Central Europe

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 Mission continued monitoring the security situation at the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• It saw six weapons both in government- and non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region, in violation of withdrawal lines.
• It again saw anti-tank mines near non-government-controlled Verkhnoshyrokivske and Petrivske, and unexploded ordnance near non-government-controlled Lyse.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints in non-government-controlled Verkhnoshyrokivske, Zaichenko and Yasne, all in Donetsk region.

SKOPJE, 5 February 2020 – At a press conference today in Skopje, the OSCE Mission to Skopje, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Council of Media Ethics, called for awareness to prevent hate speech in the media, especially during the pre-election period.

“Negative and hateful remarks find their way to online media and are quickly spread on social networks. The traditional media reaching out to an even wider audience often replicate these messages. If left unaddressed, the trend becomes a part of political discourse and often crosses over to society as a whole,” said the Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje Clemens Koja.

Last year, under the auspices of the Mission, state and non-state actors established a Network against Hate Speech in the Media. “We see the Network as an important platform with the capacity to engage in further discussions on how to promote transparency and encourage best practices in developing alternative and counter-narratives in the media,” said Koja. The fight against hate speech in no case should limit the freedom of expression, lead to self-censorship, or be used to silence criticism or political opponents.”

Nakje Chulev, Minister of Internal Affairs of North Macedonia, said: “Censorship of hate speech in the media is primarily an obligation of the media themselves, their editorial policies and professional standards. The police neither can nor want to be somebody’s editor. What the police can do is strictly apply relevant laws incorporated in the country’s legislation.”

Katerina Sinadinovska, the President of the Council of Media Ethics, said: “It is important to continue promoting journalistic standards and make the media aware of their responsibilities. However, all efforts by the professional media community would be in vain if there were no response from the relevant institutions for sanctioning hate speech. Let us not forget that this is not just a violation of journalistic standards, but also a crime.”

Marina Tuneva, Director of the Council of Media Ethics, who presented the Charter of Ethical Reporting, stated that the Council’s data for 2019 show that 20 per cent of adjudications refer to cases of hate speech and incitement to violence or discrimination on different grounds. “The widespread presence of fake news, discrimination and hate speech, especially in the run-up to the elections, has imposed the need to confront these problems systematically and jointly.”

TIRANA, 4 February 2020 – At a high-level OSCE Chairmanship conference today, participants called for a co-ordinated effort, incorporating the experiences of targeted communities, to curb the tide of anti-Semitism in the OSCE region. This year’s annual event, organized by Albania’s 2020 OSCE Chair, brought together OSCE officials, representatives of participating States, Partners for Co-operation, international organizations and civil society to assess current challenges and share good practices in responding to anti-Semitism.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Prime Minister and Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Edi Rama, called on OSCE participating States to take firm action and to co-operate closely with international and civil society partners (or stakeholders) to counter anti-Semitism. “Fighting anti-Semitism and other forms of racism is not just a matter of will. It requires resolute action from governments to address the immediate concerns of physical security and to provide effective measures against hate-speech” he said. “It also requires solidarity from each and every one of us, who needs to take a stand against all manifestations of anti-Semitism wherever and whenever they appear: in our schools, in our families, on our streets and, increasingly, on the Internet”  

The importance of a co-ordinated and victim-centred approach was reiterated by numerous high-level speakers at the event, including the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Ingibörg Sólrún Gísladóttir; Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Kristian Vigenin; the Chair’s Personal Representative on Combating Anti-Semitism, Rabbi Andrew Baker; and the Director of the Office of the OSCE Secretary General, OSCE Ambassador Paul Bekkers.  

ODIHR Director Gísladóttir highlighted the value of joining efforts to counter anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance, especially for targeted communities. “When those most affected by prejudice stand together to reject all manifestations of intolerance, their voices become irrepressible,” she said.

Participants discussed the importance of leadership in forging more tolerant and inclusive societies, as well as the role of civil society organizations in building coalitions and acting as a bridge between state institutions and marginalized communities. The importance of education was also stressed, underlining the benefits that effective programmes can have in engaging youth in the promotion of a tolerant, inclusive and cohesive society.

Speaking about modern manifestations of anti-Semitism, Rabbi Baker emphasized the harmful impact that anti-Semitic attacks have on the Jewish community and on society at large. “When anti-Semitism goes unchecked, the Jewish community feels under siege and social cohesion is shattered,” he said. “Repairing the harm and restoring trust involves immense efforts on behalf of victim groups and society.”

During the conference, participants will explore measures to counter anti-Semitism through education and to strengthen the security of Jewish communities, including through the use of tools developed by ODIHR.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous 24 hours, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as aimed at SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicles near government-controlled Yurivka and the non-government-controlled Kuibyshevskyi district of Donetsk city.
• The Mission continued monitoring the security situation at the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• It saw a mortar in violation of withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region.
• It saw anti-tank mines near Orikhove and unexploded ordnance near Molodizhne.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints in non-government-controlled Verkhnoshyrokivske, Zaichenko and Kreminets, all in Donetsk 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 decreased 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 decreased from 9,971 to 9,853 per day at both BCPs compared to last week[1].

During the reporting period, the majority of border crossings were to the Russian Federation, with an average net flow of 55 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 18, compared to ten last week, 11 of them crossed into the Russian Federation, and seven into Ukraine (72 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, two families were observed crossing into the Russian Federation and three families were observed crossing into Ukraine, compared to the previous reporting period when no families were observed crossing to the Russian Federation and no families 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 (452 compared to 430 observed during the previous week). There were 222 buses bound for the Russian Federation and 230 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 slight decrease in the overall number of trucks crossing the border at both BCPs (716 compared to 725 during the previous reporting week); 384 at the Gukovo BCP and 332 at the Donetsk BCP, 392 of these trucks crossed into the Russian Federation and 324 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 decreased from 41 to 34. 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 decreased from 115 to 109. Of the total number of trucks scanned, 99 trucks (91 per cent) were bound for Ukraine: the remaining ten trucks (nine 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 increased from 77 to 97 vehicles; 44 crossed into the Russian Federation and another 53 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 13 trains were travelling to the Russian Federation and 11 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.

On 1 February at 21:55, a police car with Russian Federation licence plates entered the Donetsk BCP from the Russian Federation and parked behind the main building. At 22:10 the same vehicle left the BCP to the Russian Federation with three people on board including the driver.

For trends and figures at a glance covering the period from 28 January to 4 February 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).

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, between the evenings of 31 January and 1 February, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in both Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Between the evenings of 1 and 2 February, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region, compared with the previous 24 hours.
• The Mission continued monitoring the security situation at the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints in non-government-controlled Zaichenko, Bezimenne and Novoazovsk, all in southern Donetsk region.

VIENNA, 3 February 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, said today that he is relieved that Mykola Semena’s suspended sentence came to an end.

On 28 January, Semena, a Ukrainian journalist for RFE/RL, received documents from a district court in Simferopol confirming that his suspended sentence had been lifted and his criminal record expunged.

“I am glad that Mykola Semena is finally free,” said Désir. “I have long campaigned for his release; it was unacceptable that he was persecuted in the first place for expressing his views. I hope this means he will now be able to resume his journalistic work unhindered, and travel freely.”

A court handed Semena a two-and-a-half-years suspended prison sentence in 2017 for “public calls for actions violating the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation”, with an additional ban on “public activities” for a period of three years. The charges stemmed from an article he wrote in which he expressed his views regarding the situation on the Crimean peninsula.

“Semena’s case reminds us of the harsh conditions in which journalists work when covering the conflict in and around Ukraine. It is paramount to ensure safe working conditions for the journalists,” concluded the Representative.

See the Representative’s previous statements on the case here:

https://twitter.com/OSCE_RFoM/status/1217463729786363906?s=20;

https://www.osce.org/fom/345276; https://www.osce.org/fom/295336;

https://www.osce.org/fom/253091.

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.

BAKU, 31 January 2020 – During a visit to Azerbaijan ahead of next week’s parliamentary elections, OSCE PA President George Tsereteli reiterated the importance of international election observation missions in assessing and improving electoral processes in the OSCE region. 

President Tsereteli travelled to Baku on 30-31 January for a series of high-level meetings with officials, electoral stakeholders and representatives of political parties ahead of the upcoming Early Parliamentary Elections, taking place in Azerbaijan on 9 February 2020. 

He met with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ogtay Asadov, the Vice-Chair of the Milli Meclis and the Head of the Delegation of Azerbaijan to the OSCE PA Bahar Muradova, as well as with the Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov. Tsereteli stressed the importance of a transparent and competitive election, which enables voters to fully enjoy their fundamental rights and upholds Azerbaijan’s commitment to OSCE principles. He highlighted the importance of the upcoming election observation exercise in assessing compliance with Azerbaijan’s OSCE commitments. 

President Tsereteli also met opposition party leader Arif Hajili, Chairman of the Musavat Party, as well as Gultekin Hacibeyli, Board member of the National Council of Democratic forces, exchanging views on the current election- and campaign environment. 

“Elections are an opportunity to demonstrate and to assess the commitment to OSCE principles, not just on election day, but throughout the entire process.” Tsereteli said. “The authorities have announced an ambitious reform agenda, but this requires public trust in the newly elected parliament. Credible elections in a transparent and competitive environment, respecting freedoms of assembly, expression and assuring a fair candidate registration are therefore critical for future developments. A parliament must be the place where diverse and independent views, reflecting the diversity of the society it represents, can be debated without restrictions”. 

Following the meetings with local interlocutors, President Tsereteli also met with the Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission, Ambassador Peter Tejler and his team, to exchange their views on the upcoming joint Election Observation Mission of the OSCE/ODIHR and the findings of the recently released Interim Report of the Election Observation Mission. 

Upon invitation by the authorities of Azerbaijan, the OSCE PA will send a delegation of more than 60 observers to observe the Early Parliamentary Elections on the 9th of February 2020, deploying in several regions around Azerbaijan. Artur Gerasymov (MP, Ukraine) has been appointed by the OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office as Special Coordinator for the OSCE short-term observer mission and the OSCE PA delegation is headed by Elona Hoxha-Gjebrea (MP, Albania). 

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region.
• Civilian buildings were damaged by shelling in non-government-controlled Berezivske, in Luhansk region.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as aimed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle near Stanytsia Luhanska.
• The Mission continued monitoring the security situation at the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• It saw mortars in violation of withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region.
• The SMM monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to facilitate repair works to water wells near Slovianoserbsk.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint in non-government-controlled Diakove in Luhansk region and at checkpoints near non-government-controlled Sosnivske and Tavrycheske, in southern Donetsk region.

VIENNA / BELGRADE, 31 January 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Andrea Orizio, welcomed yesterday’s adoption of the new Strategy for the Development of the Public Information System in Serbia.

“Such a strategy is of critical importance to the Serbian media landscape,” Désir said. “My Office and the OSCE Mission to Serbia have, over the last couple of years, provided substantial assistance in order to ensure a climate that is conducive to media freedom in the country. I am pleased to see this has been fruitful.”

Orizio added: “The adoption of the Media Strategy, thanks to the joint commitment and inclusive effort of all stakeholders – the Serbian Government, professional associations, civil society organizations – is a major step towards a healthier media environment rooted in media freedom, ethics, professionalism and literacy.”

The strategy deals with, among other things, the independence and financial sustainability of public service media, the safety of journalists, the organizational and financial independence of the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM), the right of free access to information, and media pluralism, including national minority languages. It also includes the issue of state ownership in the Politika AD media company as well as in the Tanjug news agency.

The full implementation of this document will be crucial for its success and sustainability, they said, adding that the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and the OSCE Mission to Serbia stand ready to further support the media reform process.

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.

WARSAW, 31 January 2020 – Following amendments to legislation on ‘foreign agents’ that places  further restrictions on human rights organizations in the Russian Federation, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), said:

“I am concerned that the ‘foreign agents’ law will have a negative impact on civil society and free media and on their ability to operate freely in the Russian Federation. Recent amendments, which extend the status of a 'foreign agent’ to private individuals, impose new restrictions on the operation of media outlets categorized as 'foreign agents’, and increase the imposable fines”.

Pressure on Memorial organizations in Russia has increased in recent years, presenting even more challenges for such organizations to carry out their work. The International Memorial and the Human Rights Centre Memorial are facing fines and are involved in administrative court proceedings over alleged violation of the ‘foreign agents’ law.  

“I call on the Russian authorities to revisit the law and to ensure a safe and enabling space for civil society organizations, allowing them to continue their important work.”

The OSCE’s 57 participating States have committed to ensuring that individuals are able to exercise their freedom of association, including the right to participate effectively in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) seeking to promote and protect of human rights (Copenhagen 1990). Participating States further acknowledge the vital role played by human rights defenders, both organizations and individuals, in ensuring full respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Helsinki 1975). They also emphasized “the need for the protection of human rights defenders” (Budapest 1994), in line with the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

445180 OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier breaks bread on a visit to a Romanian language school in Comrat, 29 January 2020. OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Office of OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities organizes workshop on multilingual education in Moldova Office of OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities co-organizes conference to promote multilingual education in Moldova OSCE High Commissioner urges Moldova to implement integration strategy and encourages dialogue in joint working group on Gagauzia

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier focused on issues related to language and education during a visit to Moldova from 28 to 31 January 2020.

In Chisinau, Zannier met members of the parliament, where he discussed the law regulating the functioning of languages in Moldova. “The situation with regard to the law regulating the functioning of languages needs to be clarified following the Constitutional Court’s decision declaring the law obsolete,” he said.

The High Commissioner also encouraged all communities in the country to learn the state language to facilitate a stable and inclusive society, and to ensure the effective participation of all minority communities in public life.

The High Commissioner also met with representatives of different ethnic communities at the Coordinating Council of Ethno-cultural Organizations under the Agency of Inter-ethnic Relations to acquaint himself with the latest developments on issues related to his mandate. In particular, he received updates on the process to implement the National Strategy for Consolidating Inter-Ethnic Relations through the Action Plan 2017–2020, and discussed prospects for the next phase.

Zannier met with the Bashkan (Governor) of Gagauzia Iryna Vlah, and other institutional representatives. He encouraged his interlocutors to continue making progress in the political dialogue and expressed his support for the process.

In Comrat, he visited a Romanian-language school, where he met teachers and students, and gave a lecture at the university. He also travelled to the region of Taraclia, where he met representatives of the Bulgarian community and regional institutions, and visited the university.

The visit was organized with the support of the OSCE Mission to Moldova.

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 Mission continued monitoring the security situation at the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to facilitate maintenance to and the operation of critical civilian infrastructure, including the phenol sludge reservoir near Zalizne.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint in non-government-controlled Zaichenko, in southern Donetsk region.*

BERLIN, 31 January 2020 – The second high-level meeting of the Franco-German initiative for the comprehensive control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the Western Balkans, supported by the OSCE, was held today in Berlin. The meeting focused on progress evaluation and provided an occasion for Western Balkans representatives and their international partners to present the results reached thus far, as well as their proposals for further activities under the 2024 Roadmap.

Co-chaired by the German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas and the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian gathered ministers of foreign affairs and interior of the Western Balkans, high-level decision makers of the EU Commission, as well as numerous international organizations and bilateral donors.  

To date, the OSCE has received assistance requests from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Montenegro and developed a dedicated portfolio of extra-budgetary practical assistance projects in the field of SALW and SCA. 

OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger addressed the meeting reiterating the steady and regular support provided by the OSCE, which is complementary to the Franco-German co-ordination initiative. Greminger encouraged all the OSCE participating States to consider further funding to the OSCE led projects in support of Western Balkans SALW and SCA control activities.

“The OSCE remains open and ready to continue supporting the institutions of the region in the area of SALW and SCA, through dedicated projects and in close co-ordination with other international partners,” said Greminger.

The Organization has been actively engaged in support of the establishment of real-time police and customs data exchange in Southeast Europe. The aim is to tackle firearms and ammunition trafficking, raise awareness and foster community outreach initiatives on the dangers of firearms and ammunition misuse.

The OSCE also organised a side event presenting the OSCE Best Practice Guide on Deactivation of SALW. The Best Practice Guide serves as a practical tool for States to strengthen their capability to fight against illicit trafficking and misuse of SALW. It will further contribute to the 2024 Roadmap, ensuring that SALW control legislation is fully harmonized with the international regulatory framework by 2023 and that the collection and legalization of SALW is carried out using deactivation procedures that comply with international standards.

The 2024 Roadmap for comprehensive Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) control was endorsed at the Western Balkans Summit in London in July 2018, in the framework of the “Berlin Process”.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and fewer in Luhansk region.
• A man was injured by an explosive device in Marinka in Donetsk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the security situation at the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The SMM saw multiple launch rocket systems and towed howitzers in violation of withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region.
• In Luhansk region, the SMM monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable repair works and maintenance to essential civilian infrastructure, including water wells near Slovianoserbsk.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including on two occasions at a checkpoint in Verkhnoshyrokivske in southern Donetsk region.*

GENEVA, Switzerland, 30 January 2020 – The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stéphane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) met separately and jointly with Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Geneva on 28-30 January. They were joined in their meetings by the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Andrzej Kasprzyk.

Over three days of intensive discussions, the Co-Chairs and the Ministers discussed the following agenda items: implementation of agreements and proposals discussed in 2019 and possible next steps to prepare the populations for peace; principles and elements forming the basis of a future settlement; and timing and agenda for advancing the settlement process.

The Co-Chairs reiterated their full commitment to helping the sides find a peaceful solution to the conflict and the principle of confidentiality in the settlement process, as well as the need for creativity and a spirit of compromise to achieve a fair and lasting peace.

The Ministers agreed to meet again in the near future under Co-Chair auspices.

Joana Karapataqi, OSCE Presence in Albania Overview on project "Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism in prisons and within probation services"

The results of a project on preventing and countering violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT) in prisons and probation services were presented by the OSCE Presence in Albania on 31 January 2020 in Tirana.

“Through continued co-operation, Albania’s prisons can become ground for moderation and de-radicalization,” said the Head of OSCE Presence Bernd Borchardt. “We stand ready to continue supporting the relevant authorities in preventing and countering violent extremism in prisons and probation through an integrated approach.”

The Presence has contributed to mitigating VERLT risks in Albania through a four-track approach: by conducting, together with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), a needs assessment on the situation in prisons and probation settings; by developing a training module on the phenomenon of VERLT and building capacities for prison and probation staff; by strengthening regional co-operation; and by raising awareness and knowledge about VERLT and human rights based interventions to tackle it.

Some 300 prison and probation staff were trained on countering and preventing violent extremism; 220 young offenders on probation participated in awareness raising forums on preventing and countering VERLT; and some 200 Master students took part in open lectures on this topic

The project was implemented in close partnership with the National Co-ordination Centre on CVE, the General Directorate of Prisons and the General Directorate of the Probation Service.

The implementation of the project – financially supported by the Austrian, Swedish, German and Italian governments – started in November 2017 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Albanian Ministry of Justice and the National Co-ordinator on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE).

VIENNA, 29 January 2020 - The 20th Anniversary of the 1999 OSCE Istanbul Summit was marked at today’s meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) in Vienna, held under Turkey’s FSC Chairmanship. Speakers described the Summit as a “bridge-builder to the 21st century”, which could inspire OSCE participating States to step up a co-operative and constructive approach to addressing security challenges by reminding them of past common efforts to ensure peace, stability and security.

The discussion focused on the Summit’s landmark outcomes and the lessons learnt, with a particular focus on the Summit’s contribution to developing the FSC’s agenda.

“Istanbul with her then two bridges that connected both sides of the Bosphorus represented a unique metaphor as a ‘bridge-builder into the 21st century’”, said Chairperson of the Forum and Permanent Representative of Turkey to the OSCE Ambassador Engin Soysal as he opened today’s meeting. “Today the city has three bridges. Using Istanbul as a metaphor again, I hope today’s discussion will increase the efficiency of our Forum through building another bridge today.”

On 18 and 19 November 1999, Heads of State and governments of the OSCE participating States gathered in Istanbul for the Organization’s sixth summit. Among the outcomes was the European Charter for Security, which aimed at strengthening the OSCE's ability to prevent conflicts as well as its capacity to settle conflicts and rehabilitate post-conflict societies. An adapted Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) and an update to the Vienna Document on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures were also adopted, while efforts to combat the threats posed by small arms and light weapons and stockpiles of conventional ammunition were placed on the FSC agenda.

The first speaker to address representatives of participating States was Ambassador Hasan Göğüş, who headed the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s team to prepare the Summit. He also served as the country’s chief negotiator for the Adapted Treaty on CFE between 1997 and 2000.

He said: “Istanbul was the last summit that furthered the FSC’s work and agenda. It is the FSC which will play the role of a bridge today, carrying us from a more unpredictable and unstable security environment to an environment which is full of trust, confidence and security. As stated in the European Charter for Security’s paragraph 34, we should ‘broaden and strengthen our dialogue concerning developments related to all aspects of security within the FSC’s respective area of competence to address in greater depth security concerns of all participating States and to pursue the OSCE’s concept of comprehensive and indivisible security.’”

OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger put forward four suggestions on how to rekindle the co-operative spirit of the Istanbul Summit.

“First, we need to revitalize the concept of multilateralism. We should promote ‘meaningful multilateralism’ that brings visible benefit to people through the practice of genuine dialogue. Second, we need to preserve the principles and commitments that form the bedrock of our Organization. Third, we need a common vision for how we can overcome today’s security challenges, and in the longer term, for what a future European security architecture would look like. And fourth, we should maximize the effectiveness of our existing instruments to enhance our political dialogue,” he emphasized.

In terms of enhancing the Forum’s work, the OSCE Secretary General suggested strengthening co-operation between the FSC and the Permanent Council, providing the OSCE field operations with more opportunities to present and discuss at the FSC their work in areas relevant to the Forum’s mandate, and exploring avenues for enhancing the role of the FSC Chairmanship.

Captain Mehmet Cenk of the Turkish General Staff said that the Istanbul Summit showed that the OSCE offers a unique platform to enhance co-operative and comprehensive security, provided the participating States have the necessary political will.

“The outcomes of the Istanbul Summit constitute some of the milestones in the OSCE’s history that ensured our security for a long period of time in the beginning of the 21st century,” he said. “Turkey is determined to broaden and strengthen our dialogue concerning developments related to all aspects of security in the OSCE area.  Taking into account today’s global security threats, there is no national or unilateral solution. Political will supported by dialogue, co-operation, and effective co-ordination of efforts in countering these threats are key elements to our future security,” he added.

MINSK, 29 January 2020 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Heidi Grau, made the following statement to the press after the meeting of the TCG ‎and its working groups in Minsk on 29 January 2020:

“Today the meetings of the TCG and its Working Groups were focused mainly on the implementation of the conclusions of the Normandy Summit in Paris.

Assessing the general security situation in the conflict zone, I would like to note that the number of ceasefire violations in January remains below last year’s average level.

However, according to the data of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, the number of civilian casualties has increased since the end of the last year. Besides shelling, mines remain their main cause.

I urge the sides to take all the necessary measures to comply with the ceasefire and scale up their demining activities. I also underline the need for safe and secure access of the OSCE SMM, as required by its mandate.

These are key preconditions to prevent civilian casualties and ensure a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Now, in more detail, about the Working Groups meetings.

The Security Working Group continued its discussions to identify additional areas for the disengagement of forces and hardware. This topic will again be put on the agenda of the next meeting. Issues of demining activities were addressed as well.

The Humanitarian Working Group discussed the topic of missing persons.

I want to note that the issue of the full and unconditional access of the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as other international organizations, to all detained persons, as agreed by the Normandy Four leaders, remains open.

In the focus of the Economic Working Group were the issues of water supplies across the contact line in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (CADR and CALR). Issues related to pension payments and ensuring mobile communications were also addressed.

The Political Working Group focused on the issues related to the special status of CADR and CALR as well as the implementation of the ‘Steinmeier formula’ into Ukrainian legislation.”

445051 Željka Šulc

Judge Joanna Korner CMG QC[1] concluded today her visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina devoted to assessing the implementation of the recommendations provided in her earlier, 2016, OSCE-supported Report on war crimes processing at the state level in BiH.

Judge Korner met with the highest judicial officials at the state level and interviewed a number of stakeholders for this purpose.

“We are happy to host again Judge Korner and assist her in assessing the state of war crimes processing at the state-level in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH Kathleen Kavalec. ”We hope that the recommendations provided in the earlier report were taken on board and that Judge Korner’s new report will support judicial institutions in further improving their work on processing of war crimes,” said Kavalec.

“The United Kingdom Government is firmly committed to strengthening the rule of law in BiH and has been at the forefront in supporting the relevant institutions in dealing with the processing of war crimes cases since 2003,” said Matt Field, British Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina. “We are pleased we could support the work of Judge Korner, as well as the state Prosecutor’s Office in addressing some of her recommendations over the past three years. I hope the new report will help judicial institutions in BiH to make some serious progress in addressing challenges related to war crimes processing. We look forward to her new assessment and I expect relevant institutions to act on it,” said Ambassador Field.

A follow up report of Judge Korner will be published in spring 2020. 

[1] (in the UK) Companion (of the Order) of St Michael and St George