Central Europe

TIRANA/VIENNA/WARSAW, 6 March 2020 - Ahead of the International Women’s Day OSCE leaders urged further action in promoting gender equality and called for intergenerational dialogue to ensure engagement of young people. This year Women’s Day is marked against the backdrop of the 20th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action for the Advancement of Women, and these occasions provide an opportunity to take stock of progress made, they said.

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Albania’s Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Edi Rama; OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger; and Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir stressed that in promoting gender equality it is important to hear different experiences and perspectives and noted in particular the need to involve young men and women. Young people represent 38 per cent of the population in the OSCE region and they need to be involved in moving gender equality forward, as doing so contributes to sustainable peace and security efforts.

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Albania’s Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Edi Rama said: “Gender equality challenges like combating violence against women, ensuring women´s participation in conflict prevention and mediation, reconciliation and the strong promotion of equal opportunities of women in the social, economic and public and political sphere can only be overcome if men and women of all ages work together.” The Chairperson-in Office also said that the OSCE is committed to continue its work in advancing gender equality and empowering women and girls. “We are working together with all participating States to promote advancing laws, policies and implementation tools to a whole new level to support and protect women’s rights.”

OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger noted challenges in increasing women’s inclusion in peace processes in the OSCE area: “Even if there are fewer gender inequalities in a number of areas today compared to 25 years ago, progress has been slow. In peace negotiations, women are still significantly underrepresented. The OSCE is committed to the implementation of the women, peace and security agenda, and to including more young men and women in peace processes."

Referencing the importance of digital technology for the future of gender equality, ODIHR Director Gísladóttir said: "We now have a generation of young women who were raised in the digital world, and they are making their voices heard both on- and offline. In fact, young people often have a well-developed sense of what true equality means, which makes me optimistic.” She added: “At the same time, women seeking an active role in public and political life often find themselves subjected to harassment and abuse. Political leaders must do more to ensure that women and girls are able to engage safely. These are the changemakers of the future, and they need our support.”

The importance of the intergenerational dialogue on gender equality was also the focus of an OSCE event hosted by the Gender Section today in Vienna to mark the International Women’s Day. Participants discussed how different generations of women and men see the opportunities and challenges, and how they can work effectively together to promote gender equality.

ATHENS, 6 March 2020 – International humanitarian law must be respected in the response to the situation on the borders between Turkey and Greece, said OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Special Representative on South East Europe Mark Pritchard (MP, United Kingdom) wrapping up a three-day official visit to Athens today.

Having met with senior political leaders across the political spectrum in Greece, Pritchard expressed confidence that the response to the border emergency is being handled with consideration for the best interests of refugees and migrants, Greek society, and Europe as a whole. However, he cautioned the situation should not be used for political gain and urged all stakeholders to use responsible political rhetoric and to pursue broad-based dialogue.

“We in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the broader international community are following the situation on the Turkish-Greek borders very closely indeed,” Pritchard said. “I commend the Greek people and the Greek government for responding to the situation with restraint and encourage the continuation of cross-party dialogue and convergence.”

He added that Europe needs to accept responsibility in assisting Greece at this critical moment, with emphasis on tangible burden-sharing beyond financial solidarity. “This is not only a Greek emergency,” Pritchard said. “It’s a collective one. Collective emergencies and challenges demand collective responsibility. The recent high-level EU visit needs to have tangible and practical outcomes.”

He pointed out that the country has long been dealing with a humanitarian crisis – including on the islands of Lesvos, Chios and Kos – which is now at a critical point. Addressing the situation is necessary to ensure respect for principles enshrined in international law, including the Refugee Convention of 1951, and also in order to sustain Greece’s positive economic reform agenda, he pointed out.

Pritchard suggested that a “revised” EU-Turkey Statement should be forthcoming “as quickly as possible” and ensure that the Greek perspective was “full considered and appreciated” by the European Union. He also suggested that Greece and Turkey should establish a joint working group on the issue of relocation and resettlement of proven asylum seekers into the EU, but this could only be done once current tensions have eased.

From 4-6 March, Special Representative Pritchard has met with a range of political actors in the Greek capital, including ministers, parliamentarians and representatives of international organizations. He also visited the Asylum Schisto Accommodation Site for Refugees on the outskirts of the city, which included a trilateral meeting with the International Organization for Migration and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

In meetings with Minister for Agriculture Makis Voridis, Minister for Migration and Asylum Notis Mitarakis, and Minister for Development and Investment Adonis Georgiadis, much of the discussion focused on migration-related fatigue among local inhabitants in Greece, particularly on the islands.

The interlocutors stressed that the situation is placing strain on the Greek coastal and border police as well as on Greece’s ability to cope with large-scale migration flows, including from a financial standpoint.

Meetings were also held with Speaker of the Parliament Konstantinos Tasoulas, Ambassador Eleni Sourani, Secretary General for Public Order Konstantinos Tsouvalas, and Members of the Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs, the Special Standing Committee on European Affairs, and opposition leader Alexis Tsipras, President of SYRIZA. He also met with Georgios Stylios, Head of the Greek delegation to the OSCE PA.

Besides migration issues, talks focused on the conclusion of the Prespa Agreement, with Pritchard expressing hope that North Macedonia will remain committed to the agreement, including after the 12 April parliamentary elections. The sides discussed general developments in the Western Balkans, regional co-operation, and OSCE’s work in the region.

Pritchard was briefed on key domestic issues and economic indicators in Greece, unemployment, youth engagement and education, as well as the reform agenda on issues such as the pension system, tax, and corruption. Interlocutors also discussed national contingency planning and preparedness for the public health concerns surrounding the coronavirus outbreak.

Finally he added: “Greece’s borders are the EU’s borders. Turkey needs to act as a responsible actor in the region.”

For more on the work of the Special Representative on South East Europe, please click here.

Ivana Milatovic, OSCE Mission to Serbia

On the second anniversary of Serbia’s Interior Ministry’s Anti-Corruption Department, held in Belgrade on 6 March 2020, ten Serbian police officers received diplomas after successfully completing internationally accredited courses in financial crime forensics.

On the same occasion, the OSCE Mission to Serbia handed over IT equipment to the Department aiming to further enhance police officers’ professionalism and competence in conducting efficient and effective investigations of economic crime and corruption.

“The systematic changes that the Ministry introduced in the fight against corruption are the best testimony to the country’s ownership of key achievements, resulting in efficiency in investigating, deterring and curbing economic crime and other forms of corruption,” said Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia Andrea Orizio. 

“I particularly commend the Ministry of Interior for its commitment and effort in developing the Anti-Corruption Department’s capacity to conduct complex financial investigations, examine fraud, and investigate money laundering and other forms of crime,” said Orizio.

This initiative is part of an OSCE project that aims to strengthen the investigative capacity of the Ministry of the Interior’s Anti-corruption Department established in 2018.

The OSCE Mission to Serbia is implementing this project with the financial support of the Government of Norway, which has funded a series of specialized courses on various aspects of investigating economic crime and corruption. The Government of Italy funded the IT equipment donated to the Anti-corruption Department.   

The OSCE Mission to Serbia has been working in partnership with Serbia’s Ministry of Interior on enhancing police capacities to effectively prevent and combat corruption since 2013.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM saw close to its patrol a probable explosive device on a road near non-government-controlled Zaichenko, Donetsk region.
• It corroborated reports of three cases of civilians injured by shelling in Krasnohorivka and Dokuchaievsk.
• The Mission continued to monitor the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote, it recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area.
• It saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line in Luhansk region.
• The SMM saw craters in Luhansk region near Orikhove and Holubivske and in Donetsk region near Staromykhailivka.
• It saw anti-tank mines near Staromykhailivka, Krasnohorivka, Marinka, Pisky and Styla, including some within residential areas.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations in Staromykhailivka and near a border crossing point close to non-government-controlled Leonove.

VIENNA, 5 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir, and his two predecessors, Dunja Mijatović and Miklós Haraszti, today issued a joint statement in memory of the first OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Freimut Duve, who passed away last Tuesday.

“We, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir and the former Media Freedom Representatives Dunja Mijatović and Miklós Haraszti, pay tribute to the first OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Freimut Duve.

Freimut Duve was a German politician, human rights activist, writer and journalist. He was political editor at Stern magazine and chief editor of rororo-AKTUELL, Germany’s leading political pocketbook series, a part of Rowohlt publishing house. Duve won the Hannah Arendt Award for Political Thinking in 1997.

Freimut Duve served as the first OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media from 1998 through to 2003. It was his grand idea that lead to the establishment of the Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media, which he built from the ground up and made into a staunch advocate of freedom of expression.

Freimut Duve was an intellectual, a gentleman, a true humanitarian and a champion of media freedom. We will remember his legacy and his words, on the 20th Anniversary of the Representative on Freedom of the Media in 2017:

‘Twenty years ago and now, media freedom remains extremely important, and 20 years ago and now, there is no freedom without media freedom. Stay strong and dedicated to this great idea!’

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family, friends and journalists around the world.

Harlem Désir, Dunja Mijatovic, Miklós Haraszti”

447832

With support of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, a delegation of Uzbek senior government officials participated at the Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) of the Hague Conference on Private Property Law (HCCH) held in The Hague from 3 to 6 March, 2020.

The delegation took part in the Council’s meeting where, on 4 March, Uzbekistan was accepted as the 84th member-state of the HCCH.

The visit was organized by the Project Co-ordinator as part of its effort with the Government of Uzbekistan, to align the national legislation on private property protection with best international practices and standards.

The delegation was headed by Ruslanbek Davletov, Minister of Justice of Uzbekistan, and consisted of officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Tashkent State University of Law. The delegation met with representatives of the HCCH, the International Development Law Organization, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and Eurojust, as well as with their counterparts from the Netherland’s government ministries and agencies.

The meetings and subsequent discussions built momentum for the efforts of the Justice Ministry in harmonizing the country’s civil legislation with the best foreign practices and implementation of advanced international standards in this area to ensure the inviolability of private property, the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of individuals and legal entities, especially entrepreneurs.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission continued to monitor the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske. It saw de-miners of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine entering the Zolote disengagement area.
• It saw weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line.
• The SMM saw mines near Shyrokyne and mine hazard signs near Mykolaivka.
• The SMM facilitated localized ceasefires to enable repairs to power lines near Donetskyi and to enable demining activities near Katerynivka and Krasnyi Yar.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Verkhnoshyrokivske and Novoazovsk in southern Donetsk region.

447877 Address by Emmanuel Decaux, President of the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration

President of the OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration Professor Emmanuel Decaux addressed the OSCE Permanent Council on 27 February 2020, where he invited signatory and third-party States to join the 34 States that are currently party to the Convention on Conciliation and Arbitration within the OSCE.

The Court’s founding at the 1992 Stockholm Conference, Decaux said, was the culmination of long-standing efforts by participating States to strengthen the key element of co-operative security. He stressed that while a conciliation commission can be requested unilaterally by any State party, the Court’s procedures remain at the disposal of all 57 OSCE participating States by agreement.

“The Stockholm Convention represents a great step forward in the institutionalization of alternative approaches to the peaceful settlement of disputes. Following on from the bilateral treaties negotiated over a century, and the multilateral treaties in the immediate post-war period, the Convention has made significant progress on several fronts. It established a genuine permanent court governed firmly by a collegial Bureau, which guarantees the effectiveness of the Court’s procedures. Neutrality is the watchword in all commissions and arbitration tribunals, with the Bureau designating three of the five members. The Court’s tasks are part of a wider framework in relation to the OSCE bodies, constituting part of the ‘toolbox’ available to the various protagonists”, he said.

President Decaux concluded that the Court will work on making its procedures for the amicable settlement of disputes more visible and readable, by being proactive at all times to fully perform its duties in the service of peace, co-operation and good neighborliness throughout the OSCE area.

The Court of Conciliation and Arbitration within the OSCE, which is based in Geneva, provides a set of mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes between States. The Court was established by the Convention of Stockholm which entered into force on 5 December 1994. To date, 34 States have ratified the Convention.

447787 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

Representatives of key ministries and government bodies and journalists from online, print and broadcast media participated in a seminar organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat on 3 and 4 March 2020 on the efficient interaction between state institutions and the media.

The seminar presented the role of press services in the digital age and the objectives of the media in informing the public about the activities of the state. International experts from Poland and the United Kingdom explored the relations between the media and state institutions and focused on the importance of government websites as sources of information for journalists and the general public.

“Over 45 years since the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, the OSCE participating States have undertaken a number of commitments aimed at facilitating freer and wider dissemination of information and ensuring access to government-held information which is essential for enhancing the accountability and transparency of governments,” said Natalya Drozd, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

“Online instruments offer new opportunities for state institutions for the dissemination of information among the media and general public, and we believe our seminar will support the efforts of the government of Turkmenistan to develop a digital society and improve channels of communication between state institutions and the media,” she continued.

The seminar also covered the development of a communication strategy and the role of social networks in its implementation. The participants exchanged views on news value and standards of public broadcasting in the state information policy.

The practical part of the seminar included exercises related to the organization of press conferences and drafting press releases as well as interviewing and public speaking skills.

447802 Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Belarus, Early Parliamentary Elections, 17 November 2019: Final Report

Following the early parliamentary elections in Belarus on 17 November 2019, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has published its final report. The report offers 32 recommendations to improve the conduct of elections and increase the transparency of and public confidence in the electoral process.

Key recommendations include:

• Comprehensively review the electoral legal framework to address prior ODIHR recommendations, including on the composition of election commissions, candidacy rights, observers’ rights, and safeguards for voting, counting and tabulation procedures.

• Align legislation regulating freedoms of association, assembly and expression with international standards.

• Ensure the right of individuals and groups to establish political parties or organizations without undue restrictions, and with the power to compete with each other on an equal basis.

• Introduce clear criteria and mechanisms for candidate registration, to enhance inclusiveness and transparency and avoid disqualification resulting from minor inaccuracies in documentation.

• Remove fees for holding public events, including those held by any electoral stakeholders before, during and after elections.

• Introduce sufficient safeguards to ensure the integrity of early voting and election day procedures and materials.

• Implement clear and transparent procedures for counting ballots so that all present can verify that results are counted genuinely and reported honestly.

ODIHR deployed an Election Observation Mission on 15 October 2019 to observe the early parliamentary elections. All 57 countries across the OSCE region have formally committed to following up promptly on ODIHR’s election assessments and recommendations.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission observed a calm situation in the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. It saw de-miners of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine entering the Zolote disengagement area to reportedly conduct demining activities and recorded ceasefire violations inside the Petrivske disengagement area.
• The SMM observed mines on both sides of the contact line, including near roads used by civilians daily.
• The SMM facilitated localized ceasefires to enable repairs to power lines near Azov and to enable demining activities in Krasnyi Yar.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Verkhnoshyrokivske and Zaichenko in southern Donetsk region, and at a border crossing point in non-government-controlled Voznesenivka in Luhansk region.

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 increased at both BCPs compared to the previous week.

OPERATIONAL REMARKS

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

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 increased from 10,616 to 10,853 per day at both BCPs compared to last week[1].

During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to Ukraine, with an average net flow of 18 per day for both BCPs.

The Donetsk BCP continued to experience much more traffic than the Gukovo BCP.

Persons in military-style outfits

During the reporting period, the number of persons in military-style outfits crossing the border in both directions at both BCPs was six, compared to 15 last week, two of them crossed into the Russian Federation, and four into Ukraine (83 per cent of this category’s crossings occurred at the Donetsk BCP). They continued to cross the border individually or in groups. Most individuals crossed on foot, however, some made use of private vehicles, buses or minivans, making it more difficult for the observer teams (OTs) to observe their movement across the border, especially since some of the private vehicles had tinted windows, and buses and minivans had drawn curtains.

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, three families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and four families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when four families were observed crossing to the Russian Federation and one family 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. In addition to regular bus connections, the OTs continued to observe bus connections on irregular routes. Often the buses did not state their route; instead they had a sign on the windshield stating “irregular”.

During the reporting period, the OTs observed an increase in the overall number of buses crossing the border at both BCPs (493 compared to 450 observed during the previous week). There were 249 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 244 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 and “LPR” plates.

Trucks

During the reporting period, the OTs observed a significant increase in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (884 compared to 683 during the previous reporting week); 433 at the Gukovo BCP and 451 at the Donetsk BCP, 477 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 407 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 Belarus, the Russian Federation and with “LPR” plates.

The OTs also continued to observe tanker trucks crossing the border in both directions. During the reporting week, the number of tanker trucks increased from 36 to 45. 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 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 115 to 147. Of the total number of trucks scanned, 114 trucks (78 per cent) were bound for Ukraine: the remaining 33 trucks (22 per cent) crossed into the Russian Federation)

Minivans

The OM continued to observe passenger and cargo minivans[2] 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 frequently saw minivans registered in the Russian Federation. Compared to the previous week, the number of cargo minivans significantly increased from 100 to 188 vehicles; 87 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 101 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 16 occasions; the OTs assessed that eight trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and eight 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 “DPR” plates and vehicles with Georgian, Lithuanian and Czech Republic licence plates.

On 26 February at 10:14, the OT at the Gukovo BCP observed an ambulance arriving from the Russian Federation and parking behind the main building. At 10:45, the ambulance drove back to the Russian Federation. The OT was unable to notice any other details from its position.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 27 January to 3 March 2020, please see the attachment here

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

[2] 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).                              

SKOPJE, 3 March 2020 – Following an invitation from the country’s authorities, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 12 April early parliamentary elections in North Macedonia.

The mission is led by Tana de Zulueta and consists of a core team of 12 experts based in Skopje and 20 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 10 March. In addition, ODIHR will request that OSCE participating States provide 250 short-term observers, who will arrive several days before the elections.

The mission will assess whether the elections are held in line with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor fundamental aspects of the election such as voter registration, candidate registration, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, and the resolution of election-related disputes. As part of the observation, the mission will also monitor the media coverage of the campaign.

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

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

An interim report will be published to update the public and media during the course of the observation. The day after the elections, ODIHR’s preliminary findings and conclusions will be presented at a press conference. A final report on the observation will be issued approximately two months after the end of the election process.

For further information, please visit https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/north-macedonia/447607 or contact:

Egor Tilpunov, Media Analyst with the Election Observation Mission, at +389 72 443 698 or Egor.Tilpunov@odihr.mk   

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

OSCE PA President urges international response and sustainable solution to Turkish-Greek border situation, as envoy visits Athens

COPENHAGEN, 3 March 2020 – Regarding developments on the Turkish-Greek border, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli today called for greater co-ordination between Turkey and European Union Member States to mitigate the situation and to pursue a sustainable solution.

“For several years now, Greece and Turkey have assumed a disproportionate responsibility for hosting refugees from the Syrian civil war and migrants facing hardship,” Tsereteli said. “Acknowledging the difficult situation both of these countries are in, we must also appreciate the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and support for the very vulnerable people who are on the move and have long been living under difficult circumstances in refugee camps.”

He added that the need for assistance is particularly acute considering the current global alert related to the COVID-19 coronavirus, as people without access to healthcare and sanitary facilities are especially susceptible to illness.

“The international community should make clear that Greece and Turkey, as well as other countries such as Bulgaria, are dealing with an emergency situation and deserve support, but at the same time, these governments must remember their obligations to exercise restraint and respect human rights. The 2016 agreement between the EU and Turkey must be fully implemented and the conflict in Syria, which especially is putting Turkey under immense pressure, must be brought to a peaceful conclusion,” Tsereteli said.

President Tsereteli noted that the Assembly’s Ad Hoc Committee on Migration is following the situation closely and that OSCE PA Special Representative on South East Europe Mark Pritchard is visiting Athens this week where he will hold discussions with Greek officials on a range of issues including migration and regional co-operation. Pritchard will also visit a refugee camp on the outskirts of Athens.

Margareta Cederfelt, Acting Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Migration, said today that EU countries should step in to alleviate the immediate pressure on Greece and Turkey. “There needs to be a sustainable solution at the EU level,” Cederfelt said. “Member States can show more solidarity and do their part by taking in more refugees and asylum seekers, including a share of the 5,000 unaccompanied minors who are currently living in Greece.”

In the Luxembourg Declaration of 2019, the OSCE PA called on “OSCE participating States to improve legal frameworks for migration with the aim of increasing effective international co-operation, promoting integration, facilitating labour mobility, addressing drivers of migration such as poverty and conflict, establishing pathways for regular migration, promoting education opportunities and protecting the right to family life.”

Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

A four-day training course on disrupting the financing of terrorist networks concluded on 28 February 2020 in Dushanbe. The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, in co-operation with UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s Regional Office for Central Asia and the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department/Action against Terrorism Unit organized the course.

Seventeen Tajik experts and practitioners from the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Financial Monitoring Department of the National Bank of Tajikistan, the Ministry of the Interior, and the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan attended the seminar.

The training course aimed to assist Tajikistan in implementing international standards, in particular UN Security Council Resolutions, the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering’s recommendations, OSCE, and UN commitments. The course emphasized the key role of inter-agency co-operation in disrupting terrorist financing.

Trainers familiarized the participants with complex analytical and operational planning methods by focusing on localized scenarios based on real-life cases.

“In addition to interagency co-operation this course provides a unique platform for professionals to explore new instruments and techniques to counter terrorist financing, while underlying the importance of having investigations abide by international human rights norms and standards,” said Florian Razesberger, Head of the OSCE Programme Office’s Politico-Military Department in Dushanbe.

The course was organized as part of a comprehensive multi-annual capacity-building programme to support national efforts to counter terrorist financing in Central Asia and built on the Programme Office’s multi-year efforts to counter terrorism, money laundering and terrorist financing.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 28 and 29 February, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Between the evenings of 29 February and 1 March, the Mission recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours.
• In Donetsk city, a man was injured when a metal object exploded in his hand.
• In Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (Luhansk region) and Oleksandrivka (Donetsk region), two civilian properties and a school building sustained damage from gunfire.
• The Mission recorded ceasefire violations close to the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote, and inside the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• On the afternoon on 29 February, the SMM recorded two explosions at a south-easterly direction of the entry-exit checkpoint near Marinka, following which the checkpoint was reportedly closed until 1 March.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement was restricted at checkpoints in Starolaspa, Verkhnoshyrokivske and Bezimenne, and near Zaichenko and near Markyne, all in southern Donetsk region.

SKOPJE, 2 March 2020 – Observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will hold a news conference on the opening of the observation mission to the early parliamentary elections in North Macedonia on Tuesday, 3 March.

What:

• An opening press conference by the ODIHR observers to the early parliamentary elections in North Macedonia.
• An introduction to the role of the mission in the elections and its planned activities.
• The press conference is open to all and no accreditation is required to enter, but only questions from journalists will be taken.

Who:

• Tana de Zulueta, Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission

When:

• 14.00 on 3 March 2020

Where:

• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Platinum Conference Room 1, Bulevar ASNOM 17, Skopje 

NB: The ODIHR Election Observation Mission and the OSCE Mission to Skopje operate under their own separate mandates.

For more details, contact:

Egor Tilpunov, Media Analyst with the Election Observation Mission: +389 72 443 698 Egor.Tilpunov@odihr.mk   

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

For PDF attachments or links to sources of further information, please visit: http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/north-macedonia

VIENNA, 2 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, published today a legal analysis of the Draft Law of Ukraine “On Media”. This draft law was recently registered in the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament).

The legal review, which was commissioned by the Office of the Representative, and prepared by independent media freedom expert Dr. Joan Barata Mir, stresses that several aspects of the draft law should be reviewed and addressed.

“It is necessary that this draft law is brought in line with applicable international standards, OSCE commitments, and best practices on freedom of expression and freedom of information, in order to avoid any negative impact on media freedom in the country,” underlined the Representative.

Among other aspects, there are concerns regarding a series of limitations in the draft law affecting the content that can be disseminated within the territory of Ukraine. These include some expressions and topics that  may cover legitimate political opinions and discussions related to matters of public interest. The legal analysis stresses that, while specific situations affecting national security may justify the imposition of certain limits to the right to freedom of expression, these restrictions need to be clearly specified on a case-by-case basis.

The legal analysis further raises concerns over the possibility of imposing a penalty on certain media outlets, by banning their dissemination. Imposing a general ban, affecting all the content of a specific media outlet, during a non-specified period and based on  a very widely formulated justification, represents an excessive and disproportionate measure in light of the fundamental right to freedom of expression. This may have a chilling effect on the Ukrainian media sphere. It is important to note that the draft law allows such a ban to be imposed on websites or similar online media services as a whole. According to applicable international standards, specific measures targeting online content shall only be applied to specific pieces of content, but not to a whole service or application.

The legal analysis also addresses the framework applicable to the appointment of the members, functioning and powers of the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting (the Council). In particular, there are concerns that the requirements to become a member of the Council are very broad and general. These requirements do not necessarily guarantee the full capacity of a regulator to manage and participate properly in carrying out its functions. There are also concerns that the procedure for dismissal of the members of the Council may compromise its independence.

“This analysis offers important recommendations that aim to improve the draft law in line with international standards and OSCE commitments. I call upon the authorities to take these recommendations into consideration, before adopting the law, to facilitate better the regulation of media freedom in Ukraine,” Désir said. “My Office stands ready to continue working with Ukraine and to provide necessary policy recommendations.”

The full legal review is available at: https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/447508

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.

VIENNA, 1 March 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, condemned today’s detention of the Editor-in-Chief of Sputnik Turkey and three other Sputnik journalists working in Turkey.

According to reports, the Editor-in-Chief of Sputnik’s Turkey outlet, Mahir Boztepe, was detained and taken to the General Directorate of Security this morning in Istanbul, after the authorities searched his office. Earlier in the day, three Sputnik journalists based in Ankara were also detained in relation to an article they wrote. They were threatened, and had their houses attacked, by a group of protesters during the night of 29 February, in Ankara. All the journalists were subsequently released after being questioned by the authorities.                                            

“I condemn the detention of the Editor-in-Chief of Sputnik’s Turkey service, Mahir Boztepe, and three other Sputnik journalists earlier today,” said Désir. “This represents a significant encroachment on freedom of expression and media freedom in the country. It is paramount that the authorities ensure the safety of foreign correspondents at all times, including during conflicts.”

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The SMM saw damage to residential houses in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka, Luhansk region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote; it recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The SMM saw for the first time an anti-personnel mine and remnants of ammunition near Molodizhne, Luhansk region.
• The SMM facilitated localized ceasefires to enable maintenance works of critical civilian infrastructure, including the phenol sludge reservoir in Zalizne, as well as demining activities in the areas of Krasnyi Lyman and in Luhansk city.
• Members of the armed formations restricted the SMM’s freedom of movement at a checkpoint in Verkhnoshyrokivske, in southern Donetsk region.*