Central Europe

510779 Marina Živaljević

On 24 January 2022, the Gender Equality Committee of Montenegrin Parliament unanimously adopted the new Action Plan for a Gender-responsive Parliament 2022–2024. The document was developed with the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, as part of a long-standing co-operation with the Committee in promoting gender equality principles.

Previously, the Mission supported the development and effective implementation of the first Gender Action Plan (GAP) 2016–2018, a document that was the first of its kind in the region and thus recognized as a role model for other parliaments.

Božena Jelušić, Chair of Gender Equality Committee, said that the GAP 2022–2024 is a document that aims to achieve goals by measuring concrete results and represents the Parliament’s readiness to improve gender equality in Montenegro. “As an example of inclusiveness and advocacy of equal access to opportunities, the Parliament is the first to be called upon to make a difference in the access of power, for instance by offering women a significant role in the decision-making processes,” said Jelušić.

Siv-Katrine Leirtroe, Deputy Head of the Mission, stated that gender mainstreaming remains a priority for the OSCE and the Mission to Montenegro. “The level of political participation of women and of general understanding of the gender equality concepts still requires further improvement. It is of utmost importance to strengthen our efforts in order to create and maintain a gender sensitive approach, making sure the work of Parliament reflects the gender equality commitments, as outlined in national strategies and action plans,” said Leirtroe.

During the Committee session, Mission-engaged consultants Sanja Elezović and Olivera Komar, who drafted the Action Plan for a Gender-responsive Parliament 2022–2024, presented the process of developing the document and its key objectives and activities.

WARSAW/WASHINGTON, 27 January 2022 – On today’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the OSCE calls for greater efforts to find new forms of remembrance and education in order to fight back harder against anti-Semitism and build peaceful societies free from hate and prejudice.

“On this day, we commemorate the 77th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp and pay tribute to all victims who perished as a result of the brutal German Nazi persecution: six million Jews, half a million Roma, Poles, Soviet citizens and representatives of many other nations, national minorities and other targeted groups and individuals,” said OSCE Chairman-in-Office Zbigniew Rau. “But we also need to be forward-thinking if we are to find lasting solutions and end the ongoing hatred that blights so many societies.”

As the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust is marked worldwide, we are reminded that anti-Semitism is a pernicious form of hatred that cannot be confined to a distant and painful past. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Jewish communities have been among those targeted by baseless conspiracy theories, negative stereotyping and scapegoating. Protests against public health measures have included Holocaust symbols and imagery, grossly trivializing, diminishing and misappropriating the Holocaust and devaluing the suffering of its victims. Many anti-Semitic and other hateful narratives are spreading unchecked, with a devastating impact on the communities attacked and a particularly damaging effect on young people.

“Today, we remember all those who were murdered – not for anything they had done, but for who they were,” said Matteo Mecacci, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). “With ever fewer survivors left to tell us about the horrors they experienced and declining knowledge among young people about the tragedy of the Holocaust, the importance of Holocaust commemoration and education cannot be underestimated. These are the best – and sometimes only – tools at our disposal to ensure those horrors are never repeated.”

ODIHR is publishing the seventh edition of its overview of Holocaust remembrance and education today. Providing information on the commemoration and study of the Holocaust and the genocide of Roma and Sinti across the OSCE region, the overview encourages governments to draw on each other’s good practices and further develop their own activities in the future. In recognition of the importance of education in combating anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance, ODIHR has also developed numerous resources to counter prejudice, including dedicated curricula for schools developed together with UNESCO.

“Looking back on those dark days, we recall all the steps that were not taken, the doors that were shut, the heads that were turned, that might have otherwise prevented the Holocaust,” said Rabbi Andrew Baker, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office on Combating Anti-Semitism. “We cannot change the past, but it is in our hands to stop the scourge of anti-Semitism and broader hatreds that threaten us today and in the future. Remembrance must be a call to action.”

To address current challenges related to anti-Semitism across the 57 countries of the OSCE region, the Polish OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office is organizing an OSCE-wide conference on 7 and 8 February in Warsaw.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 403 ceasefire violations, including 26 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 39 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 57 ceasefire violations, including seven explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 163 ceasefire violations in the region.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near government-controlled Pyshchevyk, Donetsk region.*
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske.
• The SMM monitored the operation and repair of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at three entry-exit checkpoints and the corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM visited a border crossing point outside government control in Donetsk region.
• The Mission monitored the security situation in east Kherson region.
• The SMM monitored a gathering in Kyiv.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted. Its UAVs again encountered multiple instances of GPS signal interference assessed as caused by probable jamming.*

KYIV, 26 January 2022 – The Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen, made the following statement to the press after the regular meetings of the TCG ‎and its Working Groups held through video conferencing:

“Today the TCG met for its first session of the year. During its last meeting, on 22 December  the participants expressed their determination to fully adhere to the ceasefire agreement of 22 July 2020. Even though ceasefire violations decreased by more than 70 %, compared to last month, the commitment has not been sufficiently implemented. 

Participants of the Security Working Group engaged into discussions on security guarantees, additional measures to the ceasefire and a coordination mechanism. However, differences in their positions remain.

I welcome that the Political Working Group was able to discuss a number of substantive issues, pertaining to decentralisation and political settlement of the conflict.

The coordinator of the Humanitarian Working Group informed about her recent trip to the conflict affected areas on both sides of the contact line. During the session, participants discussed possible modalities for the opening of crossing points and future release and exchange of conflict-related detainees.

Economic Working Group discussed matters related to water supply and ecological hazards linked to flooding of mines along the line of contact.

In response to the request by the Chair of the OSCE, Turkey has preliminarily offered Istanbul as a potential venue for the TCG meetings, provided that there is consensus. For this, I express my gratitude to Turkey. I informed participants of the discussions about this opportunity to return to in-person meetings. I am convinced that face-to-face meetings will enhance the quality and confidentiality of our discussions.”

Marina Živaljević

Siv-Katrine Leirtroe, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, welcomed the commitment by the State Election Commission (SEC) to amend internal rules and procedures to ensure its meetings are public.

This has been a long-standing recommendation by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

“This decision will result in greater openness and accountability of the SEC, which is a necessary step in ensuring a transparent election management body,” said Leirtroe, adding that the Mission will be working with the SEC in the coming months to ensure all meetings can be livestreamed.

According to the Survey on Public Perceptions and Confidence in Election Management Bodies in Montenegro, commissioned by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro and published in November 2021, there was a need to further strengthen the transparency and professionalism of election management bodies. As many as 87.3% of citizens believed that opening sessions to the public would contribute to greater public confidence in the work of the SEC and the election process as a whole.

VIENNA, 26 January 2022 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro today launched the SAIFE Policy Manual, a publication that puts a spotlight on the impact of artificial intelligence on freedom of expression.

“The way online information is curated and moderated has a direct and significant impact on global peace, stability and comprehensive security,” Ribeiro said. “This year’s 25th anniversary of the Mandate of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media provides an important moment in time to address the challenges to freedom of expression that stem from the use of digital technologies, including automation and artificial intelligence (AI).”

The SAIFE Policy Manual is the culmination of two years of research and several expert workshops, bringing together the knowledge and expertise of more than 120 of the most renowned scholars and practitioners in the field of freedom of expression, media freedom, technology, and security. The publication provides comprehensive policy guidance for States to ensure that online information spaces are in line with international human rights standards and realize the key principles of transparency, accountability and public oversight.

The SAIFE Policy Manual – which is the outcome of a successful partnership between the OSCE and the digital rights organization Access Now – provides technical, actionable and human rights-centric recommendations on safeguarding free speech while using AI in content governance. In particular, it focuses on the use of AI in content moderation to detect and evaluate (a) illegal content online, including security threats such as extremist and terrorist content, and (b) potentially harmful but legal content, with a specific focus on online hate speech and algorithmic discriminatory bias. The Manual also focuses on AI that is designed and deployed for curating and personalizing online content and its impact on media pluralism, as well as its nexus to surveillance-based advertising.

The SAIFE Policy Manual can be found here:  https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/510332

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

510611

OSCE, jointly with the Council of Europe, organized a training course on financial investigations, cryptocurrencies and the use of the darknet for police officers, prosecutors, and representatives of the National Security Service, Investigative Committee, and the Central Bank of Armenia. Over 20 participants attended the training course held from 19 to 21 January in Yerevan.

The training course introduced matters of financial investigations and intelligence gathering for financial fraud and money laundering offences, as well as handling of virtual currencies and the use of the darknet in criminal investigations. The interactive course was concluded by case-based and simulation exercises, where participants applied the theoretical knowledge they had gained through the course.

The training course aims to strengthen the capacities of Armenia to address cybercrime by enhancing the responsiveness of the criminal justice system.

The training programme is part of the OSCE extra-budgetary project “Capacity Building on Combating and Preventing Cybercrime in Armenia”. The project is implemented by the Strategic Police Matters Unit of the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and funded by Germany.

510698

The European Union will fund a 24-month project on building effective and accountable institutions in Armenia, based on the principles of good governance and respect for the rule of law. The project will be jointly implemented by the OSCE, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

A launch event took place in Yerevan on 25 January and gathered representatives of the Government of Armenia, diplomatic community, international organizations, civil society, and media.

At the launch event ceremony, Paweł Cieplak, Ambassador of Poland in Armenia, Representative of the Polish OSCE Chairmanship emphasized: “The Armenian Government’s pledge to ensure an effective and accountable police service is a critical pillar of safety, security and stability in the country. This pledge goes hand in hand with the OSCE’s efforts to build stability and thus sustainable peace.”

The project will support the reform agenda of the Government of Armenia. Key areas of engagement include enhancing a rights-based approach in public service delivery, promoting security sector governance and reform, and fostering the process of constitutional reform.

The project objectives are achieved through implementation of three components, based on the most imminent national reform priorities in the following fields: The police reform component is implemented by UNDP and OSCE, in close co-operation with the Ministry of Justice and the Republic of Armenia Police, and supports implementation of the ongoing police reforms, with a special emphasis on the reform of the educational system and establishment of a new Ministry of Interior. Focus areas of OSCE support will be strengthening the police education system, developing a community policing framework and ensuring transparency, accountability, and effectiveness in relation to the establishment of the new Ministry of Interior.

The component on human rights is implemented by UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA and focuses on (i) capacity building of the Office of the Human Rights Defender and Office of the Representative of the Republic of Armenia on International Legal Matters, (ii) promotion of human rights awareness and education, (iii) improved Human Rights Action Plan monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

The constitutional reform component is implemented by UNDP and aims to contribute to advancement of constitutional reform process through empowerment of key national stakeholders, provision of expert advice and best practices.

The Embassy of the Netherlands in Armenia will contribute to the police reform efforts and partly fund the OSCE community policing related activities.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 39 ceasefire violations, including 23 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 36 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 163 ceasefire violations, including 110 explosions, 34 of which were assessed as a live-fire exercise outside the security zone. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 146 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske.
• The Mission monitored the operation and repair of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and the corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission observed a gathering in Kyiv.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted. Its unmanned aerial vehicles again encountered instances of GPS signal interference assessed as caused by probable jamming.*

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, between the evenings of 21 and 23 January, the SMM recorded 132 ceasefire violations, including 19 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 75 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, between the evenings of 21 and 23 January, the Mission recorded 191 ceasefire violations, including 34 explosions, 45 of which were assessed as a live-fire exercise outside the security zone. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 156 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske.
• The Mission monitored the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at five entry-exit checkpoints and five corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission monitored the security situation in east and south-east Kherson region.
• The SMM observed gatherings in Lviv and Kherson.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at three checkpoints of the armed formations near Novoazovsk, Yasynuvata, and Horlivka, Donetsk region. Its unmanned aerial vehicles encountered multiple instances of GPS signal interference assessed as caused by probable jamming and jamming.*

510593

On 24 and 25 January, the Transnational Threats Department and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, in co-operation with the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, jointly hosted a two-day workshop on youth crime and drug use prevention in Bishkek.

The workshop was held in the framework of the OSCE-wide project “Enhancing youth crime and drug use prevention through education on legality and awareness campaigns addressing threats of organized crime and corruption”. The project aims to prevent transnational organized crime, corruption and drug use, by complementing criminal justice efforts and promoting respect for the rule of law through education.

During the workshop, representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy and the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as secondary school teachers, university professors and civil society representatives discussed trends, challenges and best practices on preventing youth drug use and involvement in and exploitation by organized crime and corruption. Participants also identified capacity needs for further training in the respective field.

Project managers Eni Gjergji and Denise Mazzolani said: “It is crucial to bring all relevant actors in youth crime and drug use prevention together. Only through their exchange of challenges and best practices, can we ensure co-ordinated efforts and identify priority areas for capacity-building.” They further emphasized: “The OSCE stands ready to continue to support the Kyrgyz Republic in strengthening its capacities in educating youth on the threats of organized crime, corruption and drug use to foster a sustainable and effective culture of lawfulness and integrity.”

In close co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic, the workshop will be followed by the development of a needs-tailored training-of-trainers programme, which is designed to train state actors, teachers, professors, and members of civil society on the use of the UNODC Education4Justice and Global Programme on Prevention materials. The materials provide educators guidance on the effective ways of training youth on the threats of organized crime, corruption and drug use.

This extra-budgetary cross- dimensional project is funded by Germany. 

510563 OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities launches first-ever digitalized Macedonian-Albanian/Albanian-Macedonian phrasebook OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier discusses social cohesion in North Macedonia

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov expressed his support for North Macedonia’s ongoing efforts towards developing its strategy of One Society for All as an effective framework to help improve social cohesion.

During his three-day visit to the country, the High Commissioner had the opportunity to congratulate Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski on his new role. They also discussed matters related to strengthening the cohesion of North Macedonia’s multi-ethnic society.

Abdrakhmanov also met with President Stevo Pendarovski; Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani; First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Political System, Inter-Community Relations Artan Grubi; Speaker of the Parliament Talat Xhaferi; Director of the Agency for Communities Rights Realization Eran Kurtish; and National Coordinator for Interculturalism, One Society, Cultural Development and Inter-Sectorial Cooperation Robert Alagjozovski. In those meetings, Abdrakhmanov discussed best practices pertaining to diversity governance, including the continued efforts towards implementing One Society for All, which his office supports through technical assistance to the National Coordinator for Interculturalism, One Society, Cultural Development and Inter-sector Cooperation.

Abdrakhmanov met several representatives of the Parliament’s Inter-Community Relations Committee, which consists of parliamentarians from the Macedonian, Albanian, Turkish, Vlach, Roma, Serbian and Bosnian ethnic communities, to hear the Committee’s views and priorities. He said the Committee has an important role in fostering cohesion by representing the interests of different communities in the country. 

The High Commissioner took the opportunity to commend the authorities for assuming the role of OSCE Chair in 2023 and offered his support as they join the OSCE Troika this year. “I am confident that this great honour will provide North Macedonia with yet another avenue to demonstrate its determination and commitment as a constructive actor and contributor to promoting OSCE commitments and principles,” he said.

During his trip, Abdrakhmanov visited, the South-East European University in Tetovo, also known locally as the “Stoel University” after the first High Commissioner on National Minorities, Max van der Stoel, who initiated the idea of establishing a multilingual higher education facility in North Macedonia.

The High Commissioner thanked Clemens Koja, OSCE Head of Mission in Skopje, for his support throughout the visit. Abdrakhmanov also expressed his gratitude for the many opportunities to exchange views on diversity governance in the country and the continuation of their offices’ close co-operation to support North Macedonia in strengthening social cohesion.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 75 ceasefire violations, including 14 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 152 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 156 ceasefire violations, including 50 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 268 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske.
• The Mission monitored the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at five entry-exit checkpoints and three corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission visited two border crossing points and monitored areas near the border outside government control in Donetsk region.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at two checkpoints of the armed formations near Yasynuvata and Kreminets, Donetsk region.*

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 152 ceasefire violations, including 92 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 68 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 268 ceasefire violations, including 113 explosion. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 15 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM corroborated reports of two civilian casualties in non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at a Mission mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near non-government-controlled Petrivske and another SMM mini-UAV was lost near government-controlled Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region.*
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area near Zolote.
• The Mission monitored the operation and repair of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at three entry-exit checkpoints and three corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The Mission monitored two crossing points on the border with Belarus and saw that they were open, with traffic entering and exiting Ukraine at one of them.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at two checkpoints of the armed formations near Nova Marivka and Starolaspa in southern Donetsk region. Its unmanned aerial vehicles again experienced instances of probable jamming.*

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 68 ceasefire violations, including eight explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 14 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 15 ceasefire violations, including one explosion. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 44 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM followed up on reports of damage to civilian properties in Donetskyi, Luhansk region.
• The Mission continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations inside the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The SMM monitored the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The Mission continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at three entry-exit checkpoints and two corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The SMM observed a gathering in Kyiv.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including near non-government-controlled Korsun in Donetsk region. Its unmanned aerial vehicles again experienced multiple instances of probable jamming.*

ERGNETI, 20 January 2022 — The 104th meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) took place today in Ergneti, under the co-facilitation of Ambassador Marek Szczygieł, Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), and Ambassador Viorel Moşanu, newly appointed Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus. 

Both co-facilitators opened the meeting by welcoming the commitment of the participants to the IPRM format and the use of the EUMM-managed Hotline to raise and address issues of concern. Ambassador Moşanu referred to the priorities of the 2022 OSCE Polish Chair and vowed to continue previous efforts and focus.

During the meeting, participants focused on ongoing detention cases and discussed the impact that the protracted closure of crossing points and the COVID-19 pandemic continue to have on conflict-affected communities, impacting women, men, the elderly and children differently. They also discussed the most recent security developments at the administrative boundary line (ABL), including instances of ‘borderization’, as well as the situation in the Chorchana-Tsnelisi area.

The co-facilitators noted with concern the increased number of detentions in recent weeks and called for a humanitarian approach to all detention cases. They expressed their readiness to support efforts to contribute to resuming a greater freedom of movement and allowing conflict-affected populations to secure their livelihoods.

All necessary mitigation measures were in place to allow the participants to meet safely in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic situation was also discussed widely as part of the respective security context.

The participants agreed to convene the next IPRM meeting on 4 March.

510359 Marina Živaljević

On 17 January 2022, the Library of Parliament launched its automatic electronic publications service through My COBISS profile with the support of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro.

Only a few libraries in Montenegro can deliver electronic loans because it requires that at least 90% of material to be catalogued and entered into the Co-operative Online Bibliographic System and Services (COBISS) to be effective. This milestone was already achieved with the Mission’s assistance in July 2021, when the Library of Parliament made its collection of books and journals accessible through the COBISS platform, enabling Montenegrin citizens and users, including legislators and their staff, to access Parliament’s online catalogue.

Jelisaveta Blagojević, Head of the Library and Documentation Centre and Archive of the Parliament of Montenegro, said that digitizing the process was essential to modernize the library. “We decided to replace the traditional way of loaning books with a modern online system. By activating My COBISS profile, users will be able to use a range of online services from reserving publications, extending the borrowing period, to searching for review,” she added.

As part of its support to the Library of Parliament, the Mission also assisted in drafting the library’s rulebook, which details the day to day work of the library, and outlines the rights and obligations of users.

Nikoleta Kovačević, an expert hired by the Mission to support this work said that with this step, the Library of Parliament is making a significant contribution to the development of the Virtual Library of Montenegro project, which should connect all libraries in the country into a single information system.

The Mission stands ready to support Parliament’s further digitalization efforts that will contribute to increasing its transparency and efficiency.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 14 ceasefire violations, including four explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 232 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 44 ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded two ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, and Petrivske.
• The Mission monitored the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at three entry-exit checkpoints and the corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Luhansk region.
• The Mission monitored areas near the border outside government control and visited two border crossing points in Donetsk region.
• The SMM monitored the security situation in east and south-east Kherson region.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including near non-government-controlled Korsun and at two checkpoints of the armed formations near Yasynuvata and Bezimenne in Donetsk region.

VIENNA, 19 January 2022 – Today the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, outlined Azerbaijan’s priorities as Chairman of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation during the opening session of the FSC.

Minister Bayramov emphasized that unconditional respect for the fundamental norms, principles and commitments enshrined in core OSCE documents, starting from the Helsinki Final Act, in particular respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders of States, remain the basis for co-operation both within the OSCE as a whole and the FSC in particular.  

“Azerbaijan remains unwavering in its unequivocal support to these principles and proceeds from an understanding that it should be our common highest endeavour to uphold these principles and ensure strict compliance with them whenever they are threatened or challenged,” Bayramov said.

Pointing to the nexus between compliance with fundamental OSCE principles and politico-military commitments, Minister Bayramov highlighted that the implementation of these commitments in good faith could contribute substantially to peace, security and stability in the OSCE region only if accompanied by unconditional respect for the aforementioned fundamental principles and commitments.

“Only such an approach by participating States could restore trust and confidence among them, reinvigorate the application of politico-military instruments, enhance predictability and transparency, avoid threat multiplication effects and aggravation of threat perceptions, and by so doing underpin peace and stability in the OSCE region,” Bayramov underlined.

Azerbaijan’s FSC Chairmanship programme will cover important and timely topics such as compliance with international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians; humanitarian mine action; small arms and conventional ammunition; the role of non-aligned countries in the European security architecture; countering terrorism; United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security; arms control and confidence- and security- building measures; and post-conflict rehabilitation and peace building. 

Minister Bayramov drew attention to the threats and risks mines pose to populations in participating States. He noted the need to mitigate these threats through the implementation of the OSCE’s practical assistance mechanism, which could also facilitate the return of internally displaced persons to their homes in safety and in dignity. 

The Minister also touched upon a security dialogue that will be dedicated to the role of non-aligned countries, including Azerbaijan, in the European security architecture.

“Azerbaijan has always regarded the OSCE as a major pillar of the pan-European security architecture and valued the Organization’s role as indispensable for the realization of the vision for Europe without dividing lines and zones of influence. Amidst the continuing erosion of multilateralism and growing rivalry among politico-military blocks, the indivisibility of security underpinned in fundamental OSCE documents needs to be upheld,” Minister Bayramov emphasized.

Another security dialogue will be dedicated to post-conflict rehabilitation and peace-building, drawing on lessons from across the region and addressing such important issues as the OSCE’s engagement in post-conflict rehabilitation activities, and participating States’ commitments and capabilities to contribute to long-term and sustainable post-conflict rehabilitation.

The Chairmanship of the Forum for Security Co-operation rotates three times a year. It takes the lead in setting the agenda for each meeting of the Forum and brings attention to issues concerning the implementation of commitments adopted by the Forum. Azerbaijan last chaired the FSC in 2005.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 232 ceasefire violations, including 11 explosions. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 113 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded two ceasefire violations, including one explosion. In the previous 24 hours, it recorded 144 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske.
• The Mission monitored the operation and repair of critical civilian infrastructure. It recorded four ceasefire violations close to the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS), near the time of the transfer of DFS workers between Yasynuvata and the station.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at four entry-exit checkpoints and two corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission observed gatherings in Kyiv.
• The SMM’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a checkpoint of the armed formations in southern Donetsk region.