OSCE

YEREVAN, 21 June 2021 –Armenia’s early parliamentary elections were competitive and well-managed within a short time frame. However, they were characterized by intense polarization and marred by increasingly inflammatory language from key contestants, as well as by the sidelining of women throughout the campaign, international observers said in a statement today.

The joint observation mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), concluded that the electoral legal framework is generally comprehensive, but some shortcomings still remain. The observers noted that while recent changes in the electoral system were broadly debated and supported by the majority of political parties and civil society groups, the fact that amendments were adopted so close to the elections caused legal uncertainty and left little time to implement the new rules or inform voters about the changes.

“Despite the limited time for the implementation of the recent amendments to the electoral code, the administration of the elections was positively assessed by the majority of our observers,” said Margareta Cederfelt, special co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission. “Most of our observers also assessed election day positively, up to and including the vote count.”

National security issues dominated the political discourse in the pre-campaign and campaign periods. However, the debate was driven by increasingly aggressive language and accusations, worsening the high degree of polarization and further reducing attention to political programmes and policy.

Election day itself was generally peaceful, and observers made an overwhelmingly positive assessment of the voting processes in the polling stations visited. However, many polling stations were inaccessible for voters with disabilities, and there was frequent overcrowding. There were also some cases of interference in the voting process by party or alliance proxies. At the same time, observers found that the vote counting process went well and was highly transparent.

“The deep polarization didn’t detract from a well-run election,” said George Katrougalos, Head of the PACE delegation. “It is to be hoped that the results will be accepted by all parties across the political spectrum, and the harsh rhetoric of the campaign will be consigned to history.”

During the brief campaign period, candidates were able to campaign freely, and the fundamental freedoms key to democratic elections were generally respected. Observers noted that in some cases there was pressure on workers in both the private and public sector to take part in specific campaign events, while allegations of vote buying and the misuse of state resources continued throughout the campaign period. Despite the fact that women candidates were included in the party lists, observers noted that their visibility during the campaign was markedly low.

“While the recently introduced electoral changes have resulted in larger representation of women in the candidate lists, they remained largely absent from the public discourse during the campaign,” said Kari Henriksen, Head of the OSCE PA delegation. “It­ is important that women are not just equally represented, but are also given the opportunity to engage actively in public and political life.”

Freedom of expression is guaranteed by the constitution. However, cases of journalists being harassed in the course of their duties raises questions about respect for media freedom. The observer mission’s media monitoring found that several media outlets made a visible effort to cover a wide range of contestants, organizing debates that helped ensure voters had enough information to make an informed choice on election day. At the same time, there are long-standing concerns about the political affiliation of private broadcasters.

“All candidates could campaign freely throughout the election process, and it was good to see the election authorities deliver on their mandate professionally,” said Eoghan Murphy, Head of the ODIHR election observation mission. “But the antagonistic language we heard during the campaign was not in any way constructive for an informed public debate.”

The international election observation mission to the Armenian parliamentary elections totalled 341 observers from 37 countries, composed of 249 ODIHR-deployed experts and long-term and short-term observers, 71 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA, and 21 from PACE.

For more information, please contact:

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR: +48 609 522 266 or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl

Nat Parry, OSCE PA: +45 60 10 81 77 or nat@oscepa.dk

Bogdan Torcatoriu, PACE: +33 6 50 39 29 40 or bogdan.torcatoriu@coe.int

SOFIA, 21 June 2021 – OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Valiant Richey, will visit Bulgaria from 22 to 24 June. The visit is organized in co-operation with Bulgarian authorities, with a focus on the response to trafficking, relevant recommendations and exchange of good practices.

Bulgaria remains one of the primary source countries for human trafficking in the EU. The main countries of destination for Bulgarian victims of trafficking are Greece, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Switzerland.

During the visit, attention will be devoted to trafficking within ethnic minorities and other vulnerable populations, including unaccompanied minors, asylum seekers and migrants passing through the territory of Bulgaria, as gaps persist in the identification of foreign victims of trafficking.

Special Representative Richey will analyze anti-trafficking efforts comprehensively. Richey will devote attention to the increased use of the internet and social networks by traffickers and will share his Office’s recommendations to tackle this growing problem. He will also discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the anti-trafficking response in Bulgaria.

Country visits by the Special Representative provide a unique opportunity to consider the main challenges in a country and to provide recommendations, as well as to learn about promising practices to share with other governments.

A press briefing, where the findings will be presented, will take place on 24 June, 09:30,  at the NCCTB, meeting room 52A, G. M. Dimitrov Blvd. Please confirm your participation by 21 June on +359 2 807 80 50 or via e-mail: office@antitraffic.government.bg.  

For additional information please contact Dobromir Petrov, Senior Expert, NCCTHB on +359 884 49 15 10; e-mail: d.petrov@antitraffic.government.bg or Ernesta Rousseva, Senior Expert, NCCTHB on + 359 885 532 319; e-mail: e.rousseva@antitraffic.government.bg

VIENNA, 20 June 2021 — OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid will visit Moscow for meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov, other high-level officials and parliamentarians from 21 to 24 June.

They will discuss a wide range of regional and thematic issues related to security and stability in the OSCE.

Schmid will address the Permanent Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and meet with Secretary General Stanislav Zas.

The Secretary General will address the IX Moscow Conference on International Security on trends and prospects in European Security.

During her visit, the Secretary General will also meet with representatives of think tanks and civil society, including the Valdai Club and the Women’s Union of Russia.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 41 ceasefire violations, including 18 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 196 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 45 ceasefire violations, including 21 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 993 ceasefire violations in the region.
• Small-arms fire heard near an SMM patrol in non-government-controlled Sentianivka, Luhansk region.*
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations near the disengagement area near Zolote.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM continued following up on the situation of civilians, including at five entry-exit checkpoints and four corresponding checkpoints of the armed formations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• The Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted. Its unmanned aerial vehicles again experienced instances of GPS signal interference.*

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 196 ceasefire violations, including 137 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 74 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 993 ceasefire violations, including 159 explosions, 867 of which were assessed as live-fire exercises outside the security zone. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 97 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations near the disengagement area near Zolote and inside the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation and maintenance to 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’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted. Its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) again experienced instances of GPS signal interference.*

490076 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

An OSCE-organized seminar on issues of environmental protection system development, held on 17 and 18 June 2021 in Ashgabat, brought together representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna, Society of Nature Protection and other relevant state agencies and non-governmental structures.  

The seminar aimed to provide insights into international best practices in establishing an environmental protection and monitoring system and to discuss possible steps for developing relevant policies and strategies in the area.

Two international experts from Montenegro and Switzerland shared OSCE participating States experiences on a comprehensive approach to the environmental protection strategizing process, starting from developing through implementing to monitoring. The seminar addressed principles and targets of an environmental policy and sustainable development and mechanisms for harmonization of ecologic, legal and administrative backgrounds. Internationally recognized relevant processes, such as the Strategic Environmental Assessment and the Environmental Impact Assessment, were also discussed.

In his opening speech, William Leaf, Officer in Charge of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, stressed the importance of adequate environmental protection response measures due to the rapid industrial and technological progress. Referring to the OSCE Madrid Declaration on Environment and Security 2007, Leaf emphasized commitments of the OSCE participating States to “improve environmental governance, inter alia, by strengthening the sustainable management of natural resources, especially water, soil, forests and biodiversity. This seminar is a direct continuation of the work of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat in development of environmental protection and monitoring systems.”

This seminar marks a successful co-operation between the Centre and the government of Turkmenistan in addressing environmental issues in line with the best practices of the OSCE region. The seminar was held as part of the Centre’s project “Strengthening co-operation with the host country in the area of environmental good governance and ecological security”.

490067 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

Valeriu Chiveri, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, met the Interior Minister of Tajikistan, Colonel General Rahimzoda Ramazon Hamro on 17 June 2021 to discuss areas of co-operation for 2021.

They discussed activating the Police Reform Steering Working Group for 2021 and the implementation of a project on Mobile Police Stations for receiving applications and appeals from citizens.

On the occasion of the meeting, Chiveri handed over three minibuses, two of which will be used as mobile police reception vehicles and have been refitted and equipped with laptops, the third is for Interior Ministry’s hospital. Five electric scooters were provided for pilot police stations. In addition, a video conferencing system and furniture for a videoconference room will be handed over to the Interior Ministry once it allocates premises for the room.

Colonel General Rahimzoda Ramazon expressed appreciation for the OSCE’s donation and said: “The equipment and vehicles you handed over today indicate that we are moving together on the right path of implementing the police reform. Mobile police reception units are the right way of starting a new developed police reform programme and we need to consider increasing the quantity of such vehicles within the framework of our mutual co-operation. The Government has approved a Police Reform Programme for 2021-2025. We need to focus on the implementation of its activities by creating a new working group on the realization of new plans and gaining good results in the future.”

“Despite certain differences in approaches to reforming the police in Tajikistan, I would like to note the good dynamics of our co-operation. We have signed an agreement on the implementation of a pilot project on establishing mobile police stations for receiving applications and appeals from citizens, and a Joint Action Plan for 2021 between the Interior Ministry and the Programme Office, which we have already started to implement,” Chiveri said.

He also added that the Programme Office agreed to extend the functioning of the electronic crime recording system to nine district Departments of Internal Affairs by procuring computers and furniture.

490196 OSCE Centre in Ashgabat

An OSCE-organized training course on digital journalism and multimedia instruments took place from 16 to 18 June 2021 in Ashgabat. The three-day event brought together journalists from the country’s leading print and online media. The purpose was to provide support in capacity building of staff of national newspapers involved in the digital transformation of print media.

“Last year the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat launched activities to render expert assistance in the process of transforming national media and converting print media into a digital format. This is envisaged in the Digital Economy Development Concept for Turkmenistan 2020–2025,” said William Leaf, Political Officer at the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

“While media digitalization remains high on the agenda of Turkmenistan, the Centre initiated the development of a manual on digital journalism this year to further support the efforts of the host country in this important area and we stand ready to continue our partnership,” said Leaf.

He also noted that: “It is our hope that such training courses will equip journalists and newspaper personnel involved in the digitalization process of print media with multimedia instruments and the skills necessary to produce high quality online content.”

International experts from Poland and the Russian Federation elaborated on how to plan the work of journalists in the digital environment and create digital maps. Participants learnt how to diversify their materials by using small digital formats such as dialogues and tables and discussed new roles and processes in the digital newsroom.

Upon completion of the training course, the Centre organized a roundtable discussion with the participation of the editorial staff of newspapers to facilitate the exchange of best practices in transforming traditional editorial offices into convergent newsrooms.  

The training course is part of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat activities to render expert assistance in the process of transforming national media and converting print media into digital format launched last year.

YEREVAN, 18 June 2021 – International election observers will hold a press conference to present their findings on Monday following the early parliamentary elections in Armenia.

NB Due to social distancing requirements, only a limited number of journalists can attend the press conference in person. All others will have the opportunity to watch and ask questions via Zoom. Broadcast media wishing to film the press conference will be prioritized for personal attendance.

What:

• A news conference of the international election observation mission to the early parliamentary elections in Armenia
• The press conference can be attended in person or via Zoom (details below)
• You can also follow the livestream on www.facebook.com/osce.odihr and www.oscepa.org

Who:

• Margareta Cederfelt, Special co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission
• George Katrougalos, Head of the PACE delegation
• Kari Henriksen, Head of the OSCE PA delegation
• Eoghan Murphy, Head of the ODIHR election observation mission

When:

• 15.00 local time (GMT +4) on 21 June 2021

Where:

• Tigran Mets Ballroom, Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan, 1 Amiryan Street, Yerevan

Registration:

• To take part via Zoom, please register by 10:00 local time on 21 June using this link.

The international election observation is a joint mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The mission totals 353 observers from 37 countries, including 249 ODIHR-deployed experts, long-term and short-term observers, 80 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA, and 24 from PACE.

For more information, please contact:

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR: +48 609 522 266 or katya.andrusz@odihr.pl

Nat Parry, OSCE PA: +45 60 10 81 77 or nat@oscepa.dk

Bogdan Torcatoriu, PACE: +33 6 50 39 29 40 or bogdan.torcatoriu@coe.int

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 74 ceasefire violations, including 27 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 194 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded 97 ceasefire violations, including 32 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded no ceasefire violations in the region.
• Small-arms fire was assessed as directed at an SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in non-government-controlled Horlivka, Donetsk region.*
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations inside and near the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation 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’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at checkpoints of the armed formations near Bessarabka and Kreminets, and near Shevchenko, all in Donetsk region. Its long-range UAV flight was cancelled due to dual GPS signal interference, assessed as caused by jamming.*

489860 Munira Shoinbekova, OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe handed over a fully equipped ambulance and five computers to a specialized hospital of the Main Prison Department of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Justice on 16 June 2021 in Dushanbe.

The assistance will help to strengthen the capacity of the Main Prison Department and improve working conditions in its specialized hospital.

“The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe is happy to provide infrastructure support to the Main Prison Department in order to improve the capacity of closed facilities and conditions for inmates,” said Valeriu Chiveri, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe.

Mansurjon Umarov, Head of Main Prison Department of Tajikistan, thanked the OSCE for their constant support and fruitful co-operation in the framework of the implementation of Tajikistan’s National Strategy of Penal Reform for 2020–2030. “Medical protection is a key part of comprehensive rehabilitation in closed facilities,” said Umarov.

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe assists the Government of Tajikistan to enhance its capacity to develop legislative frameworks and associated mechanisms for probation, risk assessment, rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for adult and juvenile offenders.

489971 Marina Živaljević

Siv-Katrine Leirtroe, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, presented the work of the Mission in supporting the host country in the implementation of the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security at the 10th annual discussion organized by the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation, on 16 June 2021.

Leirtroe explained that for the past two decades, the Mission has worked with the Montenegrin Ministry of Interior and Police Directorate on numerous projects, including ensuring the safe and secure storage and disposal of state-owned stockpiles of small arms and light weapons as well as enhancing professionalism in the police force. “The Mission has provided support in developing strategic documents to guide our partners through a reform process, focusing on the organizational culture and development of a professional and accountable police that mirrors the society it serves,” said Leirtroe.

She noted that in 2020-2021, the Mission and the OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit, in partnership with the Police Directorate and the Ministry, piloted a project on Increasing and Supporting the Participation of Women at all Levels of Policing, funded by the governments of Italy and Slovakia, with key findings presented in March this year.

Leirtroe presented six public information campaign videos promoting women as police officers entitled: We are the power of the team - For more women in policing to the gathering. The videos were produced in partnership with the Police and its Academy and recently aired on various TV stations in Montenegro.

The Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security was adopted at the 91st Plenary Meeting of the Special Committee of the CSCE Forum for Security Co-operation in Budapest on 3 December 1994.

Richard Wheeler

The OSCE-supported book presentation “Tomorrow was late. Environmental risks in Kazakhstan” took place on 17 June 2021 in Nur-Sultan. The book was prepared by the Private Dossym Satpayev Foundation in partnership with the Kazakh-German University, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the online eco-journal Living Asia.

The event focused on major environmental challenges and aimed to show the connection between environmental risks and economic destabilization in the country. Some 20 representatives from the Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources Ministry, the Education Ministry, international organizations and academia attended the event and discussed ecological risks based on the main findings and recommendations in the book.

Thirty local experts developed the manual last year in Kazakh and Russian, and it is available on YouTube. It covers seven broad topics such as water resources, air quality, waste management, soil degradation, biodiversity, climate change and the energy carriers sector.

The event is part of the Programme Office’s long-standing efforts to promote awareness-raising about major environmental challenges, and to promote sustainable development practices in the host country.

VIENNA, 16 June 2021 — We need constructive dialogue and re-engagement at all levels of arms control to address current and future security threats and the challenges posed by new technologies, agreed participants at the OSCE Security Chat held online today.

“Provocative actions, a risk-prone environment, low transparency on military activities, and a high-degree of mistrust is what defines the current European security climate,” said OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid during her opening remarks. “The instruments we signed up to many years ago need to encompass both old and new threats, including emerging technologies, to our security. This requires engagement at the highest levels in our capitals. We can’t afford to leave this for another day: the upward spiral of increasing military activity closer to adversaries’ borders and distrust among states, joined together in the OSCE, needs to be reversed.”

The Security Chat, organized by the OSCE and the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg (IFSH), brought together over 250 participants and examined the relevance of the 1996 OSCE Framework for Arms Control, including in the Lisbon Document, and its guiding principles. The Chat also explored the Framework’s relationship to emerging technologies in already deployed modern weapon systems and those expected to be used in the near future.

“Emerging technologies pose, and will continue to be, a challenge to security, as much as an opportunity to reinforce security in terms of, for example, improved capacities for verification and enhanced transparency through information exchange,” said Ambassador Luis Cuesta Civís, Permanent Representative of Spain to the OSCE. “The Lisbon Framework in itself has not lost any of its relevance, but the arms control obligations and Confidence- and Security-Building Measures (CBSMs) that it refers to need to be not only fully implemented but also further developed to put them in line with the new realities.”

The further development of the arms control framework is an indivisible and integral part of the common security of OSCE participating States, said Andrei Zagorski, Head of Department at the Evgeniy Primakov National Research Institute of Word Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) in the Russian Academy of Science. “The more recent degeneration of the European security landscape turning away from cooperative security and returning to mutual deterrence emphasizes the importance of the goals and methods of arms control, as set forth in the Framework, for strengthening security and stability in the OSCE area.”

Anya Fink, a research analyst with the Russia Studies Program at the Center for Naval Analyses, outlined the evolution of military technologies over the last 30 years and the challenges they pose. Noting how this evolution has not yet been accounted for in the modern arms control architecture, Fink said, “there is a lot of room for creativity and a significant need for dialogue to get us to a place where we are able to develop new measures for transparency and predictability of these systems.”

Jürgen Altmann, a physicist and peace researcher at TU Dortmund University in Germany, explained how OSCE CSBMs have helped further transparency and co-operation between states for years, but need to be updated to reflect today’s arms control environment. He proposed extending existing CSBMs for land and air forces to cover cyber forces and selecting CSBMs that accommodate cyber weapons’ need for greater secrecy and their intangibility compared to traditional weaponry such as battle tanks and combat aircrafts.

Looking toward the future of military technology, Maaike Verbruggen, a Doctoral Researcher at the International Security Cluster, considered ways to regulate and validate these advancing technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and their interactions through networks. She encouraged states to work together to address challenges of regulation and validation to build confidence among states.

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department’s Action against Terrorism Unit and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organized an online train-the-trainer course from 14 to 16 June 2021, as part of a multiannual training programme to strengthen North Macedonia’s capacities in countering the financing of terrorism.

Senior experts and practitioners from law enforcement and customs authorities, as well as the prosecutor’s office and Ministry of Defence of North Macedonia took part in the course. They learned from lead trainers about the course material and scenario-based exercises and how to further tailor these to the needs of North Macedonia.

The series of courses is part of a multi-year OSCE–UNODC training programme on countering terrorist financing. Following completion of the train-the-trainer courses, senior experts participating in the course, jointly with the lead trainers, will train more experts from relevant authorities in North Macedonia in the coming years.

The series aims to increase the country’s capacity to detect and combat terrorist financing and strengthen compliance with international commitments and standards in this area. North Macedonia is the eighth OSCE participating State enrolled in the training programme implemented jointly by the OSCE and UNODC.

SARAJEVO, 16 June 2021 – On the occasion of the unveiling of the recently refurbished memorial to the Žepče civilian victims of war, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) organized a one-day ambassadorial visit to Žepče on Wednesday, 16 June 2021. The event was organized jointly with the Embassy of Sweden in BiH, representing the OSCE 2021 Chairpersonship, the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Municipality of Žepče.

Kathleen Kavalec, Head of the OSCE Mission to BiH, said: “This municipality has come a long way in terms of building good relations among all citizens. Co-operation and compromise are today the hallmark of local politics and decision-making. With the spirit of inclusivity and thanks to the initiative of its vibrant civil society, Žepče commemorates its civilian war victims. All of them. Without exceptions or distinctions. One memorial, one plaque, one location, for one community. I am honored to be here today to help commemorate Žepče’s civilian victims of war. As a Mission, we are pleased to have contributed to the establishment and refurbishment of the memorial, the only one of its kind in BiH.”

Representatives of the international community visited the memorial and paid their respects.

“By jointly honouring all the civilian victims of the war, an important step is taken into a better future for all. I hope many others will follow in the footsteps of Žepče. Sweden will continue to support and work with those who want to create a more inclusive and tolerant future for everyone in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Swedish Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Johanna Strömquist.

Participants also had an opportunity to visit the local war veterans associations’ memorial rooms that give historical background and help to grasp the significance of Žepče’s journey.

The UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu said:  “Victims, survivors, their families and relatives deserve all possible support. Memorializing and remembering them is not only about the past. It is about the present and about ensuring a future defined by dignity, mutual respect and understanding. It is about the grief of their experience compelling us to work together to build a better future for all.”

The visit concluded at the local secondary music school “Katarina Kosača-Kotromanić” where a group of students performed a classical music concert.

Today’s visit was a way for the international community in BiH to recognize and reward the exceptionality of Žepče in BiH’s landscape. It is meant to actively encourage such steps, nurture the progress already made, amplify positive messages, and set the ground for replication in more communities.

SDGs SDGs:  16 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Summary

• In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded 194 ceasefire violations, including 32 explosions. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 33 ceasefire violations in the region.
• In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded no ceasefire violations. In the previous reporting period, it recorded 11 ceasefire violations in the region.
• The SMM lost spatial control of its mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near Vesele, Donetsk region, after small-arms fire was assessed as directed at it.*
• The SMM continued monitoring the disengagement areas near Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote and Petrivske. It recorded ceasefire violations inside and near the disengagement area near Petrivske.
• The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to localized ceasefires to enable the operation of critical civilian infrastructure.
• The SMM 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 Mission’s freedom of movement continued to be restricted, including at a border crossing point outside government control near Izvaryne, Luhansk region. Its UAVs again experienced multiple instances of GPS signal interference, assessed as caused by jamming.*

KYIV, 16 June 2021 —The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde, concluded her second official visit to Ukraine yesterday. In view of this spring’s heightened tensions in and around Ukraine, she called for de-escalation and confidence-building in accordance with international law and OSCE principles and commitments, making full use of OSCE tools and mechanisms.

Chairperson-in-Office Linde’s meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba focused on steps toward conflict resolution, alleviating the suffering of people living in conflict-affected areas and improving the humanitarian situation. Linde also emphasized the Chairpersonship’s continued support for the full implementation of the Minsk agreements.

The visit reflects the high importance that the Swedish Chairpersonship places on contributing to a peaceful resolution of the crisis with full respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

“I am deeply concerned by continuing ceasefire violations observed and the reports of civilian and military casualties. This demonstrates the need for an immediate adherence to the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine,” Linde said.

Linde expressed her full support of the Special Representative of the Chairperson-in­Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Heidi Grau, who explained the significant challenges faced during the negotiations.

The Head of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), Halit Çevik, briefed Linde on the systematic impediments and restrictions hindering the Mission’s work on a daily basis.

“During spring, the Mission has noted a narrowing corridor for its work, which erodes its already limited monitoring ability in non-government-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine. This is unacceptable and runs contrary to the SMM mandate which provides for the Mission’s safe and unhindered access throughout Ukraine,” the Chairperson-in-Office stressed, expressing her strong support for the Mission´s work.

In eastern Ukraine, Linde visited Novotroitske, one of only two functioning crossing points on the contact line, and a nearby village to see humanitarian efforts to ease the effects of the conflict on people´s lives. She also learned more about the SMM’s monitoring activities and its efforts facilitating localized ceasefires and helping conflict-affected communities.

While commenting on Ukraine’s efforts to keep all entry-exit checkpoints open, Linde stressed that the opening of all corresponding crossing points in non-government-controlled areas would be a significant step toward alleviating hardships for civilians who cross the contact line on a daily basis.

During a stop in Mariupol, Linde had an opportunity to be briefed on the security situation in the Black Sea region. She also met with the Mariupol Port Administration.

TIRANA, 16 June 2021 – The OSCE Presence in Albania and the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combatting Trafficking in Human Beings will host a conference on joint efforts to combat trafficking in human beings in Albania, on 17 June 2021, in Tirana and online.

The conference will focus on promoting the importance of partnerships and a multi-agency approach to enhance co-operation to address trafficking in human beings within the OSCE region and in Albania.

Participants will discuss the importance of strengthening a human rights based and victim-centered approach in all anti-trafficking actions. Representatives of central and local government institutions, parliament, judiciary and law-enforcement institutions, the international community, civil society, and academia will be attending.

Speakers opening the conference are as follows:

• Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Vincenzo Del Monaco;
• Albania’s Deputy Minister of Interior, Romina Kuko
• Swedish Ambassador at Large for Combating Trafficking in Persons, Anna Ekstedt;
• OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Valiant Richey;
• United States Ambassador to Albania, Yuri Kim;
• EU Delegation Ambassador, Luigi Soreca.

Media are invited to attend the opening of the conference, on 17 June, from 9:30, at the Rogner Hotel, Antigonea room. The conference will also be broadcast live on the Presence’s Facebook page.

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On 15 June 2021, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, co-organized the second Uzbekistan Global Agro Forum on “sustainable agriculture and smart technologies: innovation, science and education”.

The event was held in the framework of the country's largest international exhibition of agriculture called AgroWorld Uzbekistan. Recent developments in agriculture and food security as well as the promotion of co-operation, partnerships and dialogue in advancing sustainability in agriculture practices through digitalization and innovation was the focus of the event.

340 delegates, more than a third of whom were women, high-level panel speakers, representatives of international businesses and organizations and mass media participated in the forum.

In his welcoming speech, Mathieu Lemoine, Acting Head of Mission and Senior Project Officer, emphasized the significant role of digitalization in transforming the global economy and generating innovations. He stressed that “over the last several years, the PCUz has been actively supporting digital tools in agriculture, which falls under the OSCE Economic and Environmental Dimension Commitments”. 

It was supported by the PCUz project “Support to strengthening of the capacities of small and medium business in agricultural sector through promotion of digital services 2021”.