to attend the 29th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

The Secretary General will address the Opening Plenary of the OSCE PA Annual Session in Birmingham and meet with national and international stakeholders, including OSCE PA President, Margareta Cederfelt, its Secretary General, Roberto Montella, and several Heads of Delegation from OSCE participating States. In London, Schmid will meet with Lord Tariq Ahmad, Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, as well as other senior stakeholders.

521788 Kunduz Rysbek

On June 27-29, a three-day regional meeting of 35 senior representatives of the border services from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan took place in Issyk-Kul province.

The main purpose of the meeting was to conduct practical exercises on the "Line of Conduct of Border Guards" with the aim to strengthen co-operation and security, as well as contribute to confidence building, good coordination and neighbourly relations in the Central Asian region.

The event served as a platform for the participants to discuss how to effectively address common threats such as international terrorism, violent extremism, illicit trafficking in weapons and drugs, transnational crime and illegal migration. In light of regional developments, including in Afghanistan, it is particularly important to ensure stability and security in the Central Asian region. Thus, one of the key messages discussed at the regional meeting was to enhance the common understanding that today's transnational threats can be tackled effectively only with proper co-ordination and co-operation.

“The Border Service of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic will do everything possible to ensure that our citizens can work without having to fear for their security. We are interested in helping our neighbours feel as comfortable as our citizens as well,” said Marat Maralbaev, Chief of the Main Staff -First Deputy Director of the Border Service of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic (BS SCNS).

During the meeting, the participants also discussed  in detail main requirements of the line of conduct on joint sections of the borders, determined key measures to counter transnational threats at the shared borders, and clarified the tasks of joint patrolling of undefined sections of the borders.

“The borders of the OSCE region begin in Central Asia, therefore co-operation on border security is important not only in terms of ensuring stability in the region, but also the sustainable development of the entire OSCE region, in general” said Ambassador Alexey Rogov, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

The event was organized jointly by the BS SCNS and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, in coordination and with the support of the OSCE presences in Dushanbe, Nur-Sultan, and Tashkent.

WARSAW/VIENNA, 30 June – OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Foreign Minister of Poland, Zbigniew Rau, and OSCE Secretary General, Helga Maria Schmid, have announced that the OSCE has initiated steps to close the office of the Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine.

This decision follows the lack of consensus by the OSCE Permanent Council to extend the Project Co-ordinator’s mandate, due to the position of the Russian Federation.

“Regrettably, despite the overwhelming support from participating States for the continuation of the important work that the Project Co-ordinator has carried out for 23 years, no consensus on its mandate extension was reached due to the position of the Russian Federation,” Chairman-in-Office Rau said.

“The Polish Chairmanship will make every effort to preserve the invaluable experience and expertise the Project Co-ordinator gained in the country and ensure that the OSCE remains present, and engaged with Ukraine. Today, when the country is facing unprecedented challenges and hardships due to the ongoing war, our support is more important than ever,” he stressed.

Secretary General Schmid thanked in particular the mission members of the Project Co-ordinator for their work over the past 23 years.

“I would like to express my immense gratitude to the dedicated staff of the Project Co-ordinator whose professionalism and commitment I had the privilege to observe first-hand when I visited the mission last year,” she said. “I cannot stress enough how impressed and proud I am of these committed men and women.”

“Not only have they contributed to the steady transformation in the country for over two decades, but they also worked around the clock to support Ukraine and its people in these most challenging times. Even with the ongoing aggression against Ukraine, the Mission has continued its vital work – from countering trafficking in human beings, to helping build the country’s humanitarian demining capacity, and to ensuring legal support for internally displaced people and vulnerable populations,” she emphasized. “While we unfortunately have to close the mission, the duty of care for our staff will remain at the forefront of our efforts.”

Chairman Rau underlined that the Polish Chairmanship will continue consultations with the participating States regarding the OSCE’s future role and presence in Ukraine.

As of 1 July, all mandated activities stop. The Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine will retain its status as an OSCE field operation until its closure is complete, all its mission members will remain OSCE officials until they separate from the OSCE and, as such, are to be afforded the appropriate protections, including during closure proceedings. All assets will remain the property of the OSCE until their final disposal.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine was established on 1 June 1999 following a consensus decision by all participating States.

Its mandated tasks were focused on enhancing the country’s security and developing its legislation, institutions, and practices in line with democratic standards.

Since its deployment, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator has been supporting Ukraine in its reform efforts by undertaking crucial work in many areas. These range from supporting persons affected by conflict and crisis, combating human trafficking and supporting the country in its humanitarian demining efforts to environmental protection and media freedom.

521710 Andrii Dziubenko

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine helped the National Agency of Ukraine for Civil Service to develop Methodology Recommendations on Conflict Management in State Institutions and another one elaborated for Local Self-Governance Bodies. On 20 June 2022, the two documents were approved by the Order of the Head of the Agency and are now distributed among authorities at all levels. 

The Recommendations provide step-by-step guidance and a number of practical tools on how to identify interpersonal conflicts among public servants, diagnose their types and analyze them, prepare for and carry out an intervention to tackle those conflicts. The documents also contain a set of advices on prevention of conflicts in the workplace.

Prior to this, in 2021 the Project Co-ordinator produced the Guidebook “Conflict Management for the Needs of Public Service”. It comprised a study of foreign experience in managing conflicts in state institutions, analysis of national legal documents and regulations in the considered area, results of research on the state of interpersonal conflicts conducted among public servants, theoretic background, practical tools and advices for managing conflicts in the public service. In addition, the publication provides a guidance on establishing a conflict management system in a public institution.

The Methodology Recommendations and the Guidebook will contribute to creating more harmonious and enabling environment for public servants so they can have more cohesive teams that cultivate the culture of dialogue, listening and accepting different points of view. In turn, this will facilitate more co-ordinated, efficient and quality work of state authorities and local self-government bodies.

The Guidebook “Conflict Management for the Needs of Public Service” is available here.

The Methodology Recommendations on Conflict Management in State Institutions are available here.

The Methodology Recommendations on Conflict Management in Local Self-Governance Bodies are available here.

VIENNA, 29 June 2022 – The Annual Security Review Conference (ASRC), the OSCE’s main event for enhancing dialogue on regional security challenges, took place on 28 and 29 June 2022.

“This year’s Annual Security Review Conference takes place against the backdrop of an unprecedented security crisis in the OSCE area. We face the most serious collapse of security architecture since the Helsinki Final Act was adopted,” said OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau in his introductory remarks.

“Sadly, the fracture came from within the Organization. One participating State, Russia, launched unprovoked military aggression against another participating State, Ukraine. Virtually, all the OSCE founding rules and principles have been violated,” he added.

“Russia’s ongoing military attack against Ukraine must stop,” said OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid.

The work of the OSCE supports Ukraine and other participating States suffering the consequences of the war “through our field missions, through our institutions, and the secretariat,” she added, emphasizing “the principles on which the OSCE was founded nearly 50 years ago remain the essential foundation.”