Central Europe

TIRANA/VIENNA, 3 December 2020 – Challenges faced by victims of trafficking and anti-trafficking actors supporting groups vulnerable to trafficking during the pandemic were discussed today on the margins of the online OSCE 2020 Ministerial Council.

Combating trafficking in human beings was a priority for the Albania’s 2020 Chairmanship. The Chairmanship remains committed to strengthening the fight against trafficking in human beings; a challenge felt throughout the OSCE region.

Some 160 representatives of the OSCE participating States, experts, civil society, academics and the media gathered to address emerging challenges in the field of human trafficking at the event organized by the Office of the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings (OSR/CTHB) and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

Participants discussed potential measures and policies participating States can implement to ensure detection and identification of, as well as support and assistance to, women and children victims of trafficking. Participants also discussed ways to decrease vulnerability to THB, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The year 2020 has been challenging for vulnerable persons, and particularly for victims of trafficking,” said Valiant Richey, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. “The COVID-19 pandemic not only heightened existing risks, it also created new challenges for victims and survivors of trafficking, exacerbating the gender and age-specific vulnerabilities of groups at-risk of trafficking.”

Richey said the pandemic exposed existing gaps in national anti-trafficking frameworks in supporting the most vulnerable groups, providing assistance to victims, and countering the traffickers’ impunity. “Human trafficking is a grave human rights violation, and a form of gender-based violence grounded in structural gender inequalities that enable discrimination, objectification, and subsequent exploitation of women and girls in our societies. We must unite and strengthen our efforts in combating this scourge.”

Per-Anders Sunesson, Ambassador at Large for Combating Trafficking in Persons of the Swedish Foreign Ministry, said that addressing emerging human trafficking trends and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic is of utmost importance. “Sweden highly appreciates ongoing co-operation with the OSCE and OSCE participating States on combating this heinous crime and assuring support to victims,” he said.

Timea Nagy, Founder and CEO of Timeas Cause Inc. and Survivor Leader from Canada, added: "As a survivor, it is reassuring and inspiring to see a Ministerial meeting raise awareness about human trafficking during very difficult economic times.”

The speakers noted that as the world marks the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence campaign, it is crucial to highlight the gendered nature of trafficking, which disproportionately affects women and girls.

Dalia Leinarte, Member and Former Chairperson of the United Nations Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) noted that “during the COVID pandemic, traffickers moved online like all of our lives moved online”. Leinarte led the drafting of the Committee’s latest recommendations, calling on social media platforms to use big data and artificial intelligence to help eliminate trafficking in women and girls, amid an increase in online traps designed to recruit potential victims during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tatiana Kotlyarenko, ODIHR Adviser on Anti-Trafficking issues, said that the COVID-19 pandemic has fuelled previously existing trends in the trafficking of human beings. “Already before the COVID-19 pandemic, women and girls constituted the majority of detected victims of trafficking. This trend will likely continue during and in the aftermath of the pandemic, especially affecting marginalized communities. The increase of domestic violence is also very worrying, as it is a recognized, well-documented push factor into trafficking for sexual exploitation.”

In April 2020, at the onset of the pandemic, the OSR/CTHB offered preliminary recommendations to OSCE participating States on short-term responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and in July 2020, ODIHR and UN Women jointly released a report and recommendations on Addressing Emerging Human Trafficking Trends and Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

472437 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Katya Andrusz

The 2020 parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan were conducted under improved legislation, and fundamental rights and freedoms were respected overall. While the campaign was competitive and generally well-managed despite the COVID-19 pandemic, credible allegations of vote buying and questions about the impartiality of relevant institutions raised serious concern.

These are some of the main conclusions from the final report on Kyrgyzstan’s parliamentary elections of 4 October 2020, as published by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

The final report offers 25 recommendations to closer align elections in the Kyrgyz Republic with OSCE commitments, and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections.  

Recommendations

Key recommendations include:

• Making robust efforts to address the persistent issue of vote-buying and pressure on voters

• Ensuring media freedom, unimpeded access to information and a safe environment for journalists, without interference in their activities

• Enabling transparency of campaign funding by submitting annual financial reports

• Ensuring that candidate deregistration is an exceptional measure applied only in case of gross violations of the law

• Considering banning the broadcasting of campaign material within news and current affairs programmes

• Ensuring that law-enforcement bodies duly and efficiently investigate cases of vote-buying and abuse of administrative resource

• Upholding the secrecy of the voting according to legal provisions

ODIHR deployed a Limited Election Observation Mission on 7 September 2020 to observe the parliamentary elections. All 57 countries across the OSCE region have formally committed to following up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.

TIRANA, December 3, 2020 - The Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries – Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, Deputy Secretary of State of the United States Stephen E. Biegun, and Minister for European and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Yves Le Drian - welcome the cessation of military activities in the area of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in accordance with the statement by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, and President of the Russian Federation from November 9, 2020.

The Co-Chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group call upon Armenia and Azerbaijan to continue implementing fully their obligations under the November 9 statement, in Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts, as well as their previous ceasefire commitments. The Co-Chair countries highlight the significance of measures taken by the Russian Federation, in agreement with Azerbaijan and Armenia, to guarantee the non-renewal of hostilities. They also call for the full and prompt departure from the region of all foreign mercenaries, and call upon all parties to facilitate this departure.

The Co-Chair countries remind Armenia and Azerbaijan of their obligation to comply with the requirements of international humanitarian law, in particular with regard to the exchange of prisoners of war and the repatriation of remains.  They underline the importance of guaranteeing conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of people displaced by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including during the recent hostilities. They underscore the importance of protecting historical and religious heritage in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. The Co-Chair countries call on Azerbaijan and Armenia to cooperate fully with the relevant international organizations to implement their obligations in these areas and ensure humanitarian access. 

The Co-Chair countries appeal to the international community including ICRC, UN institutions, and other appropriate structures as well as OSCE Minsk Group individual countries to take concrete steps to improve the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent areas in a coordinated way.  The Co-Chairs also reiterate their strong support for the continuing work of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chair-in-Office (PRCiO) and his team.

The Co-Chair countries urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to take advantage of the current ceasefire to negotiate a lasting and sustainable peace agreement under the auspices of the Co-Chairs. In that context, the Co-Chair countries urge the parties to receive the Co-Chairs in the region at the earliest opportunity and to commit to substantive negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues in accordance with an agreed timetable. 

The Co-Chair countries of the OSCE Minsk Group recall their firm commitment to the non-use or threat of force to settle disputes. They reiterate their consistent and united position in favor of a negotiated, comprehensive, and sustainable settlement of all remaining core substantive issues of the conflict in line with the basic principles and elements well-known to both Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Co-Chair countries remain fully committed to pursuing this objective in line with their long-standing efforts to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. 

COPENHAGEN, 3 December 2020 – Thirty years after the signing of the Charter of Paris for a New Europe, despite the OSCE’s notable contributions to strengthening security and promoting stability, the level of distrust is probably higher than it has ever been since the fall of the Iron Curtain, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli said at the opening of the 27th Ministerial Council today. To counter this trend, the PA President urged the Foreign Ministers to increase the level of political interest in the organization and focus on implementation of OSCE commitments.

Highlighting the PA’s initiative launched this week, a “Call for Action: Reaffirming our Common Purpose,” which has been endorsed by more than 50 former and present OSCE leaders, President Tsereteli stressed that the Assembly wants to make full use of the OSCE’s potential to help build a safer and more stable future.

“Increasing our attention to this organization is even more urgent, given that the organization’s daily operations in Vienna and in the field presences are impacted by the pandemic, and while COVID-19 is in the focus of so much attention,” he said in his final address to an OSCE Ministerial Council.

Pointing to the numerous challenges facing all OSCE countries, including climate change, scarcity of natural resources, geopolitical conflicts, migration, terrorism, and international organized crime, President Tsereteli implored the governments of the OSCE to invest into common efforts regarding these issues.

“Are we all investing enough into common efforts regarding these issues instead of wasting resources on a renewed arms race, hybrid warfare, violations of international borders and occupation, manipulated elections, and the oppression of the opposition?” Tsereteli asked the ministers. “How much attention is paid to the implementation of OSCE principles and commitments by governments and inside your countries?”

The President noted that as an organization in which every participant is accountable to the others, the OSCE needs to address the issues where there is failure to comply with international commitments. “We, as the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, have been very outspoken on this,” said President Tsereteli. “Whether it is the violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity in countries like Ukraine and Georgia, minority rights, democratic backsliding, or human rights atrocities.”

He noted the importance of Foreign Ministers engaging on a regular basis with ambassadors at the OSCE in Vienna, in order to develop diplomatic groundwork and advance solutions to common challenges.

“Recent events, for instance in Nagorno-Karabakh, demonstrated again that a failure to devote sufficient interest in the solution of long-standing conflicts inevitably leads to less security and turmoil,” Tsereteli said. “Elsewhere, the same is true about the neglect of basic requirements regarding the development of democratic structures and the protection of human rights.”

The President highlighted the work of the Parliamentary Assembly, noting that as direct representatives of the people, parliamentarians have consistently advocated for making the OSCE stronger and promoted the implementation of commitments. He noted that the pandemic has prevented the PA from convening physical meetings since last February, but responded to the current situation by holding numerous “Parliamentary Web Dialogues,” which brought together experts, representatives of intergovernmental structures with hundreds of parliamentarians discussing the pandemic and core OSCE issues.

“The OSCE’s intergovernmental structures have benefitted from the synergies of our joint work, and this could be exploited much further,” Tsereteli said.

The OSCE PA is holding a side event this afternoon on the margins of the OSCE Ministerial Council where it will put forward its “OSCE Call for Action: Reaffirming a Common Purpose” initiative, endorsed by dozens of former OSCE Chairpersons-in-Office, Presidents of the OSCE PA, Secretaries General and other Heads of Institutions of the OSCE.

On Wednesday, the Assembly leadership met in virtual format for discussions on OSCE-related work. Moderated by OSCE PA Secretary General Roberto Montella, the meeting featured an address by the Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE, Albanian Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Edi Rama.

For the President's full remarks at today's Ministerial Council meeting, please click here.

TIRANA/VIENNA, 3 December 2020 – It’s time to “turn the corner” and overcome the current crisis in co-operation, said OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Edi Rama, in his opening statement to over 50 foreign ministers and senior diplomats gathered in Tirana and online for the 27th OSCE Ministerial Council.

In his address to Ministers of the OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation, Rama warned that ongoing and deepening tensions and mistrust in the region, meant that “we are in a crisis, a worsening crisis.”

“We supposedly have a shared vision — created in Helsinki and continued in Paris, Istanbul and Astana — for a democratic, peaceful and united Europe,” he said. “That vision is moving further away from us. Because our principles are not respected. Because our commitments are not implemented. Because the divergence in our views is growing. Because unilateral is too often chosen over international. Because confrontation is chosen over conversation. And because disruption is chosen over co-operation.”

He added: “Our Organization is only as strong as its commitments, and our regional security is only as strong as your will to implement those commitments. If that will is lacking, as it is seems to be today, then we will struggle to ever emerge from this crisis.”

Looking back over the year, Rama acknowledged the extraordinary and unprecedented consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“My sympathy goes to those who have lost loved ones as a result of the virus,” he said. “And my sincere thanks goes to those health and frontline workers who persevere, every day, in keeping us safe and maintaining our essential services. While we predominantly focus on the health and economic consequences of COVID-19, we must also tackle its adverse impact on our comprehensive security. There is a brighter future ahead, and we can — and will  – take bold and concerted measures to build back better.”

Turning to the crisis in and around Ukraine, he welcomed the “unprecedented, low levels of ceasefire violations on the ground” but lamented the humanitarian situation and ongoing obstructions to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission’s work. He also appealed for a more practical approach in the discussions in the Trilateral Contact Group, under the mediation of the OSCE.

Referencing the recent fighting in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict context, he said he was thankful that the fighting has ceased. Expressing his full support for initiatives under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, he called for “substantive negotiations, in good faith, in order to reach agreement on the steps for a comprehensive, peaceful and lasting resolution to the conflict.” 

Separately, Rama expressed his hope for a resumption of the Geneva International Discussions and a result-oriented Transdniestrian Settlement Process in the new year.

On Belarus, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office conveyed his disappointment that his offer, made together with his Swedish counterpart and incoming OSCE Chair, Ann Linde, to visit the country and facilitate dialogue was not accepted by Minsk.

“I maintain my view that the OSCE, as an inclusive organization, remains well-placed and ready to volunteer its good offices to support Belarus. I hope Belarus reconsiders our offer,” he said.

Acknowledging that Albania “had to steer the OSCE ship in particularly turbulent times”, he said he was hopeful that the Organization, with its new senior leadership and incoming Chairs of Sweden (2021) and Poland (2022), would “get the OSCE back to full power and chart a way forward… Let’s use Tirana as an opportunity to turn a corner.”

The President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) George Tsereteli appealed to the 57 participating States to make full use of the Organization’s potential to help build a safer and more stable future for us all.

“The OSCE PA’s initiative, a ‘Call for Action: Reaffirming our Common Purpose,’ has been endorsed and signed by more than 50 former and present OSCE leaders, including Chairs-in-Office, Presidents of the Parliamentary Assembly, Secretaries General of the OSCE and the OSCE PA, and Heads of Institutions,” he said. “Despite all the difficulties that we are facing, we must, make an attempt to relaunch all our efforts to bring back the spirit that motivated the signatories of the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris.”

In her report to the Ministerial Council, Tuula Yrjölä, Officer in Charge/Secretary General and Director of OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC), noted how the Organization quickly and successfully responded to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Secretariat enabled the OSCE to be one of the first international organizations to move its decision-making bodies online. Maintaining dialogue remains critical to building trust, preventing and resolving conflicts, and promoting co-operation to tackle shared security challenges,” she said. “As this Ministerial Council demonstrates, COVID-19 has not prevented our unique regional platform from fostering an inclusive security dialogue where all participating States have an equal voice. The pandemic reminds us that we need to be prepared for unexpected challenges, and that it is more important than ever to co-operate in finding solutions.”

BUCHAREST, 3 December 2020 – Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a news conference to present their findings following the parliamentary elections in Romania.

NB Due to social distancing requirements, only 15 journalists will be able to attend the press conference in person. All others will have the opportunity to watch and ask questions via zoom. Broadcast media wishing to film the press conference will be prioritised for personal attendance.

What:

• News conference of the international observer team sent by ODIHR to the parliamentary elections in Romania
• The news conference can be attended in person or via Zoom (details below)
• You can also follow the livestream on www.facebook.com/osce.odihr

Who:

• Marianne Mikko, Head of the ODIHR special election assessment mission
• Marek Mračka, Deputy Head of the ODIHR special election assessment mission

When:

• 15:00 EET (GMT+2) on 7 December 2020

Where:

• Conference room C+D, JW Marriot Bucharest Grand Hotel

Registration:

• No registration is necessary if you are attending the press conference in person, but only questions from journalists will be taken.
• To take part via Zoom, please register by 11:00 on 7 December using this link.

The OSCE Presence in Albania, in co-operation with the Albanian School of Magistrates, organized a two-day virtual training course on 2 and 3 December 2020 on the role of prosecutors in investigating criminal offences and their leadership skills for Albania’s Prosecutors and Judicial Police officers.

The event was held ahead of the Presence’s publication of the Handbook on Prosecutorial Leadership that will address the findings of the gap analysis on the co-ordination and co-operation between Prosecutors and Judicial Police in the country, conducted last year by the Presence. A report based on the gap analysis was widely disseminated and warmly welcomed by criminal justice practitioners.

The training was held with the support of the Albanian School of Magistrates, which is the leading institution responsible for the training and continuous learning of judges and prosecutors in Albania.

The training course and the Handbook show the Presence’s continuous commitment to support the strengthening and professional growth of Albania’s Prosecution towards a consolidated criminal justice system.

472362 Kunduz Rysbek Chyngyz Zhanybekov

The State Commission on Religious Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic held the 4th International Conference titled "Islam in a Modern Secular State: Experience of Interfaith Co-operation", on 26 November 2020, in partnership with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

The event served as a valuable high-level platform for representatives of various religious organizations, civil society, expert community, international organizations, and the media to discuss topical issues of fostering interfaith dialogue and tolerance in Kyrgyzstan.

Participants discussed pertinent issues with regard to inter-faith dialogue in the world, particularly in the context of the role of Islam in a modern secular state. The conference provided a platform for exchanging approaches to harmonizing relations in the Muslim community and developing recommendations to increase the effectiveness of democratic governance in the religious sphere, as well as for preventing discrimination on the basis of religion or belief.

Speaking at the conference, Pierre von Arx, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, stressed the importance of tolerance and respect when building peace and development. "The OSCE's human rights commitments, in particular freedom of religion and belief, are a solid foundation for building a vibrant and inclusive society. These ideas have been the invisible force of progress throughout Kyrgyzstan's history." He noted the commitment of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek in providing further support for the efforts of the country in further developing interfaith dialogue and principles of tolerance.

472467

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan is conducting a second training course for 18 women representatives of local authorities from Samarkand, Djizzakh, Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions from 30 November to 4 December 2020.

The current course is the second in a series of training events, which will be conducted in all regions of Uzbekistan. Courses cover topics such as improving advocacy and leadership skills and increasing the knowledge on women’s human rights at local, regional and national levels, drawing on the conceptual framework of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) for framing rights and State obligations.

The event was opened by Feruza Eshmatova, Chairperson of the Committee on Women and Gender Equality of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In her opening speech, she stressed that “the OSCE commitments are fully in line with the priorities of the country including strengthening women’s managerial roles in increasing the role of women in society”.

John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, said: “The OSCE recognizes that equal rights of women and men are essential to foster peace, security, and sustainable development.” He also added that the OSCE values the recent statements from the President of Uzbekistan on advancing women’s issues.

The training is part of the OSCE extra-budgetary project “Support to Women’s Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan” with the financial support from the Governments of Finland and Norway.

Throughout the project implementation period (2019-2021), a series of trainings will be organized for women representatives of local authorities on the following topics: improving advocacy and leadership skills; increasing the knowledge on women’s human rights at local, regional and national levels, drawing on the conceptual framework of CEDAW for framing rights and State obligations.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded 12 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, the Mission recorded eight ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission recorded eight ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded no ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The Mission observed 13 anti-tank mines near non-government-controlled Petrivske for the first time.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to and maintenance and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at six entry-exit checkpoints and four checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM monitored events in Zakarpattia region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Hryhorivka, Shevchenko, Prymorske and Nova Marivka, all in Donetsk region.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded eight ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous 24 hours, the Mission recorded 76 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM recorded no ceasefire violations in Luhansk region, as in the previous 24 hours.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. During evening and night hours, an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle spotted people inside the latter two areas.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to and maintenance and operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at six entry-exit checkpoints and five checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a border crossing point outside government control near Dovzhanske, Luhansk region, and at a checkpoint of the armed formations near Kreminets, Donetsk region.*

Communication and Media Relations Section

The OSCE launched the first fully online version of its training course, ‘Python Programming for Investigators’, on 30 November 2020 in collaboration with the European Cybercrime Training and Education Group (ECTEG) for cybercrime investigators in the Georgian Criminal Police Department and trainers of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

Originally a 5-day in-person programme, the training course has been re-developed into a 12-week e-learning curriculum that is being administered in four phases through ECTEG’s Learning Management System. It combines self-paced modules, live webinars, tests and coding assignments to teach investigators how to use and apply Python, a computer programming language, to their investigative work. The course will end with an official examination.

The development of this e-learning course is part of the response by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department’s Strategic Police Matters Unit to the increased demand from OSCE participating States, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, for e-learning versions of cybercrime and digital forensics-related training material.

“Such efforts of the OSCE, as a long-time ECTEG member, will undoubtedly pay off in the years to come by helping to train more police officers not only in the areas where the OSCE is traditionally active, but also within the European Union and beyond its borders through the assistance programmes of other ECTEG international members and partners, such as the Council of Europe, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training, INTERPOL and United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime,” said Alexander Malyshau, Technical Focal Point for Cybercrime Issues in the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department.

TIRANA/VIENNA, 1 December 2020 — At the invitation of the 2020 OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Edi Rama, OSCE foreign ministers will gather for the 27th OSCE Ministerial Council (MC) on 3 and 4 December 2020 to discuss major security issues in the region, the present and future course of the OSCE and the appointments of senior OSCE officials. Due to the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, for the first time, the MC will be held via video teleconferencing (VTC).

With over 50 foreign ministers from across the OSCE region expected to attend, the MC is the highlight of Albania’s 2020 OSCE Chairmanship and will set the course for the OSCE’s work next year, with Sweden taking over as OSCE Chair on 1 January 2021.

Media opportunities

In addition to the Ministerial Council plenary meeting, a number of online events will provide media opportunities.

Chairperson-in-Office Edi Rama and the incoming Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ann Linde, will hold a joint press conference online following the official closing of the Ministerial Council (approx. 13:30).

Thematic side events

Several events focusing on OSCE-related projects and topics will be open to MC accredited media representatives. These side events will provide a forum for dialogue between civil society, youth, academia, the media and MC delegations.

Practical information

Advance accreditation of media representatives is mandatory. The deadline for registration is 17:00, 1 December 2020. Accreditation will be granted following self-registration via https://events.osce.org/2020-osce-ministerial-council-press-and-media/registration/Site/Register.

In order to join the Zoom meeting, participants must use the same name that was used for registration. Failure to do so will result in denied access to the Ministerial Council. Links to Zoom meeting sessions, press conferences and OSCE-organized side events open to accredited media will be provided following registration.

MC Plenary sessions, as well as the closing press conference on 4 December will be streamed online at www.osce.org/live.

Follow the Ministerial Council on Twitter at @OSCE, @AlMissionVienna and #OSCEMC20 for up-to-date news and information.

For more information go to: www.osce.org/event/mc_2020.

For briefings and individual interviews, as well as any information on the distribution of press releases, declarations, speeches and other documents, media representatives can e-mail press@osce.org or call +43 676 3756 163.

Photographs by the host photographer for use by the media and delegations can be downloaded from https://bit.ly/OSCEMC20photos. Requests may also be sent by email to COMMS-Online@osce.org.

SUMMARY

Kamensk-Shakhtinskiy, Russian Federation. The Observer Mission (OM) continues to operate 24/7 at both Border Crossing Points (BCPs). The overall number of border crossings by persons slightly increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week. The ninety-eighth Russian convoy of seven vehicles crossed into Ukraine and returned through the Donetsk Border Crossing Point.

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

The OM is currently operating with 22 permanent international Mission members, including the Chief Observer (CO) and one first responder[1]. The Mission is supported administratively by a staff member and the Chief of Fund Administration based in Vienna.

Update on COVID-19 measures

Activities have been impacted by COVID-19 and measures undertaken by the OM to ensure the safety and duty of care of its Mission members and compliance with measures set by the host country authorities. The Mission is continuing to keep the situation under review, in close contact with the OSCE Secretariat and the Chairmanship. Following the host country recommendations, the observers are adhering to social distancing. Due to the preventive measures taken by the central and regional authorities, the OM is faced with certain difficulties, but is still able to continue to fulfil its mandate without any limitations in its observation and reporting activities.

OBSERVATIONS AT THE BORDER CROSSING POINTS

Persons crossing the border                                                                                                                                                                                

The profile of persons crossing the border can be categorized as follows:

1. Adults travelling on foot or by car with little or no luggage.
2. Persons in military-style outfits.
3. Families (often including elderly persons and/or children) travelling on foot or by car with a significant amount of luggage.

The average number of entries/exits slightly increased from 7,298 to 7,356 per day at both BCPs compared to last week[2].

During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to the Russian Federation, with an average net flow of 79 per day for both BCPs. The Donetsk BCP continued to experience much more traffic than the Gukovo BCP.

Responding to the COVID-19 situation, the host country has closed its borders for the majority of foreigners starting from 18 March. Among the exceptions of persons allowed to cross the border (which entered into force on 19 March), are Ukrainian citizens and stateless persons holding passports or identification documents proving permanent residence in certain areas of Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine. In addition, reportedly, due to the threat of the spread of COVID-19, starting from 10 April, the organized passenger transport commuting between the non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region of Ukraine and the Russian Federation was temporarily suspended and restored from 25 June.

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border was 15, compared to 13 last week. Nine persons crossed into the Russian Federation while another six persons crossed into Ukraine. These individuals crossed the border on foot.

Families with a significant amount of luggage

The OTs continued to report on families, sometimes with elderly persons and/or children, crossing the border at both BCPs with a significant amount of luggage, or travelling in heavily loaded cars. During this reporting week, four families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and two families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when five families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and one family crossing into Ukraine.

Bus connections                                         

Regular local and long-distance bus connections continued to operate between Ukraine (mostly from/to the Luhansk region) and the Russian Federation. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a decrease in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (235 compared to 263 observed during the previous week). There were 131 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 104 bound for Ukraine.

On some occasions, the OTs noticed the bus drivers removing the itinerary signs from the windshields of their buses, while some buses did not display their route at all. The majority of long-distance buses commuting between the Luhansk region and cities in the Russian Federation had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region.

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed an increase in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (848 compared to 794 during the previous reporting week); 497 at the Gukovo BCP and 351 at the Donetsk BCP, 551 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 297 crossed into Ukraine. Most of the trucks observed by the OTs had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, on a daily basis, the OTs also noted trucks registered in the Russian Federation, Belarus, Lithuania and trucks with “LPR” plates.

The OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a slight decrease in the overall number of tanker trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (34 compared to 39 during the previous reporting week). These trucks were observed crossing the border at both BCPs. The trucks had the words “Propane” and “Flammable” written across the tanks in either Russian or Ukrainian. The majority of tanker trucks had hazard signs, indicating that they were transporting propane or a mix of propane and butane. All trucks underwent systematic inspection by the Russian Federation officials, which could include an X-ray check. Due to the unfavourable observation position at the Gukovo BCP, the OTs continued to be unable to observe any X-ray checks.

Compared to the previous week, the total number of X-ray checks at the Donetsk BCP increased from 117 to 131. Of the total number of trucks scanned, 112 trucks (85 per cent) were bound for Ukraine, the remaining 19 trucks (15 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation.

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[3] crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs. The OTs observed minivans predominantly with Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region; however, the OTs also saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation. During the reporting period, the OTs observed a slight increase in the overall number of minivans crossing the border at both BCPs (152 compared to 150 observed during the previous week); 86 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 66 into Ukraine.

Trains

The OTs continued to pick up the sound of trains on the railway tracks located approximately 150m south-west of the Gukovo BCP. During the reporting week, the OTs heard trains on 24 occasions; the OTs assessed that 12 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and the remaining 12 trains were travelling to Ukraine (more details are provided in the sections “trends and figures at a glance” below).

Visual observation was not possible because of the line of trees located between the train tracks and the BCP.

Other observations

The majority of vehicles crossing the border had Ukrainian licence plates issued in the Luhansk region or Russian Federation licence plates. A significant number of vehicles with “LPR” plates were also observed crossing the border in both directions on a daily basis. The OTs also observed vehicles with Georgian and Lithuanian licence plates.

On 25 November at 15:30, the OT at the Donetsk BCP observed a police vehicle, type UAZ - 469 with Russian Federation licence plates and two passengers on board, entering the BCP and parking behind the main building. At 15:45, the vehicle left the BCP into the Russian Federation. The OT was unable to notice any other details from its position.

On 26 November at 07:30, the ninety-eighth[4] Russian convoy arrived at the Donetsk BCP. A total of seven vehicles were checked by Russian Federation border guards and customs officers prior to their crossing into Ukraine. All seven vehicles had crossed back into the Russian Federation by 17:04 the same day. (See OM Spot Report of 26 November 2020: https://www.osce.org/observer-mission-at-russian-checkpoints-gukovo-and-...).

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 27 October to 1 December 2020, please see the attachment here.

[1]                      First responders are OSCE staff or Mission members deployed for a short period of time.

[2]              Based on data received from the Regional Representation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

[3]              Cargo minivans: light commercial vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of more than 3.5 t and not more than 7.5 t; with or without a trailer with a maximum mass of less than 750 kg (small cargo vehicles which correspond to driving licence C1).                     

[4]              Based on the Observer Mission’s counting, this convoy is considered the ninety-eighth convoy that has crossed into Ukraine through the “Donetsk” or “Gukovo” BCPs. However, so far all these convoys crossed through the “Donetsk” BCP.

Communication and Media Relations Section

The 2020 OSCE Annual Meeting of the Police Academies Network (PAN), held on 27 November 2020, gathered over 50 participants and focused on how Police Academies can deliver training programmes that develop and strengthen sound attitudes among police in preventing excessive use of force, even in difficult and/or dangerous situations.

The event was held online for representatives of law enforcement education and training institutions in the OSCE participating States as well as representatives from partner international organizations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL). It was organized by the Transnational Threats Department’s Strategic Police Matters Unit (TNTD/SPMU).

Participants were welcomed by Florian Pema, Head of the Politico-Military Dimension at Albania’s 2020 OSCE Chairmanship; Andrea Huber, Head of the Human Rights Department at the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR); and Guy Vinet, Head of TNTD/SPMU.

In his opening remarks, Pema said: “Police Academies have to make sure that their training and education lead to police officers that perform their duties in accordance with universally agreed standards of human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

Vinet emphasized that ethical thinking should remain prevalent for all police training activities and that police officers will react appropriately if they have embraced the core democratic principles and values guiding the police.

Discussions elaborated on how to ensure that all delivered training programmes contribute to further enhancing democratic and value-based policing.

The PAN was launched in 2018 to promote and support international police training and co-operation. Its aim is to promote police training co-operation and to share education and training curricula, modules, training material and expertise of law enforcement training institutions in the OSCE area.

The PAN is currently co-ordinated by Bjorn Tore Saltvik, Adviser on Police Reform in TNTD/SPMU. For enquiries, please contact: BjornTore.Saltvik@osce.org

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Between the evenings of 27 and 29 November, the SMM recorded 76 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 24 ceasefire violations in the region.
• Between the evenings of 27 and 29 November, the SMM recorded 87 ceasefire violations in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded five ceasefire violations in the region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. During daytime hours, an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle spotted two people inside the Petrivske disengagement area.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable maintenance to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at six entry-exit checkpoints and five checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM observed a calm situation in south-east Kherson region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a permanent storage site in a non-government controlled area of Donetsk region.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded 24 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and five in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 38 ceasefire violation in Donetsk region and none in Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske and observed a calm situation in all three areas.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to as well as the maintenance and operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at five entry-exit checkpoints and five checkpoints of the armed formations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• An SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle spotted three trains in areas outside government control in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions, close to the border with the Russian Federation.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• The SMM recorded 38 ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and none in Luhansk region. In the previous reporting period, it recorded one ceasefire violation in Donetsk region and four in Luhansk region.
• Three children sustained injuries when an object exploded in Dmytrivka, Donetsk region.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as aimed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle north of Petrivske, Donetsk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to localised ceasefires to enable repairs to as well as the maintenance and operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and four checkpoints of the armed formations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission observed a convoy of trucks with Russian Federation licence plates in non-government-controlled Donetsk city.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted.*

472131 Communication and Media Relations Section

The OSCE supported the annual general meeting of the Balkan Asset Management Interagency Network (BAMIN) on 26 November 2020, bringing together representatives of national asset management and asset recovery offices of sixteen jurisdictions (14 BAMIN member and three guest jurisdictions), together with officials from the BAMIN Secretariat and the OSCE.

Opening the meeting, Anica Vucekovic, representative of the Property Administration of Montenegro, the country that currently holds the BAMIN Presidency, highlighted efforts this year to keep the network active, despite COVID-19-related challenges. Officials of the BAMIN Secretariat presented an overview of the main activities carried out during 2020 as well as updates on BAMIN’s membership and the future BAMIN Presidency. Since 2017, the number of BAMIN members has significantly increased to 14 jurisdictions.

The meeting covered legal and structural changes to asset management systems as well as success stories.

The OSCE supports BAMIN through an extra-budgetary project to strengthen the fight against transnational crime in South-Eastern Europe through improved regional co-operation in asset seizure, confiscation, management and re-use.  

Denise Mazzolani, Deputy Head of Strategic Police Matters Unit at the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department (TNTD), and co-manager of this project, commended BAMIN for finding innovative ways to exchange best practices and experiences, and working towards expanding the Network.

Iris Pilika, Programme Officer at the the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), and co-manager of the project, updated participants on the activities carried out in the framework of the regional asset recovery project and highlighted the importance of the asset management component in asset recovery, and the role BAMIN members and asset management agencies can play in the whole asset recovery cycle.

This extra-budgetary project is jointly implemented by TNTD and the OCEEA. The cross-dimensional initiative adopts a comprehensive approach by providing support during the entire cycle of asset seizure, management and re-use.

The United States Department of State, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom support the project financially.

472050 Marina Živaljević SDGs SDGs:  4 - Quality education

To strengthen capacities of civil society organization (CSOs) in using digital platforms, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro organized two online training courses on 16 and 17 November and from 25 to 27 November 2020.

The courses, organized in partnership with the Forum MNE, a non-governmental organization, and the South East European Youth Network, gathered representatives from 19 CSOs dealing with youth. The first course examined various digital platforms with a view to understand how these tools and methods could support CSOs in their work. The second focused on how to use digital platforms for organizing events, such as meetings, training courses, conferences and collaborative research online.

The training courses are particularly timely due to the profound effect COVID-19 has had on everyone’s lives, said Ivana Vujović, the Mission’s Democratization National Programme Officer. “We have been ‘locked down’, working from our kitchen tables and have had to significantly change our usual routines and preferred interactions. We have had no choice but to shift to digital services in all areas of our lives. The need to create enabling working environments in the digital world is huge and pressing, and we all hope we will manage to address it.”

Digitization of programmes was also an inevitable step for Forum MNE, explained Elvira Hadžibegović-Bubanja, the Forum’s Executive Director. “The epidemiological situation has just accelerated the process. Youth programmes and work must be transferred to an online space to respond to the needs of young people. The training courses will help to enhance the digital capacities of youth and professionals in civil society involved in licensed programmes.”

Online tutorials are also being developed to complement the courses and expand access to training for all CSOs interested in using digital platforms.