Central Europe

405461 Kunduz Rysbek

The OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek supported the conference Strengthening of the Inter-Confessional Dialogue, devoted to the issues of interfaith harmony and tolerance between representatives of various religious organizations of Kyrgyzstan, held on 5 December 2018 in Bishkek.

This Сonference concluded a series of forums held from June to October 2018 across all regions of Kyrgyzstan. The attention of the participants was drawn to potential obstacles and prospects in establishing interfaith dialogue, both at the regional level and nationally. The important role of religious leaders and civil society in the process of building a platform for interfaith dialogue was also highlighted.

“We must maintain democratic principles on religious issues in the country. Religion must remain the free choice of every citizen. There are destructive forces that are trying to shake the religious situation in the country. We should not let these forces influence peaceful co-existence between confessions. Therefore, we will create the Interfaith Council in Kyrgyzstan to strengthen the work of building dialogue and developing relations between representatives of different faiths,” said Zayirbek Ergeshov, Director of the State Commission for Religious Affairs of Kyrgyzstan.

This event was held in the framework of the implementation of the Concept on the State Policy in the Religious Sphere for 2014-2020. It helped to develop new approaches to strengthening interfaith dialogue, principles of respect for various beliefs, human rights and freedoms, religious tolerance, as well as preventing radicalism and extremism.

Pierre von Arx, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek reiterated OSCE’s continued support to interfaith dialogue. He commended the conference as it demonstrated how far Kyrgyzstan has come in embracing its multi-faith identity that exists in a secular context. “The OSCE has been supporting an educational pilot project called “Basic History of Religious Culture”, a secondary school course that teaches students the history of world religions. A special mention should be given to the state authorities for making this education mandatory for all schools in 2019.”

The conference resulted in creating the Interfaith Council of Kyrgyzstan – the first independent body that aims to preserve the existing interfaith dialogue and harmony in the country.  

405596 Marina Živaljević

A two-day training course on developing the 2019 Action Plan for the Implementation of the Montenegrin National Strategy for Youth concluded on 4 December 2018 in Petrovac. The event was organized by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and the Directorate for Youth within the Ministry of Sports.

Around 30 participants representing public institutions, local youth offices and NGOs dealing with youth discussed the pace and level of implementation of the National Strategy for Youth 2017-2021 in Montenegro. They also examined the implementation of the Action Plan for 2018 and developed the first draft of the Action Plan for next year based on the results achieved so far in the implementation of the Strategy. Draft 2019 Action Plan, which includes measures with budgetary implications, will be finalized after further consultations between the Ministry of Sports and relevant institutions.

“The importance of youth policy can never be overemphasized, as it seeks to address all issues preventing young people from realizing their full potential,” said Ivana Vujović, National Programme Officer at the OSCE Mission to Montenegro. She recalled that the Mission has a partnership with the Ministry’s Directorate for Youth and Regional Youth Co-operation Office (RYCO) initiative in Montenegro, through which it supports the implementation of the youth policy in the country.

Nenad Koprivica, the General Director for Youth in the Ministry of Sports, stressed the continued engagement of the Ministry in the process of consulting the interested public and preparing strategic documents for young people. He especially thanked the OSCE Mission to Montenegro for the support and very successful co-operation.

This activity is part of the overall support that the Mission provides in the area of youth participation through better positioning and increased co-operation among youth in the region. This support includes assistance to the RYCO initiative and the Directorate for Youth in the Ministry of Sports.

405464 Kunduz Rysbek

On 4 December 2018, the ceremony of the opening the irrigation system with a total length of 1,373 metres was held in the city of Kara-Suu, southern Kyrgyzstan. The irrigation system provides more than 1,000 households with access to irrigation water. The project was implemented by the Kara-Suu Mayor’s Office and local residents with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek (POiB).

Access to irrigation water remains a serious challenge in Kyrgyzstan especially in the southern part of country. With respect to irrigation supplies water management remains a key factor of economic and political security and stability in the country. Tensions and conflicts related to water use between multi-ethnic communities of the Kara-Suu district in southern Kyrgyzstan are common due to constant shortages of irrigation water.

In 2014 in order to prevent water-related conflicts and tensions in Kara-Suu, the POiB provided assistance to the Kara-Suu Mayor’s Office to rehabilitate three kilometres of the irrigation canal within the first phase of POiB’s project “Creating Conditions for Sustainable Development and Environmental Security in Kyrgyzstan”.

To this end, the POiB provided the Kara-Suu Mayor’s Office with reinforced concrete flumes to rehabilitate the canal. The importance of this result was noted by the State administration of Kara-Suu district, local residents and the Plenipotentiary Representative Office of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the south of Kyrgyzstan. The Mayor of Kara-Suu said  that it solved several critical problems for the city’s residents.

This year marked the conclusion of the second phase of the project, which not only contributes to conflict prevention, but also improves the economic conditions of the local residents through provision of uninterrupted water supply for agricultural use. 

405614 Kunduz Rysbek

On 30 November, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek in partnership with the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) held a round table on developing a legal framework for the introduction of an Advance Passenger Information (API) system in Kyrgyzstan.  

An API system is an electronic communication system that collects biographical information about passengers and flight details provided by an aircraft operator. The airline’s communications networks then transmit this data to the border control authorities in the destination country or in the country of origin before the flight departs or arrives at the destination airport. Due to this, the customs and border guards and other authorized bodies will be able to take the necessary response measures in relation to persons of interest in advance, while other passengers undergo less stringent controls. A legal framework for data capture, transfer and storage is needed for airlines to be able to obtain API data from passengers and to send it to the government authorities in the country. All legal provisions should comply with existing international standards.

The roundtable discussion brought together legal experts of the SCNS, State Border Service, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, State Registration Service and others to discuss ways of smooth and swift introduction of the API system. The experts stressed the need to develop legislation on API before starting the API implementation process, and recommended to set up a working group on developing relevant laws and regulations.

YEREVAN, 7 December 2018 – The international observers for the early parliamentary elections in Armenia will present their preliminary post-election statement at a news conference on Monday, 10 December, in Yerevan.

The mission is a joint undertaking of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the European Parliament (EP).

The statement will be delivered by Peter Osusky, Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission, followed by Aleksander Pociej, Head of the PACE delegation, Nahima Lanjri, Head of the OSCE PA delegation, Heidi Hautala, Head of the EP delegation, and Ambassador Urszula Gacek, Head of the ODIHR election observation mission.

The international election observation mission comprises some 320 observers from 39 countries, including 246 long-term and short-term observers deployed by ODIHR, 50 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA, 13 from PACE and 10 from the EP.

Journalists are invited to attend the press conference on Monday, 10 December, at 14:30 in the Milano Hall of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Grigor Lusavorich St. 4/2, Yerevan.

Live stream of the press conference will be available at: www.facebook.com/osce.odihr and www.oscepa.org.

For further information, contact:

Andreas Baker, OSCE PA, +45 60 10 81 26 or +374 (0)99 903 713, andreas@oscepa.dk

Thomas Rymer, OSCE/ODIHR, +374 (0)99 903 832 or +48 609 522 266, thomas.rymer@odihr.pl

Bogdan Torcatoriu, PACE, +374 (0)44 999 075 or +33 6 50 39 29 40, bogdan.torcatoriu@coe.int               

Julien Crampes, EP, +374 (0)43 062 570, julien.crampes@ep.europa.eu

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This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and more in Luhansk region.

The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines on both sides of the contact line.

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential civilian infrastructure as well as damaged houses. It continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.

The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate the transfer of human remains across the bridge in Shchastia.

The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas. It was also restricted in the Trudivski area of Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district and at a checkpoint near Zaichenko.*

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 110 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 450 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south-west of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk) and near Kamianka (government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk).

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 630 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 290 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas north-west and west of Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk), including about 410 explosions, and near the disengagement area close to Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), including about 150 explosions.

Disengagement areas[2]

On the evening of 4 December, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM heard 20 undetermined explosions and about 15 bursts and shots of small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 3-5km south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

During the day on 5 December, positioned on the eastern edge of Zolote-2/Karbonit (government-controlled, 62km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard about 25 undetermined explosions and 25 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 1-5km east (assessed as outside the Zolote disengagement area). On the same day, positioned in Pervomaisk (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard about 120 undetermined explosions and 135 bursts of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 3-5km north-north-east (unable to assess whether inside or outside the disengagement area). Positioned on the western edge of Pervomaisk, the SMM heard about 30 undetermined explosions and about 20 bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire, all at an assessed range of 5-7km north (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

During the day on 5 December, positioned about 2km north of Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard ten bursts of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 2-3km south (unable to assess whether inside or outside the disengagement area).  

Withdrawal of weapons

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.

In violation of the withdrawal lines

Government-controlled areas

4 December

• An SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted:
  • a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) near Klynove (68km north-east of Donetsk). 

Non-government-controlled areas

4 December

• An SMM mini-UAV spotted:
  • a mortar (2B-11 Sani, 120mm) near Dovhe (22km north-west of Luhansk);
  • a tank (T-64) near Khoroshe (36km west of Luhansk); and
  • five tanks (four T-72 and one probable T-72) near Novoselivka (16km west of Luhansk).

5 December

• An SMM mini-UAV spotted:
  • a surface-to-air missile system (9K33) near Zaichenko (26km north-east of Mariupol), in a zone within which deployment of heavy armaments and military equipment is further proscribed according to Point 5 of the Memorandum of 19 September 2014.

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites

Government-controlled areas

4 December

• An SMM mini-UAV spotted:
  • nine tanks (T-64B) on a pier in the port of Mariupol.

 

Non-government-controlled areas

4 December

• An SMM mini-UAV spotted:
  • 21 tanks (16 T-72 and five T-64) in a training area near Manuilivka (65km east of Donetsk).

Weapons that the SMM was unable to verify as withdrawn:[3]

Weapons storage sites beyond the respective withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas of Donetsk region:*

5 December

• Three mortars (2B11 Sani, 120mm) were present and
• 23 self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm),13 towed howitzers (seven 2A65 Msta-B, 152mm and six D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm), 13 anti-tank guns (MT-12 Rapira, 100mm), and 28 mortars (15 2B11, 12 M-120 Molot, 120mm and one BM-37, 82mm) remained missing.

Weapons verified as withdrawn:

At a permanent storage site beyond the respective withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area of Luhansk region

5 December

• A tank (T-64) remained missing.  

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[4]

Government-controlled areas

5 December

• an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BMP-2) in Popasna (69km west of Luhansk)
• an armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-70) in Avdiivka (17km north of Donetsk)
• five APCs (BTR-80) near Pavlopil (26km north-east of Mariupol)
• five IFVs (BMP variant) and an armoured reconnaissance vehicle (BRDM-1) near Trudivske (47km south of Donetsk)

Non-government-controlled areas

4 December

• An SMM mini-UAV spotted:
  • four IFVs (BMP-1), an APC (MT-LB), an armoured command vehicle (BMP-1 KSh), an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23, 23mm) and an armoured combat vehicle (type undetermined) near Dovhe and
  • an APC (BTR-80) and a trench digger (TMK-2) near Khoroshe.

5 December

• An SMM mini-UAV spotted:
  • two IFVs (BMP-2) and three APCs (one MT-LB with an anti-aircraft gun (ZU-23) and two BTR-80) in Luhansk city. 

Presence of mine hazard signs

On the northern edge of Luhanske (non-government-controlled, 15km south-west of Donetsk), the SMM saw for the first time three mine hazard signs (red and white squares with “Danger, mines” written on them in Russian) attached to barbed wire, which stretched across a road into an adjacent field. It also saw for the first time two mine hazard signs in a field next to a road leading from Luhanske to Syhnalne (non-government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk): one was a red and white square with “Mines” written on it in Russian and the other one was a wooden square with “Mines” painted on it in Russian. The SMM saw for the first time at least ten mine hazard signs, white squares with “Mines” written on them in Russian in fields on both sides of a road leading to the Cargill plant about 2km north-east of Kreminets (non-government-controlled, 16km south-west of Donetsk). 

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to the Petrivske water pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), to a water pipeline near Popasna, to water pipelines near Zaitseve (50km north-east of Donetsk), to power lines in Zolote-4/Rodina (government-controlled, 59km west of Luhansk), to damaged houses in Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk), as well as to the Marinka Gas Distribution Station in Krasnohorivka (government-controlled, 21km west of Donetsk). The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.

SMM facilitation of transfer of human remains across the bridge in Shchastia

The SMM monitored adherence to the ceasefire to facilitate the transfer of human remains from non-government- to government-controlled areas of Luhansk region across the bridge in Shchastia (government-controlled, 20km north of Luhansk).

The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnipro, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.

*Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (for example, see SMM Daily Report 3 December 2018). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.

Denials of access:

• An armed member of the armed formations denied the SMM passage through a checkpoint in the Trudivski area of Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district, citing instructions from his “superior”.
• Two armed members of the armed formations denied the SMM passage through a checkpoint north of Zaichenko, preventing the SMM from travelling west towards Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol) and south towards Sakhanka (non-government-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol).  

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to the three disengagement areas, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement, through failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.

[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. The SMM camera in Hranitne was not operational during the reporting period.

[2] Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.

[3] The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage did not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification from the SMM to the signatories of the Package of Measures on effective monitoring and verification of the withdrawal of heavy weapons.

[4] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

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MILAN, 6 December 2018 – With East-West relations at historic lows, a strong OSCE is needed to serve as a forum for real confidence-building, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President George Tsereteli (MP, Georgia) said today at the 25th OSCE Ministerial Council in Milan.

Addressing the opening session, the PA President stressed that it is up to governments to strengthen the OSCE, to pursue meaningful dialogue, and to demonstrate good faith in implementing commitments.

“What the OSCE needs from all of us is political support and the necessary resources to carry out its mandate,” Tsereteli said. “We in the Parliamentary Assembly are always happy to discuss the challenges of our region, to develop common approaches that deliver results, and to explore ways to strengthen this unique organization.”

He welcomed the call by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev for an OSCE summit in 2020 and recalled the words of the recently deceased U.S. President George Bush, who stated in 1989: “We can realize a lasting peace and transform the East-West relationship to one of enduring co-operation.”

“George Bush and other leaders who forged this organization understood that with Europe entering uncertain waters, the OSCE was ideally suited to help countries navigate,” Tsereteli said. “The vision that they had was to make the OSCE part of everyday politics. They wanted an active, influential organization, and saw the value of a robust parliamentary dimension to this organization.”

Tsereteli regretted that instead of focusing on resetting relations in Milan, much of the focus is instead on the escalation of tensions in the Kerch Strait between the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

“It is deeply worrying to hear news about shootings and blockades, instead of receiving information about successful efforts to end this grave European crisis,” he said.

The President also cited economic and environmental challenges, including climate change, and declining human rights standards as threats to comprehensive security. He noted that countries are abandoning international agreements that have served as cornerstones of stability and embarking on new arms races, highlighting that the OSCE’s “first priority is always the pursuit of peace, security and stability.”

He urged adjustments to the consensus rule and a strong OSCE presence in the field in order to increase the organization’s effectiveness.

Also speaking at the opening session today were OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Enzo Moavero Milanesi and OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger.

On Wednesday, the OSCE PA’s Bureau met for discussions on OSCE-related work. Bureau members heard from President Tsereteli, Treasurer Doris Barnett (MP, Germany), Secretary General Roberto Montella, and Deputy Foreign Minister Guglielmo Picchi, representing the Italian OSCE Chairmanship, who expressed appreciation for the added value of the OSCE’s parliamentary dimension.

Discussion in the Bureau meeting focused on the escalation of tensions between the Russian Federation and Ukraine in the Kerch Strait. Bureau members expressed concern over the situation and emphasized the need for restraint.

Tsereteli will be holding a series of bilateral meetings on the margins of the Ministerial Council, including with the delegations of the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

For President Tsereteli’s full remarks, please click here.

Photos from the OSCE PA’s participation at the Ministerial Council are available on Flickr.

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405485 Željka Šulc

Newly elected education authorities should focus on quality inclusive education dedicated to strengthening students’ skills and preparing them for a prosperous future, concluded participants at a conference on 6 December 2018 in Sarajevo. The event, titled #SviMožemoBolje, was organized by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

The conference gathered over 50 students and parents from all over BiH. They learned about positive initiatives and examples from their peers and shared lessons learned. They also conveyed their message about the importance of inclusive education to the newly elected education authorities in BiH.

“School should be a learning and growing community that brings out the best in all students and includes active engagement by students, parents, teachers, the school management, the local community and the responsible authorities. Considering all of this, we must know first our rights and obligations, and, then we can act with full responsibility for better education in BiH,” said Bruce G. Berton, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The OSCE Mission to BiH will continue to advocate at the highest level for respect for human rights, including the right to education free from all forms of discrimination, in line with BiH’s OSCE commitments.

MILAN, Italy, 6 December 2018 - On the occasion of the OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Milan, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries (the Russian Federation, the United States of America, and France) and the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov and Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan agreed to continue working towards a just and lasting peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Co-Chair countries welcomed the significant decrease in ceasefire violations and reported casualties following the conversation of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the margins of the Commonwealth of Independent States’ summit in Dushanbe in September.  They appealed to the sides to continue implementing the understandings reached there and to take concrete measures to prepare their populations for peace.  The Co-Chair countries expressed hope that an intensive results-oriented high-level dialogue between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia to promote a just and lasting settlement of the conflict can resume in the near future.

The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan and the Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia reaffirmed their commitment to work intensively to promote a peaceful resolution of the conflict and to further reduce tensions.  They agreed to meet again in early 2019 under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs for this purpose and in order to facilitate high-level talks.  They recognized the strong engagement and good-faith mediation efforts rendered by the Co-Chair countries, as well as the activities of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.

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TBILISI, 27 November 2018 – The Office of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities conducted a capacity-building workshop for the State Language Department of Georgia.

This was a practical follow-up to High Commissioner Lamberto Zannier’s meeting with the Chairman of the State Language Department, Giorgi Alibegashvili, during his visit to Georgia in September 2018, as well as to the HCNM’s prior engagement in providing advice to Georgia’s Parliament in drafting the Law on the State Language, which provided the basis for the establishment of the Department.

HCNM staff shared best practices on language policies and standards in OSCE participating States, based upon a balanced approach in the promotion of the state language and minority languages, particularly in the public sphere and education. This approach is reflected in the HCNM’s thematic recommendations, particularly The Oslo Recommendations regarding the Linguistic Rights of National Minorities (1998), and the belief that respect for linguistic diversity contributes to a peaceful and stable society.

Eleri James, Senior Infrastructure and Research Officer at the Welsh Language Commissioner, presented her office’s role and experience in the promotion of the Welsh language. Sergiu Constantin, Researcher at the Institute for Minority Rights, Eurac Research, presented South Tyrol’s linguistic diversity governance focusing on education, public administration, judiciary and the media.

The workshop was helpful to assess the needs and priorities of the State Language Department to assist it in its medium-term planning process, and to discuss avenues for possible future co-operation.

405431 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe supported the participation of a Tajik delegation of four governmental and four civil society representatives at the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Seventh Expert Forum on Criminal Justice for Central Asia. The Expert Forum was held from 27 to 29 November 2018 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Representatives of government agencies from Tajikistan’s Presidential Office, the Supreme Court, the Chief Military Prosecutor’s Office, and the Unit on Execution of Criminal Penalties under the Ministry of Justice participated in the event. The civil society representatives were from the Union of Advocates, the NGO Legal Initiative, the NGO Right and Prosperity and the NGO Human Rights Centre.

The Tajik delegation joined over 80 other participants, including prosecutors, judges, penitentiary staff, lawyers, civil society and police. They exchanged experiences so as to use the acquired knowledge in policy development and reform in the area of criminal justice, including the value of probation as an alternative sentence to incarceration available in the court system and the role of the judge as neutral arbiter in an adversary system.

The Expert Forum is a platform to formulate and discuss approaches on how to improve criminal justice systems in Central Asian countries. The discussions focused on criminal justice reform in the region, based on shared areas of interest and a common need for reform, harmonizing national legislation and practice in accordance with international standards and OSCE commitments.

Main conclusions and recommendations were documented and will be reported in a summary meeting report of the Expert Forum by the end of March 2019.

Milan, 5 December 2018 – On the eve of the 25th OSCE Ministerial Council, top-level OSCE representatives attended the closing session of the OSCE Parallel Civil Society Conference that took place today. They received recommendations directed at the OSCE’s executive and political bodies, institutions and participating States.

The recommendations, adopted by the civil society representatives at the end of the conference, are comprised of two documents, the first an appeal to the OSCE to listen to the voice of civil society and the second a statement on safeguarding NGO participation in OSCE events.

A third document, the Milano Declaration, contains proposals for reviving the OSCE comprehensive security concept, rebuilding democratic institutions and revitalizing the resilience of societies.

“Fresh ideas are always very welcome, even more in these difficult times, and we will certainly study your recommendations with care,” said OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger.

Referring to the practice initiated by the Swiss OSCE Chairmanship in 2014 of engaging in a human rights self-assessment, as proposed by the Civic Solidarity Platform that organizes the annual conference, the Secretary General welcomed the incoming Slovakian Chairmanship’s commitment to this process.

Marco Clemente, representing the 2018 Italian OSCE Chairmanship, emphasized the role of the Chairmanship during the year and the fact that only through an open and genuine exchange with civil society can participating States examine the implementation of OSCE commitments.

The Parallel Civil Society Conference has been held annually on the eve of OSCE Ministerial Council meetings since the 2010 OSCE Summit in Astana.

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This report is for the media and the general public.

Summary

• Compared with the previous reporting period, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission observed damage to a house caused by shelling in a residential area of Chermalyk.
• The SMM recorded ceasefire violations, including over 20 explosions, inside the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area and observed fresh shrapnel damage.
• The Mission observed weapons in violation of withdrawal lines near Mykhailivka and Alchevsk.
• The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to essential civilian infrastructure and houses on both sides of the contact line. It continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.
• The Mission monitored a court hearing related to the detained Mekhanik Pogodin tanker; the court ruled that the tanker should continue to be detained.
• The Mission’s access remained restricted in all three disengagement areas. It was also restricted at two weapons storage sites in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region and near Novolaspa.*

Ceasefire violations[1]

In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 450 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 210 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded south-east and south-west of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), at south-easterly and south-westerly directions of Kamianka (government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk) and south-west and north-west of Yasynuvata (non-government-controlled, 16km north-east of Donetsk).

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including about 290 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 35 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded west and north-north-west of Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov, non-government-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk), including over 150 explosions assessed as impacts of rounds of undetermined weapon(s), south-south-west of Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) and west-north-west of Yuzhna Lomuvatka (non-government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), including 50 explosions assessed as impacts of mortar rounds.

Shattered windows caused by shelling in a residential area of Chermalyk

On 3 December, the SMM observed fresh damage to a residential house in Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol), assessed as caused by the explosion of a recoilless-gun round (SPG-type) fired from an easterly direction. At 26 Nikitina Street, the SMM saw six shattered south-west-facing windows and four broken west-facing windows of a house. About 10-12m west of the house, the SMM observed a broken section of a power line and two freshly damaged trees, assessed as caused by metal fragments. A resident (a woman in her forties) of the house told the SMM that on the late afternoon of 1 December, while near the house, she had heard a whistling sound and seen a “red ball” flying from an easterly direction, followed by the sound of an explosion.

Disengagement areas[2]

On the evening of 3 December, the SMM camera in Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) recorded three projectiles in flight (from south-west to north-east, south-south-west to north-north-east and from east-north-east to west-south-west), at an assessed range of 0.5-1km south-east and south-south-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area).[3]

On the evening of 3 December, while on the eastern edge of Stanytsia Luhanska, the SMM heard 21 undetermined explosions and about 125 bursts and shots of heavy-machine-gun and small-arms fire, all at an assessed range of 3-4.5km south-south-west (all assessed as inside the disengagement area). While at the same location, the SMM also heard four bursts of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 2-3km south-south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area).

The following day, about 50m south-east of the forward position of the Ukrainian Armed Forces north of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge, the SMM saw fresh shrapnel (about 20 holes) damage to the south-east-facing side of tractor tyres used to fortify the position. About 100m south-east of the position, the SMM saw a hole in a road sign on the south-western side of the road leading to the bridge, assessed as caused by a round of an undetermined weapon fired from a south-easterly direction. The SMM was not able to assess the type(s) of weapon(s) used at either location.

At the checkpoint of the armed formations immediately south of the bridge, the SMM saw scorch marks on and fresh shrapnel damage to a north-facing concrete block. The SMM was not able to assess the direction of fire or the type of weapon used.

During the day on 4 December, the SMM observed a calm situation in the disengagement area near Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk).

Withdrawal of weapons[4]

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.

In violation of the withdrawal lines

Non-government-controlled areas:

1 December:

• 13 towed howitzers (D-30 Lyagushka, 122mm) near Mykhailivka (74km south-east of Donetsk) 

3 December:

An SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted:

• Two self-propelled howitzers (2S1 Gvozdika, 122mm) and two multiple launch rocket systems (one BM-21 Grad, 122mm and one BM-13 Katyusha, 132mm) in a compound in the south-eastern outskirts of Alchevsk (40km west of Luhansk).

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites[5]

Non-government-controlled areas:

30 November:

Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of:

• 14 tanks (type undetermined) in a training area near Buhaivka (37km south-west of Luhansk) (in the same area, aerial imagery revealed also the presence of 59 combat armoured vehicles (ACV)) (for previous observations, see SMM Daily Report 17 November 2018);
• 22 tanks (type undetermined), nine pieces of self-propelled artillery and 18 pieces of towed artillery in a training area near Myrne (41km south-east of Luhansk) (in the same area aerial imagery revealed also the presence of 78 ACVs) (for previous observations in the area, see SMM Daily Report 17 November 2018); and
• 28 tanks (type undetermined) in a training area near Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk) (for previous observations, see SMM Daily Report 17 November 2018).

3 December:

An SMM mini-UAV spotted:

• Three tanks (T-64) in a compound in the south-eastern outskirts of Alchevsk (see above).

30 November:

Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of:

• 28 pieces of towed artillery in a training area near Buhaivka (for previous observations, see SMM Daily Report 17 November 2018).[6]

Weapons that the SMM was unable to verify as withdrawn:[7]

Weapons storage sites beyond the respective withdrawal lines in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region:*

1 December:

• Eight towed howitzers (D-30) remained missing. 

3 December:

• Two towed howitzers (D-30) remained missing.

Weapons verified as withdrawn:*

A permanent storage site beyond the respective withdrawal lines in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region

4 December:

• Ten tanks (seven T-64 and three T-72) remained missing.

Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[8]

Government-controlled areas:

4 December:

• An infantry fighting vehicle (BTR-4) near Novobakhmutivka (28km north of Donetsk)
• An armoured personnel carrier (APC) (BTR-70) near Novoselivka Druha (36km north-east of Mariupol)
• An APC (BTR-70) near Artema (26km north of Luhansk)

SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure

The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to the Petrivske water pumping station near Artema, to a water pipeline near Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk), water pipelines at the pumping station near Vasylivka (non-government-controlled, 20km north-east of Donetsk), to power lines in Zolote-4/Rodina (government-controlled, 59km west of Luhansk), as well as to damaged houses in Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk). The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station.

Border areas not under government control

While at a border crossing point near Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk) for 45 minutes, the SMM saw 16 cars (six with Ukrainian and six with Russian Federation licence plates, and four with “DPR” plates) and six covered cargo trucks (four with Ukrainian and one with Russian Federation licence plates, and one with “DPR” plates) exiting Ukraine. The SMM also saw six cars (four with Ukrainian and one with Russian Federation licence plates, and one with “DPR” plates) entering Ukraine.

While at a border crossing point near Ulianivske (61km south-east of Donetsk) for about 30 minutes, the SMM observed no cross-border traffic.

 Gathering in Kyiv

The SMM saw about 30 people (men and women of different age groups) gathered in front of the Embassy of Georgia at 25 Shevchenko Boulevard in relation to reports that six Ukrainian citizens were arrested in Tbilisi on 2 December. The Mission heard some of them also expressing opinions critical of the Government of Ukraine. There were about 30 National Guard and police officers present, blocking the entrance to the Embassy. The gathering ended peacefully.

Court hearing related to Mekhanik Pogodin tanker

On 3 December, in Kherson, the SMM monitored a hearing at the Kherson Administrative Court related to the Mekhanik Pogodin tanker detained in the city’s port (see SMM Daily Report 16 November). The court ruled that the tanker should continue to be detained. The court also noted that the ruling would take effect in ten days, which was to be followed by 30 days of an appeal period.

The SMM continued monitoring in Odessa, Lviv, Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnipro and Chernivtsi.

*Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (for example, see SMM Daily Report 3 December 2018). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.

Denials of access:

• At a heavy weapons holding area in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region, a guard denied the SMM entry into the area.
• The SMM could not access a permanent storage site in a non-government-controlled area of Donetsk region, as no guards were present to open the locked gate.
• Two armed members of the armed formations at a checkpoint on the eastern edge of Novolaspa (non-government controlled, 50km south of Donetsk) denied the SMM access to the village, citing “safety and security” reasons.

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

• The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to the three disengagement areas, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement, through failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.

 

[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. The SMM cameras in Hranitne and Krasnohorivka were not operational during the reporting period.

[2] Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.

[3] The sentence on a new position and a 30m-long trench inside the Zolote disengagement area in SMM Daily Report 4 December 2018 should have read: a new position and a 30m-long trench (not visible in imagery from 8 November 2018) about 1.5km south of the area’s northern edge and about 500m east of its western edge (assessed as belonging to the armed formations).

[4] The sentence on towed howitzers (2A65 Msta-B, 152mm) in violation of withdrawal lines in a government-controlled area in SMM Daily Report 1 December 2018 should have read: towed howitzers (D-20, 152mm) near Lysychansk (75km north-west of Luhansk).

[5] ACVs mentioned in this section are not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

[6] The SMM was unable to assess whether these weapons were in violation of withdrawal lines in the absence of information on their calibre.

[7] The SMM visited areas previously holding weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage did not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification from the SMM to the signatories of the Package of Measures on effective monitoring and verification of the withdrawal of heavy weapons. The SMM noted that one such site continued to be abandoned.

[8] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.

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Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

Twenty five senior Tajik border officers of the Special Border Units successfully completed a four-week training course on sustained field operational capacities on 4 December 2018 in the Regional Training Centre of Khalkayor, some 230 km south of Dushanbe. 

During the training, participants enhanced their knowledge on map reading, pathfinding and provision of first aid in the field. They also focused on analysis and observation by the use of topographic maps, satellite imagery and other tools, as well as demining awareness. Practical field exercises on alpine topography, land navigation and tactical movement were another part of the training course.

The training was delivered by five instructors from the Tajik Border Troops who have completed the OSCE Patrol Programming and Leadership Project courses in 2017. It was conducted in the framework of a new project, “Patrol Field Capacity Building of the Tajik Border Troops through Promotion of Regional Co-operation”.

ROME/VIENNA, 5 December 2017 – At the invitation of the 2018 OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Enzo Moavero Milanesi, OSCE foreign ministers will gather in Milan, Italy, on 6 and 7 December 2018 to discuss major security issues in the region.

With over 40 foreign ministers from across the OSCE region expected to attend, the 25th OSCE Ministerial Council (MC) is the highlight of Italy’s 2018 OSCE Chairmanship and will set the course for the organization’s work next year, with Slovakia taking over the Chairmanship on 1 January 2019.

The MC will take place at Mi. Co. (Milano Congressi), Via Gattamelata.

Media opportunities

In addition to the Ministerial Council plenary meeting, a number of events will provide media opportunities, starting on Wednesday 6 December.

All media representatives accredited to the Ministerial Council are invited to attend the closing session of the OSCE Parallel Civil Society Conference 2018 organized by the Civil Solidarity Platform on Wednesday, 5 December 2017 at 16:00, at the Hotel Milano Enterprise, Corso Sempione 91, 20149 Milan. Civil Society Recommendations will be handed over to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. No additional press registration is required for the event.

On Thursday, 6 December, there will be two photo opportunities:

08:30 – 10:00 Photo-op pool 1 “Doorstep”

Arrival of Heads of Delegations

Journalists are requested to gather at the Meeting Point in the Media centre at 07:30

10.00 Photo-op pool 2 “Tour de table/Opening session”

Opening

Journalists are requested to gather at the Meeting Point in the Media centre at 09:15

Please note that the two pools are incompatible.

On the concluding day of the Ministerial Council – Friday, 7 December – a photo-op pool “Doorstep” will be organized during the arrival of Heads of delegations from 08:30 to 10:00.

Journalists are requested to gather at the Meeting Point in the Media centre at 07:30.

At 12.30 for the Closing Session there will be a photo/op pool “Tour de Table/Closing Session”

Journalists are requested to gather at the Meeting Point in the Media centre at 12:00.

Chairperson-in-Office Moavero Milanesi, OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger and incoming Chairperson-in-Office, Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajčak, will hold a joint press conference, following the official closing of the Ministerial Council (approx. 13:30) in the large press conference room.

Information on additional pooled photo opportunities that will be provided to photographers and press (no TV cameras) during both days of the Ministerial Council can be obtained at the media information desk in the MC media centre. Please note that for all pooled photo opportunities prior registration should be made at the Press Centre media desk.

Beyond the Ministerial Council – Thematic Side Events

Several events in the Media Centre 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. Specific information will be made available in the Media Centre and displayed on the CCTV screens.

Practical Information

All journalists accredited need to check in at Media Accreditation Centre to pick up their badges. There will be no access to Mi. Co. without a badge.

The Media Accreditation Center is located at the Enterprise Hotel, Corso Sempione 91, Milan (850 meters away from the Mi.Co), where badges can be picked up at the accreditation desk of the Italian MFA Press Service, on:

WEDNESDAY, 5 DECEMBER 2018:

10:00 - 20:00

THURSDAY, 6 DECEMBER 2018:

07:00 - 20:00

A shuttle service to transfer journalist from the Enterprise Hotel to the Mi. Co. will be available during the opening times of the Accreditation Center

The opening hours of the Media Centre are:

From 12:00 until 20:00 on Wednesday, 5 December 2018

From 07:00 until 22:00 on Thursday, 6 December 2018

From 07:00 until approx. 17:00 on Friday, 7 December 2018:

The opening hours of the media information desk, which is situated in the Media Centre, are:

From 12:00 until 17:00, Wednesday, 5 December      

From 08:00 until 20:00, Thursday, 6 December      

From 08:00 until approx. 17:00 on Friday, 7 December      

You can follow the Ministerial Council on Twitter via #OSCEMC18 and #WayToMilan, at @ItalyatOSCE, @ItalyMFA, @OSCE, and @OSCE_ru.

For more information go to:  www.osce.org/event/mc_2018 or www.esteri.it/mae/en/politica_estera/osce/la-presidenza-italiana-dell-osce.html  

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.

MC Plenary sessions, as well as the closing press conference on 7 December will be streamed online at www.osce.org/live .

Photographs by the host photographer for use by the media and delegations can be downloaded from bit.ly/OSCEMC18photos. Requests may also be sent by email to COMMS-Online@osce.org.

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405203 Lia Gigauri (c), Deputy State Minister at the Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civil Equality, speaks at the opening of the ODIHR roundtable, as Dan Pavel Doghi (l), Chief of the ODIHR Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues, and ODIHR consultant Levan Samadashvili (r) listen. Tbilisi, 4 December 2018. Public Affairs Unit, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Understanding the challenges impeding the full access of Roma in Georgia to identity and civil registration documents, as well as the way forward to address this issue, was the focus of a roundtable event organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on 4 December 2018 in Tbilisi.

The event brought together 35 participants (28 women and 7 men) from the national and local authorities, Roma and non-Roma civil society organizations and international organizations. They discussed the difficulties for Roma in gaining civil registration and examined the specifics of how lacking personal documents impacts negatively on the capacity of Roma to enjoy basic rights, as well as to benefit from public services.

“A number of policy reforms undertaken by the Georgian government in the field of identity management and civil registration have resulted in an overall improvement in these processes. However, a simplification of procedures alone has not entirely solved the documentation problem for Roma, who continue to live on the fringes of society, facing socio-economic issues and discrimination,” said Dan Pavel Doghi, Chief of ODIHR’s Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues. “Proactive measures by relevant state authorities are needed to address these issues.”

“It is in every State’s interest to ensure that its entire population has identity and civil registration documents as a means to providing citizens with full access to public services and education and equipping them with the necessary skills to become active contributors to their society,” said Lia Gigauri, Deputy State Minister at the Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality. “The identity management reforms in Georgia provide a good basis for this.”

As part of the event, participants reviewed and discussed the preliminary findings and recommendations of two ODIHR-supported background papers on issues related to the topic. They highlighted the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to addressing these issues, comprising proactive and positive measures, awareness-raising and civic education activities, and support to vulnerable communities. The participants also stressed the need to ensure the meaningful participation of vulnerable minorities in decision-making processes concerning them.

“More joint efforts are required on the part of different authorities, in co-operation with civil society organizations, to reach out to Roma communities and raise awareness of the importance of documentation and of their rights,” said Roma community co-ordinator Elena Proshikian.

405323 Anna Vorobeva OSCE Mission to Moldova

The OSCE Mission supported a workshop strengthening the capacity of fifty legal professionals from both banks of the Dniester/Nistru River to provide legal assistance to the population on documentation-related issues. The event took place on 30 November in Chisinau. Varying practices of the documentation process on both banks prevent the population from effectively exercising their rights. Issues related to civil status and documentation are a part of the discussions between Chisinau and Tiraspol within the framework of the settlement process.

During the workshop, the participants exchanged best practices in  aiding clients to prove their civil status as well as to obtain identification documents. The lawyers familiarized themselves with a by-law elaborated by the Moldovan Government in 2018 to facilitate the recognition of changes to civil status that occurred in Transdniestria. They also examined recent amendments to the Regulation on Moldovan citizenship, which have simplified the process of acquiring Moldovan citizenship by the residents of Transdniestria.

“This year we have seen positive changes introduced to the legislation that regulates civil status documents. Therefore the topic of the workshop is relevant. Legal  professionals from both banks were able to build new contacts and to jointly identify solutions to issues of common interest,” said Vladimir Tarasov, an attorney trainee from Chisinau.

In addition to the November workshop, the Mission conducted four capacity-building events for lawyers this year on the freedom of movement, legal assistance to the victims of domestic violence and tackling discrimination in employment.

These professional workshops have a strong focus on international law and are an offshoot of the Human Rights Club meetings that were organized by the OSCE Mission to Moldova from 2013 to 2017. The Human Rights Club meetings served as a communication platform and a confidence-building measure between legal and civil society professionals on both banks of the Dniestr/Nistru River.

405350 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

Over 70 university students and teaching staff attended lectures on the role of women in the security and development process from 3 to 5 December 2018 in Ashgabat. The event was organized by OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. Swanee Hunt, the Eleanor Roosevelt Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in the United States, delivered the lectures, focusing on women’s active participation in conflict prevention and resolution, peace building and policy making.

The students had an opportunity to discuss traditional concepts of security and the issue of women in leadership. They examined real cases that demonstrate the critical role played by women in forestalling or stopping violent conflicts. Based on a multidisciplinary approach, the seminars explored theoretical questions at a practical level, highlighting successful women-led initiatives with respect to conflicts around the world.

In addition to presenting various women’s experiences across cultures in confronting violent conflict, the seminar explained how gender stereotypes impact public policies to address security threats and peace challenges. The participants were presented with several examples of individual countries’ successes and failures in relation to women, peace, and security.

“The lectures for students and professors of the International University for Humanities and Development and Institute of International Relations of Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry were organized in the framework of the Centre’s project on preventive diplomacy and aimed to share international instruments and best practices in the area of early warning and conflict prevention,” said Natalya Drozd, Head of OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. She also added that the seminars will add value to OSCE efforts in promoting gender mainstreaming and encouraging the active participation of women in security sector reform and the peacebuilding process.

“A strong emphasis was laid on women’s exemplary contribution to ensuring just and lasting peace and to changing the international security paradigm by increasing the participation of all stakeholders, of women in particular,” Hunt said.

In addition to the lectures, Hunt conducted the seminars on the same topic for public officials and representatives of civil society in Turkmenistan.

The Entrepreneurship Support Centre (ESC) in Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s second largest city, marked its first anniversary on 4 December 2018, in a celebration organized by the Centre together with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.  The mission of the ESC is to provide information and consulting support to entrepreneurs, as well as to form, prepare and promote high-quality business initiatives for the development of entrepreneurship in the Osh region.

The special occasion was attended by representatives of the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Osh region, the Agency for the Promotion and Protection of Investments of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Southern Department of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Regional Council of Entrepreneurs, the Osh-JIA Business Association (Association of Young Entrepreneurs),  the Inspectorate for Sanitary, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Security under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Customs Service of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Regional Investment Council under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (RIC), the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Osh,  the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the German development agency (GIZ), as well active entrepreneurs of the region and media representatives.

“The Centre was established on the basis of a public-private partnership. A number of state and municipal services for businesses are available thanks to the ESC,” said Iskender Subankulov, the director of the ESC in Osh. According to him, the Centre has consulted over 450 entrepreneurs since its opening. The noted that the ESC plans to develop a series of TV programmes about business in the region. The ESC also plans to further co-operate with the Congress of Women of Kyrgyzstan on teaching women the basics of business planning, as well as opening youth business clubs for training and mentoring start-up entrepreneurs.

“The Entrepreneurship Support Centre serves as a “synergy point” to simplify business procedures and obtain the public services necessary to implement projects. This is an additional opportunity to stimulate business activity in the region,” said Kalys Khasanova, National Programme Officer in the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

The ESC was established in 2017 on the basis of  a Memorandum between the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Osh region, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, the Agency for Promotion and Protection of Investments of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Osh JIA business association (Association of Young Entrepreneurs), GIZ and UNDP.

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405173 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

A two-day training course for public transport employees to improve their understanding of persons with disabilities who use public transport was organized in Dushanbe on 29 and 30 November 2018. Marking the celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the event was organized by the League of women with disabilities “Ishtirok” with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe.

The course brought together 15 employees of transport authorities and representatives of disability rights organizations. The training sessions aimed to sensitize participants to disability, reduce prejudice, and enhance their knowledge of rights-based approaches to disability issues and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

During the practical component of the training, the participants learned to work with persons with disabilities at bus stations in Dushanbe. The state motor pool of Dushanbe supported the event by providing a bus with low entry and a ramp for wheelchair users.

“Thanks to this training course, both, persons with disabilities and bus drivers gained a deeper understanding of each other, and realized that they can work together to remove the existing barriers, ” said Sitora Kurbonova, Head of the Public Organization “Safoi Konibodom” and one of the trainers of the event. “We understood that it is not always the driver’s fault if they don’t stop where disabled persons can get on or off, or provide audio announcements for persons with poor sight. The next steps we can take together will be geared towards enabling a better access to public transport for persons with disabilities.”

Friederike Behr, Human Rights Officer at the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, said: “The training helped to remove existing prejudices about disabled people in the community. This is no less important than the practical exercises we had.”

Similar trainings will be conducted in the cities of Khujand and Bokhtar in December 2018.