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Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 19:30 (Kyiv time), 4 June 2015

OSCE - Fri, 05/06/2015 - 15:02

This report is provided for the media and the general public.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by third parties and significant caution regarding security considerations *. The SMM observed an increase of ceasefire violations at and around Donetsk airport.

The SMM observed an increase of ceasefire violations at and around Donetsk airport[1] (“Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled, 12km north-west of Donetsk). On 4 June, between 09:30 and 17:00hrs, while at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination observation point at the Donetsk central railway station (“DPR”-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk city centre) the SMM heard a total of 352 explosions of both incoming and outgoing fire consistent with artillery, mortar, and automatic grenade launcher as well as small-arms and heavy-machine-gun fire from west, north-north-west, north-west, north-north-east, and north-east of its position.

The SMM visited the hospital in “DPR”-controlled Donetsk city where the head of the hospital informed the SMM that 18 men and two women were brought to the facility on 3 June with shrapnel wounds caused by shelling and that 10 of them were seriously wounded. 19 of the victims originated from Donetsk city and one from Oleksandrivka (“DPR”-controlled, 20km west-south-west of Donetsk). One of the victims succumbed to his injuries, while two patients were still in intensive care. Additionally, twelve “DPR” members were brought to the hospital; one of which who was still in intensive care, while 30 other “DPR” members received first aid for minor wounds at the hospital.

The security situation remained calm in Mariupol (government-controlled, 103km south of Donetsk), although between 19:00 and 19:35hrs, from its location in Mariupol, the SMM heard some explosions in the area of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol). In line with security considerations, the SMM did not visit Shyrokyne.

The SMM visited Sakhanka (“DPR”-controlled, 24km north-east of Mariupol) in order to assess the damage due to shelling that had occurred on 1 and 2 June. Eight middle-aged men and women told the SMM that they had heard 47 explosions at mid-day on 1 June and that shelling resumed on 2 June at 11:00hrs. The SMM analysed one crater on the roof of a house, but was unable to determine the calibre of weapons used or their direction of fire. The SMM, due to security reasons, was unable to analyse two other craters caused by shelling, which damaged the gas and electric lines. The interlocutors told the SMM that they had requested the “mayor” of Shyrokyne to evacuate the remaining 18 residents of Shyrokyne, two of whom are wounded and an additional two are disabled. In Bezimmene (“DPR”-controlled, 28km east of Mariupol), the SMM met the “mayor”, who said that a family had requested assistance in removing the body of one of their relatives who died four days earlier. (See SMM Daily Report 1 June, 2015, http://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/161686).

At the JCCC headquarters in Soledar (government-controlled, 77km north-north-east of Donetsk), the SMM was presented with two log files of ceasefire violations of 2 June, compiled independently by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Russian Federation Armed Forces officers at the JCCC and containing 96 and 148 violations respectively. Concerning the fighting which erupted in Marinka on 3 June (see SMM Spot Report 3 June, http://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/162116), the Ukrainian Armed Forces Major-General, head of the Ukrainian side to the JCCC and the Russian Federation Armed Forces Chief of Staff at the JCCC confirmed that at 17:00hrs on 3 June the “DPR” had retreated to positions held before the attack on 3 June.

The SMM observed that the overall situation in the Luhansk region remained generally calm, but whilst at a location 1 kilometre north of Trokhizbenka (government-controlled, 33km north-west of Luhansk) it heard 150 outgoing explosions, at approximately 10-15km south-west of is position.

In Kruta Hora (“Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled, 16km north-west of Luhansk) the SMM monitored the continued exhumation of bodies presumed to be government armed forces. (See SMM Daily Report 2 June, 2015, http://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/162051).  The exhumation was conducted by the non-governmental organization (NGO) “Union of People’s Memory: Ukrainian Public Organization for Searchers” and “LPR” “police investigators”. The excavation team exhumed four bodies in advance stages of decomposition, which, based on the belongings located at the scene including the uniform type, and one military belt buckle, were identified as Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel. The SMM assisted in facilitating the transfer of the four bodies across the contact line. It observed that the bodies were loaded in a refrigerated van and transferred to the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the bridge in Shchastia (20km north-west of Luhansk).

The SMM visited the school in Novodarivka (”LPR”-controlled, 7km south of Luhansk), where the principal said that the staff had received only a fraction of their salaries since June 2014. He also said to the SMM that the language had not been an issue until recently and students were allowed to write in the language of their choosing but that parents recently requested their children to be taught in Russian instead of Ukrainian and that Russian was now the working language of the school.

The SMM visited the district hospital in Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-west of Luhansk), where it met two doctors and several female nurses all of whom told

the SMM that the number of medical staff had been significantly reduced compared to pre-conflict and that surgeries were no longer performed on site which now has a limited capacity. One of the patients was a male in his forties whose leg was injured by a mine explosion on 19 May and both physicians said that there had been a mine accident in the village recently, involving a father and son.

The SMM visited four Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding areas, all in compliance with the Minsk withdrawal lines, and noted that at two of these sites some of the heavy weapons previously recorded were missing; one and three multiple launch rocket system (MLRS, 122mm, BM-21 Grad) respectively. At another location, the SMM was not given access to confirm the presence of some of the weapons eight previously recorded anti-tank missile systems (9P149 “Shturm-S”) and there was no explanation as to the reasons. *

Despite claims that heavy weapons have been withdrawn, the SMM continued to observe the presence and movement of heavy weapons in places proscribed by Minsk, including by its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). In “LPR”-controlled areas the SMM observed a gun (122mm D-30) towed by a military truck. In “DPR”-controlled areas the SMM observed 17 main battle tanks (MBT) and three anti-aircraft guns. In government-controlled areas the SMM saw ten MLRS (eight Uragan, 220mm and two Smerch 300mm) fully loaded, one anti-aircraft system (SA-8 Gecko), two anti-tank guns and one MBT.

In Marinka (government-controlled, 23km west-south-west of Donetsk) the SMM UAV observed one self-propelled howitzer and houses on fire as well as four self-propelled howitzers nine kilometre south-west of the village. In the western outskirts of Shyrokyne (government-controlled, 20km east of Mariupol), the SMM UAV saw three firing positions and military vehicles.

The SMM visited the site of two explosions on the Odessa-Kyiv railway line 28km north-west of Odessa city. The transport police told the SMM that two simultaneous explosions had occurred, one on each side of the railway line, at 02:20hrs on 4 June with an estimated total of ten kilos of TNT used in both devices. They added that one of the explosive devices detonated under an empty freight train traveling north from Odessa, while the other one damaged the tracks and the railway sleepers. On site the SMM observed some 25 railway workers with heavy equipment working on the repairs which were completed by 11:00hrs. The police are investigating the explosion with charges of act of sabotage.

The SMM monitored, in front of the Lviv regional administration building, a protest attended by some 150 people from the NGO Lviv Committee for Citizens' Rights, and an additional 20 members of the NGO People's Front. The protestors, mostly men, were requesting that the government intervene to guarantee affordable utility prices which they claim have tripled recently. Police was present at the event, which ended peacefully.

The SMM monitored the crossing points of Kalanchak and Chaplynka (117 and 120km south-east of Kherson) on the administrative boundary line (ABL) where it observed 20 trucks, 10 private vehicles and some 50 pedestrians queuing to cross to Crimea at the former and only nine trucks at the latter. Both crossing point commanders told the SMM that the situation was calm and the commander of Kalanchak crossing point attributed the recent traffic increase to the beginning of the tourist season.

In Chervony Chaban (113km south-east of Kherson) the SMM met the head of the village council who said that that the “Crimean Titan” titanium dioxide factory near Armyansk (122km south-east of Kherson) in the Crimean peninsula had laid-off approximately 700 workers in mainland Ukraine as they were considered foreign workers. As a result, workers staged protests blocking the train delivery of materials to the factory. He told the SMM that the company had recently started to rehire these workers, in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation, which requires, among others, a language test. To date he said that 70 workers had been rehired and an additional 40 were in the process and that special arrangements were made at the ABL for their daily commute which the SMM was able to confirm with the border guard unit. The SMM also spoke to some of the rehired employees who confirmed this information.

 

In Kyiv, in front of the Ukrainian Parliament, the SMM monitored a protest which was attended by approximately 150 people, mostly women aged 25 to 50, who were marking their discontent regarding the lack of support for citizens having contracted loans in foreign currency. The SMM observed several flags of the NGO “Financial Maidan”, “Financial Maidan Odessa” and “Financial Maidan Vyshgorod” as well as of the NGO “Public Control of Banks”.  There were 40 national guards, 50 police officers, 50 riot police officers present at the event, which ended peacefully.

 

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Chernivtsi and Ivano-Frankivsk.

 

 

* Restrictions on SMM monitoring: access and freedom of movement

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by third parties and security considerations including the lack of information on whereabouts of landmines.

The security situation in Donbas is fluid and unpredictable and the ceasefire does not hold everywhere.

  • The SMM was stopped by “LPR” armed members at the entrance of Stakhanov (“LPR”-controlled, 50km west of Luhansk) and was asked to wait for permission to enter the city. After 45 minutes the SMM was told that the situation in the field had changed and the SMM was not allowed to proceed to the town.  The checkpoint personnel did not provide any further explanation.
  • The SMM was denied access to three Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding areas.
  • The SMM UAV was subject to jamming while flying over Krasnohorivka (government-controlled, 20km west of Donetsk). 
 

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annex table.

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OSCE organizes training event on gender mainstreaming in Kazakhstan

OSCE - Fri, 05/06/2015 - 13:37

KOKSHETAU, Kazakhstan 5 June 2015 – The OSCE Programme Office in Astana launched a series of training seminars on gender mainstreaming for local officials in the country’s regions by holding its first event today in Kokshetau, Akmola Region.

The event was organized in co-operation with the National Commission on Women’s Affairs and Family-Demographic Policy under the President and the Regional Administration. National experts acquainted some 40 high-level representatives of local executive and representative bodies of power with ways to implement the principles of gender mainstreaming in politics and in local government management.

Participants addressed gender-related challenges in Kazakhstan with a particular focus on gender-responsive budgeting and gender disaggregated statistics as relatively new areas of gender equality promotion. In the context of women empowerment and in view of the forthcoming local and parliamentary elections the participants learned about election strategy development and successful campaign techniques, including reaching out to the electorate by using social networks and information and communication technologies. They discussed ways of enhancing public trust and improve the image of women leaders.

They were also briefed on the application of gender-mainstreaming principles aimed to promote good governance, transparency and accountability in rural communities and small towns.

“Consistent and successful implementation of the five strategic development reforms outlined by Kazakhstan’s leadership directly depends on how effective our gender mainstreaming policy will be. It will be difficult to cope with all these tasks without the real empowerment of women and without their active engagement in this process,” said Deputy Head of the National Commission on Women’s Affairs and Family-Demographic Policy under the President of Kazakhstan Elena Tarassenko.

Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, Ambassador Natalia Zarudna said: "Ensuring the full and equal enjoyment by women and men of their rights is essential for strengthening peace and security, fostering sustainable economic development in harmony with the environment and safeguarding fundamental freedoms and human rights. In other words, it is vital for achieving the goals set by the OSCE in politico-military, economic and environmental as well as human dimensions.”

The event is part of the OSCE Programme Office’s longstanding efforts to support the host country in implementing the OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality.

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OSCE Mission to Skopje supports public relations training for Interior Ministry spokespersons and advisors

OSCE - Fri, 05/06/2015 - 11:52
Ioanna Lachana, OSCE Mission to Skopje Mirvete Islam, OSCE Mission to Skopje Mihajlo Lahtov, OSCE Mission to Skopje

A Train-the-trainers course supported by the OSCE Mission to Skopje for ten public relations advisors and regional police spokespersons from the Interior Ministry will be held in Skopje on 5 and 6 June 2015.

The course aims at advancing and transferring the skills of the Ministry’s public relations advisors and spokespersons to other police officers, as well as at raising their awareness on the importance of public relations and communication with the public.

After completing the course, the public relations advisors will work on a tailor-made workshop due to take place in the second half of the year on relations with the public and media for high and mid-level management from the Ministry’s eight Sectors of Internal Affairs.

The advanced training on public relations for police officers deployed countrywide as well as the inclusion of a module on public relations in the basic training for the police officers are further steps in overcoming the current police-media centralized communication.

A second session of the training course will take place in mid-June 2015. 

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OSCE visit familiarizes Turkmenistan officials with penitentiary system in France

OSCE - Fri, 05/06/2015 - 11:04

PARIS, 5 June 2015 – Penitentiary and law enforcement officials from Turkmenistan discussed best practices of implementing international standards in the penitentiary system during an OSCE-supported working visit to France that concluded in Paris today.

The five-day visit was organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat in close co-operation with the Justice Ministry of France. The visit participants met with the senior penitentiary administration officials at the Justice Ministry, a penitentiary judge as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations dealing with penitentiary issues.

“Although deprived of liberty, inmates are entitled to enjoy human rights, and prison staff is playing a key role in ensuring their observance. The international community developed a package of instruments containing provisions on the work of prison staff and the OSCE is undertaking various activities to assist its participating States in translating commitments on prisoner’s rights into practical implementation,” said Vardon Deniz  Hoca, Human Dimension Officer of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.

He noted that the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized several visits for Turkmen officials and added that they were important in providing first-hand exchange of professional experiences and observation of the work of their colleagues in other countries which are essential for efforts to further advance Turkmenistan’s  penitentiary system.

The delegation visited a juvenile detention centre, men’s and women’s prisons and discussed the specifics of working with different groups of inmates, security measures in prisons, pre-service and in-service training of prison staff as well as education and vocational training for prisoners.

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Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina to address OSCE Permanent Council on Tuesday

OSCE - Fri, 05/06/2015 - 10:43

VIENNA, 5 June 2015 – The Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Igor Crnadak, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, will address  the OSCE Permanent Council, on Tuesday, 9 June, 2015, at the Hofburg in Vienna.

Crnadak will present the priorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina as it chairs the Council of Europe for the next six months. He will also speak about the current situation in the country, Euro-Atlantic integration as well as co-operation in the Western Balkans.

The address will take place in the Neuer Saal of the Hofburg Congress Centre, on Tuesday, 9 June, from 10:30 and is open to media representatives.  Crnadak will be available for questions after the address.

Journalists wishing to attend must register by sending an e-mail to press@osce.org. Please bring your OSCE badge or a press identification card.

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Universal rights awards presented by OSCE and international partners in Armenia

OSCE - Fri, 05/06/2015 - 10:21
162511 Gohar Avagyan, OSCE Office in Yerevan Universal Rights Awards Ceremony

The OSCE and international partners honoured individuals working to promote human rights, accountable governance, local government reform, and free speech in Armenia at the Universal Rights Awards Ceremony held on 4 June 2015 in Yerevan.

Ambassador Andrey Sorokin, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, presented Freedom Defender award to Shushan Doydoyan, President of Freedom of Information Centre. “A long- time partner of the OSCE, Shushan has been a tireless defender of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The OSCE Office appreciates Ms. Doydoyan’s commitment toward the promotion of open, transparent and accountable governance as well as her efforts to establish alternative mechanisms for resolving media-related disputes”.

The Coalition to Stop Violence against Women received the Woman of Courage Award in recognition of courageous advocacy for protection of the rights of women and promotion of gender equality in Armenia. The international community also acknowledged efforts by Zaruhi Mejlumyan, a journalist and the President of Armenian Innocence Project NGO, who was presented with the Media Excellence award for her commitment in writing about and defending the rights of prisoners facing or serving life imprisonment.

The Inter-Agency Anti-Trafficking Working Group was given the Government Reformer Award as the best example of government-civil society co-operation and Mayor of Akhuryan community, Artsruni Igityan, was given the Local Government Reformer Award for his creative and environmentally conscious initiatives.

The newly introduced award of Promoting Inclusion was presented to Armen Alaverdyan, the Executive Director of Unison NGO, for his contribution in creating more opportunities for people with disabilities and his efforts to build a more inclusive society.

Established in 2012, the Universal Rights Awards Ceremony was the first multi-mission initiative to highlight contributions of Armenia’s civil rights activists, government officials, and media and civil society representatives in the promotion of human rights.

The event was co-organized with the United States Embassy, the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, the British Embassy, the Council of Europe’s Office in Yerevan and the UN Armenia Office.

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OSCE Chairperson-in-Office calls for restraint following recent escalation in violence in eastern Ukraine

OSCE - Thu, 04/06/2015 - 20:20

BELGRADE, 4 June 2015 –OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić today condemned the latest surge in violence in eastern Ukraine, and called on all parties to return to the negotiating table, pursue a political solution to the conflict through the Trilateral Contact Group and its working groups, as well as to fully respect the Minsk Agreements. “This is the only way to bring suffering of innocent civilians to an end,” said Dačić.

“The use of force is unacceptable.  I am particularly concerned about the use of proscribed heavy weapons, as well as the indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas, which is a gross violation of the Minsk Agreements,” he said.

“All sides must refrain from the use of force, and strictly adhere to the ceasefire and other provisions of the Minsk Agreements, including the immediate withdrawal of heavy weapons.”

The Chairperson-in-Office also emphasized the importance of the safety and security of monitors from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM).  “Continued restrictions on the freedom of movement of monitors are inexcusable. They are a serious obstacle to the implementation and monitoring of a sustainable ceasefire,” Dačić said.

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Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 19:30 (Kyiv time), 3 June 2015

OSCE - Thu, 04/06/2015 - 19:54

This report is provided for the media and the general public.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by third parties and significant caution regarding security considerations *. The SMM observed a sharp increase in the number of ceasefire violations at and around Donetsk airport. The SMM remained unable to travel to Shyrokyne due to security reasons.

 

The SMM noticed a sharp increase in the number of ceasefire violations at and around Donetsk airport (“Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled, 12km north-west of Donetsk). From the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) observation point at the Donetsk central railway station (“DPR”-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk city centre), over a nine hour period during the day, the SMM heard 249 explosions[1] of both incoming and outgoing fire consistent with artillery, mortar and multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) outgoing from south, west, north-west, north and north-east of the SMM position. Most of the MLRS shelling originated from “DPR”-controlled Kyivskyi district (8km north-west of Donetsk city centre) and Spartak (8km north of Donetsk). It was mostly concentrated and impacted in the area of government-controlled Opytne (10km north-west of Donetsk). The SMM also observed returning fire that the SMM assessed to be outgoing and incoming from Opytne and impacting on the residential area of Kyivskyi district. South of Olenivka (“DPR”-controlled, 23km south-south-west of Donetsk), the SMM heard several incoming explosions approximately 500-1000m west of the SMM position and more than 20 outgoing explosions originating from 200-500m west and east of the H20 road. The SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) observed live shelling in Pervomaiske. The SMM observed civilian infrastructure on fire 500m south-west of Donetsk airport.

Fighting erupted around the government-controlled town of Marinka (23km west-south-west of Donetsk) in the morning of 3 June. The SMM observed the movement of a large amount of heavy weapons in “Donetsk People’s Republic: (“DPR”)-controlled areas – generally in a westerly direction towards the contact line – close to Marinka, preceding and during the fighting. At approximately 06:00hrs, an SMM UAV observed intense shelling targeting an intersection of the H15 highway, 3.5km south-west of Marinka. Calm was restored by the early evening. (For further information, please see SMM Spot Report at: http://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/162116).

In Donetsk city the SMM observed what it assessed to be an increase in military equipment and intensive fighting starting early morning and continuing throughout the day. From the Park Inn Hotel the SMM heard several salvos of outgoing MLRS and close to one hundred artillery rounds impacting in the city. In Petrovskyi district (“DPR”-controlled, 15km south-west of Donetsk), at 07:40hrs, the SMM heard at least 17 salvos of outgoing MLRS (BM-21) and multiple explosions consistent with outgoing mortar fire west of the SMM position.

The security situation remained calm in Mariupol (government-controlled, 103km south of Donetsk), although late in the afternoon between 19:00hrs to 21:00hrs, from its position in Mariupol, the SMM heard continuous shelling in the area of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol). In line with security considerations, the SMM did not monitor the Shyrokyne area.

The SMM observed at least 200 civilian passenger vehicles and some civilian trucks waiting at the Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint north of Novotroitske (government-controlled, 36km south-south-west of Donetsk). The commander told the SMM that the checkpoint had been shelled during the night and that eight mortar rounds had impacted on the checkpoint, of which some had not exploded. He said that the civilian vehicles would not be allowed to proceed until the area had been cleared of unexploded ordnance. Subsequently, the SMM was led by Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers on foot through the checkpoint past marks on the tarmac of one exploded round and one visible tail of a mortar round (assessed to be 82mm) sticking in the tarmac.

At a government-controlled checkpoint in Volnovakha (government-controlled, 50km south-south-west of Donetsk), the SMM observed a total of 168 civilian vehicles lined up in both directions. Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel at the checkpoint informed the SMM that there were at least four unexploded grenades in the vicinity of the checkpoint resulting from shelling during the previous night. The SMM saw three of the unexploded grenades stuck in the tarmac.

In Luhanske (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk), the village inhabitants informed the SMM by telephone that children attending the village kindergarten were sheltered in the basement due to on-going shelling of the village. The SMM visited the kindergarten. Women at the kindergarten informed the SMM that they had heard outgoing mortars being fired from positions nearby the kindergarten during the night and later, during school hours.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces representative at the JCCC office in Avdiivka, who had visited Pisky (government-controlled, 11 km north-west of Donetsk), informed the SMM that the village had been shelled by Grad (BM-21). According to the interlocutor Pervomaiske, Novoselske, Vodyane, Opytne, Voyennaya Chast (military installation) and Shahta locations were also shelled with 120mm mortars starting at 02:30hrs. Further, three of the villages (Opytne, Pisky and Vodyane) had again been shelled with Grad (BM-21) in the afternoon hours. The Russian Federation Armed Forces representative at the JCCC office in Avdiivka confirmed this information.

Late in the afternoon the SMM was informed by a “DPR” member that a mine in Donetsk city lost electricity supply because of the recent shelling. Other “DPR” members later confirmed to the SMM that three mines in Donetsk were cut off current. In two of them the miners had been working underground at that time. According to the interlocutor, 375 employees were trapped under ground in the “Skachinskogo” mine (Kirovskiy district), and 576 in the “Zasiadko” mine (Kyivskyi district).[2]

The SMM observed that the overall security situation in the Luhansk region remained calm. The SMM heard one burst of automatic small arms fire outgoing from 300 to 400m south-east of the SMM position at the last checkpoint manned by Chernihiv battalion serving under the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior, prior to the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (government-controlled,16km north-east of Luhansk). The Chernihiv battalion commander informed the SMM that a “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”) unit had attacked the last checkpoint prior to the bridge. The SMM inspected the site of the incident and observed multiple craters around the checkpoint, assessed to have been caused by automatic grenade launcher fire, and three damaged civilian houses. The SMM observed holes in the roofs and damaged walls, shrapnel in front of the houses and broken windows.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel informed the SMM about a mine incident 200m north of Kapitanove (50km north-west of Luhansk). At the site the SMM observed one heavily damaged civilian vehicle and several impact holes on the right side of the vehicle. There were two dead bodies inside the vehicle, a male driver and a female passenger, both in their sixties. The SMM observed two craters located approximately 20m from the vehicle. A police investigator informed the SMM that a detonation of the two improvised explosive devices (IED) had been triggered by remote control by unknown persons, at 06:45hrs. The SMM observed another two IEDs 15m from the detonation site.   

The SMM travelled to six Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding areas, all in compliance with Minsk withdrawal lines, but the SMM was denied access at three of the six sites.[1] At two previously visited sites that the SMM was able to access, the SMM observed that some previously recorded heavy weapons were missing, specifically two MLRS (122mm BM-21 “GRAD”) from one site and four MLRS (122mm BM-21 “GRAD”) from the other site. The SMM also visited one Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding area for the first time, where it recorded three anti-tank guns (MT-12, 100mm) and was told by Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel that two additional anti-tank guns (MT-12, 100mm) normally stored at the site had been taken away for training.

Despite the claims that heavy weapons have been withdrawn, the SMM observed the following movement or presence of weapons in areas that are non-compliant with the Minsk withdrawal lines. In “DPR”-controlled areas the SMM observed 12 main battle tanks (MBT T-64 and T-72) and a military type truck towing a 122mm artillery piece. In government-controlled areas the SMM observed a single MBT (T-64). Additionally, the SMM UAV observed four MBTs and three howitzers in government-controlled areas.

In Kyiv the SMM monitored a demonstration in front of the building of the Cabinet of Ministers. The SMM observed the presence of approximately 500 individuals (most of them in their 40ies, mixed gender). Participants represented labour unions and were demonstrating against deterioration of the quality of life, lack of reforms and increase of utility prices. 20 police officers were present at the event, supported also by the National Guard. The demonstration ended peacefully.

On 2 June the SMM went to Kulykove Pole square in Odessa, to monitor a commemoration of 2 May 2014 events by anti-Maidan activists and a counter demonstration by pro-Maidan groups. Access to the square was closed off by 100 uniformed police officers. The SMM was informed by one police officer that this was due to a bomb scare. Near the square, the SMM observed the presence of two groups: 60 anti-Maidan activists (aged 30-70, 70% female) and 20 pro-Maidan activists (aged 20-60, 80% male). Each of the groups played music and held speeches. They also exchanged slogans - the anti-Maidan side chanted Odessa is a Russian city. 25 police officers in black uniforms were present. The SMM observed minor scuffles between the two groups, but the police separated them. The two groups dispersed after one hour.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Lviv, Chernivtsi, and Ivano-Frankivsk.

 

* Restrictions on SMM monitoring: access and freedom of movement

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by third parties and security considerations including the lack of information on whereabouts of landmines.

The security situation in Donbas is fluid and unpredictable and the ceasefire does not hold everywhere.

  • The SMM was stopped at the Ukrainian Armed Forced checkpoint located west of Volnovakha (government-controlled, 52km south of Donetsk). Military personnel informed the SMM that it could not continue as they had received orders from their superiors to not let the SMM pass. The SMM contacted JCCC, but the situation remained unchanged. The SMM left the area and returned after one hour. This time, it was allowed to proceed.  
  • On route from Ilovaisk (“DPR”-controlled, 30km south-east of Donetsk), the SMM patrol was stopped by a dark blue civilian vehicle with no marks. An armed “DPR” member in uniform asked the SMM about security clearance and escort. After clarification of the situation, the “DPR” member advised the SMM about a high risk of booby-traps inside the urban area. He suggested the SMM to immediately report to the “DPR” commander’s office in town upon arrival, to ensure a security escort.
  • When returning from Petrovskyi district of Donetsk city, the SMM was stopped several times by uniformed persons driving unmarked civilian vehicles who suggested that the SMM should leave the area immediately as there was active fighting.
  • The SMM was refused access to three Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding areas. In one of them the personnel manning the entrance explained the SMM that they could not enter because the Battery’s Officers were attending a meeting.
  • The SMM UAV experienced jamming around the contact line in the vicinity of “DPR”-controlled Oktyabr (24km north-east of Mariupol) and around government-controlled Hnutove (20km north-east of Mariupol) and Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol).

 

[1] For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annex table.

[2] Outside of the reporting period, the SMM followed the developments with the “minister of emergency situations” who informed the SMM that the miners were all successfully evacuated.

[1] Please see the section “Restrictions on SMM monitoring: access and freedom of movement”

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OSCE election observation leaders in Turkey visit Adana, Diyarbakir ahead of vote

OSCE - Thu, 04/06/2015 - 16:14

ANKARA, 4 June 2015 – The leaders of the OSCE’s short-term observer mission for Turkey’s upcoming parliamentary vote have completed visits to Adana and Diyarbakir provinces, respectively, while dozens of other OSCE parliamentary observers have arrived in country ahead of the election.

Vilija Aleknaite Abramikiene, a Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly from Lithuania who is serving as Special Co-ordinator of the short-term OSCE observer mission, visited Adana province in south-central Turkey on 3-4 July. 

She met with Governor Mustafa Buyuk; representatives of the Provincial Election Board; representatives of several political parties; representatives of civil society, including a voters’ group; and long-term observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR).

“The bombing of the People’s Democratic Party office here in Adana two weeks ago was a vivid reminder that Turkey has real security challenges. I was therefore pleased to hear from candidates and to personally witness that parties remain very active and engaged in campaigning for votes. I expect the Turkish authorities to continue doing their utmost to guarantee security on election day for all candidates, party representatives, facilities, and of course voters, whom I hope will turn out in large numbers,” said Aleknaite Abramikiene. 

Aleknaite Abramikiene also served as OSCE Special Co-ordinator for the August 2014 presidential election observation mission. 

Ignacio Sanchez Amor (MP, Spain), who is serving as Head of the OSCE PA Delegation of observers, traveled to Diyarbakir province in southeastern Turkey on 3-4 July. 

There he met with Governor Huseyin Aksoy; representatives of the Provincial Election Board; representatives of several political parties, including human rights and women’s groups; and long-term observers from the OSCE/ODIHR.

“I have certainly taken note of security considerations in Diyarbakir and other Turkish provinces near the Syrian border and have followed the situation in these areas carefully. I have been particularly impressed by the great amount of solidarity demonstrated by the local population vis-à-vis the tragedy of the Syrian refugees, whom the people here call their ‘Syrian guests,’” said Sanchez Amor, who is also the OSCE PA’s Special Representative on OSCE Border Issues.

“But my meetings have also addressed the many other facets of this election, including the media environment and other aspects of the campaign period. These will all factor into the OSCE’s assessment of this vote,” he added.

The observer mission will assess the elections against democratic commitments contained in the OSCE’s 1990 Copenhagen Document.

Aleknaite Abramikiene and Sanchez Amor also underscored the high level of international interest in the 7 July vote.

The OSCE’s short-term observer mission comprises nearly 50 OSCE parliamentarians from 20 countries. 

The parliamentarians, who have begun arriving in Ankara, will participate in two days of briefings ahead of election day. The briefings will include representatives of the Supreme Board of Elections, party representatives, members of the media and civil society, representatives of the Radio and Television Supreme Council and long-term observers from the OSCE/ODIHR.

On 7 June, the OSCE parliamentary observers will deploy to polling stations across Turkey.

Aleknaite Abramikiene and Sanchez Amor, in conjunction with other appropriate officials, will deliver the mission’s statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference in Ankara on 8 June.

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OSCE brings together Aarhus Centres from 14 countries to discuss environmental challenges and opportunities for co-operation

OSCE - Thu, 04/06/2015 - 15:54

VIENNA, 4 June 2015 – Environmental co-operation, networking and partnerships were the focus of the two-day Aarhus Centres Annual Meeting, organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, which concluded in Vienna today.

Aarhus Centre Managers and Aarhus Convention National Focal Points from Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine together with representatives of international and regional organizations and OSCE Field Operations discussed the contribution of Aarhus Centres to environmental democracy, transparency and accountability.

“During our OSCE Chairmanship, within the Economic and Environmental Dimension, we fully support the implementation of the Aarhus Convention and the work of the Aarhus Centres by putting it high on our agenda this year, and we will continue to do so in the future”, said Mr. Jovica Cekic, the representative of the Serbian Chairmanship.

Referring to the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security, Halil Yurdakul Yiğitgüden, the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, said: “Aarhus Centres are an important tool for us in addressing environment and security challenges, especially at the community level.”

The Director of Environmental Division of the UN Economic Commission for Europe, Marco Keiner emphasized that “Aarhus Centres have been at the forefront of the practical implementation of the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers on the ground.”

Ambassador Tomislav Leko, Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Chair of the OSCE’s Economic and Environmental Committee drew attention to the three pillars of the Aarhus Convention: “By facilitating access to information and public participation in decision-making and by promoting access to justice in environmental matters, the Aarhus Centres provide the OSCE with an exceptional tool to promote environmental democracy.”

Aarhus Centre stakeholders showcased their activities in the field of water management, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, shared best practices and lessons learnt, and explored opportunities for enhanced co-operation and partnership.

An Aarhus Centre representative from Tajikistan, Dimitry Prudtskikh, emphasized that environmental problems can only be solved through dialogue and close co-operation among local communities, civil society and local authorities. “A clean environment and fair sharing of natural resources are prerequisites for healthy, peaceful and prosperous communities.”

The meeting featured the signing of a Joint Declaration for co-operation among the Aarhus Centres in the South-Eastern European region.

The OSCE has been supporting the establishment and operation of Aarhus Centres since 2002 mostly through the Environment and Security (ENVSEC) Initiative. To date a network of 59 Aarhus Centres is operating in 14 countries. The Governments of Austria, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States are currently among the major supporters of the Aarhus Centres’ activities.

An infographic on the Arhus Centres and the environmental challenges they address can be found here.

 

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OSCE training course in Turkmenistan focuses on online journalism

OSCE - Thu, 04/06/2015 - 15:14

ASHGABAT, 4 June 2015 – Journalists representing Turkmenistan’s print, broadcast and online media from across the country completed today an OSCE-organized training course on online journalism skills and the use of the internet in journalism.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized the three-day course to strengthen the capacity of journalists in making use of the internet in their daily work, and to enhance their online journalism skills.

“The internet and new technologies have dramatically impacted the way journalists search for information, gather news, report and create stories,” said Ambassador Ivo Petrov, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. “This training aims at increasing journalists' ability to deal with online content and to ensure a high standard of professional journalism. We believe Turkmenistan’s journalists will find this training course useful for their professional development, and the event will support the country’s efforts in promoting online journalism.”

Two international experts presented new trends in the information sphere, search engines and principles of information storage and conversion. The course participants discussed the internet as a tool for the global dissemination of information, the verification of information as well as the specifics of writing and illustrating news for the internet.

During exercises, journalists practiced searching for information in different formats on the internet, writing texts for online media, using interactive maps and infographics as well as publishing news on the internet.

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Malta Minister Foreign Affairs George W. Vella calls upon OSCE Chairmanship to appoint Special Representative for the Mediterranean Region

OSCE - Thu, 04/06/2015 - 13:02

Vienna, 4 June 2015 – Recalling Malta’s call, during the negotiations that led to the signing of the Helsinki Final Act in 1975, that “without peace in the Mediterranean, there can never be peace in Europe”, Malta Minister for Foreign Affairs George W. Vella stressed today in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council that recent developments in the Southern OSCE region confirm that the Mediterranean was, and remains a major concern to the security of Europe.

“We cannot close our eyes to the security challenges that are just at the Southern border of this Organization.  Today’s unprecedented levels of interconnectivity lead us to believe that peace in the Mediterranean is a prerequisite for global stability”, Vella said.

In his address to the Permanent Council, among the challenges that the OSCE needs to address, Minister Vella highlighted the rising global threat of terrorism and extremism, which no country is immune to and which therefore requires greater collective efforts.  The proposal to set up a Centrex-Med in Malta, to serve as an OSCE command and Senior Staff Centre for Excellence in Justice and Security, would further contribute in the fight against terrorism and extremism he said. 

Vella identified irregular migration as another major challenge: “It is not just a Maltese or European Union problem, but a challenge that affects the entire OSCE region”.   The OSCE can play a vital role in combatting irregular migration in a comprehensive and cross dimensional manner, he stated.

Referring to the security situation in Libya, Minister Vella expressed the view that only mediation, as one of the OSCE’s powerful tools, could bring about positive change in that country.   Stressing that we cannot risk having another failed state, one which would become a haven for extremists, Vella called on the Chairmanship in Office to consider appointing a Special Representative for the Mediterranean region, who could be tasked with updating the Permanent Council and proposing ways to increase the OSCE’s role in its Southern region.

“The Helsinki Final act describes the Mediterranean as “region as a whole” and therefore we should not limit the security discussions as if they were discussions between ‘two sides’ – between ‘us and them’ – the Mediterranean partners.  We need to do more, to move beyond this approach and address collectively Mediterranean security challenges to the OSCE”, said Vella.  “We call on the participating States to include the Euro-Mediterranean dimension as an integral part of the OSCE framework, together with the Euro-Atlantic and Euro-Asian dimensions.”

Reaffirming Malta’s belief in the work of the OSCE, Minister Vella concluded: “One of our major assets is our historical vocation for peace, security and stability in our region and beyond.  During such testing times, our determination and our resolve grow stronger every day”.

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Co-operation between police and public discussed in Yerevan

OSCE - Thu, 04/06/2015 - 11:34
162241 Gohar Avagyan, OSCE Office in Yerevan

The role of community policing in crime prevention and strengthening police-public partnership was the focus of the conference organized by the OSCE Office in Yerevan, the Armenian Police and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) on 4 June 2015.

The conference brought together international and local experts, civil society and police representatives to discuss introduction of community policing and the best practices of police co-operation with state and non-state institutions. Participants were introduced to the OSCE approach to community policing by an expert from the Strategic Police Matters Unit of the OSCE Secretariat and the experience of law enforcement agencies in European countries by DCAF experts.

The Armenian Police representatives talked about the main challenges of the community policing in Armenia while representatives of civil society shared their experience of building the partnership with the Armenian police.The issue of how important is the role of the media in building police-public relations was also discussed during the event.

The Conference will be followed by a workshop discussing similar issues involving middle-rank commanders of the Armenian police and the staff of the Police Educational Complex.

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OSCE supports Second Water Forum in Kazakhstan

OSCE - Thu, 04/06/2015 - 09:26

ASTANA, 4 June 2015 – The Second OSCE-supported Water Forum on practical solutions for water governance and co-operation between the government institutions, universities and the private sector took place today in Astana, Kazakhstan.

It brought together some 80 parliamentarians, high-level officials from the ministries of Agriculture, Education and Science, National Economy, Investment and Development as well as academics, representatives of the business community and international organizations. The event was co-organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana in co-operation with the Kazakh-German University, the Foreign Ministry and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

The participants reviewed the results of the Seventh World Water Forum and assessed the main challenges related to water governance, including in a transboundary context.  The high-level experts from Germany, including the Head of the German Federal Union for Energy and Water Management, shared with the participants best practices in the rational and effective use of natural resources and the application of integrated water management principles in the national framework.

At two parallel sessions, government officials and researchers discussed with entrepreneurs the innovative approaches to co-operation between them, while students from ten leading universities countrywide, who specialize in water management, presented their innovative solutions in the water sector to government and business representatives.

“Sustainable development and good governance, most notably effective water resources management, are among the top OSCE priorities in its comprehensive approach to security and co-operation. It is obvious that disagreements over water sharing, water scarcity and its poor quality can affect stability both at the national and regional levels,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana. She added that for Kazakhstan as a downstream country these issues are of strategic importance.

“Kazakhstan is interested in thoroughly studying international experience and applying international law concerning water issues. To ensure regional stability and environmental sustainability as well as to address challenges of co-management and protection of transboundary rivers, we need to join efforts on the basis of common legal grounds, respect for the interests of all stakeholders and mutually beneficial co-operation” said Erlan Nysanbayev, Deputy Minister of Agriculture.

The Forum is part of the Office’s long-term efforts to support sustainable water resources management in the host country and to promote public-private partnerships in addressing related issues.

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OSCE PA Special Representative visits Belgrade, Prishtine/Pristina

OSCE - Thu, 04/06/2015 - 09:10

PRISHTINE/PRISTINA, 3 June 2015 – The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Special Representative on South East Europe, Roberto Battelli (MP, Slovenia), is visiting Belgrade, Prishtine/Pristina and Skopje this week for meetings with high-level officials and representatives of OSCE field presences for discussions on political developments in the region, including the ongoing dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtine/Pristina and the situation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

“My aim is to receive first-hand information about the current state of regional co-operation, institution-building in these parts of the former Yugoslavia and about the valuable work of the OSCE field operations,” said Battelli.

“The Parliamentary Assembly gives its full support to the OSCE missions on the ground and we will continue to offer our assistance to them, to the countries of the region, and to their parliaments, wherever they see that we can be of help -- especially in fostering internal and regional dialogue,” he added.

The Special Representative underscored his strong opposition to calls by some OSCE participating States to downsize field operations in South East Europe.

On 1 June in Belgrade, Battelli met with Vladimir Marinkovic, Vice-President of the National Assembly of Serbia, and with members of Serbia’s Delegation to the OSCE PA, including Delegation Head Dijana Vukomanovic and human rights committee Rapporteur Gordana Comic. He also held discussions with Ambassador Peter Burkhard, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, representatives of the Serbian OSCE Chairmanship and members of the international community.

In talks on the ongoing dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtine/Pristina, the Special Representative welcomed, in particular, the success of the continuing co-operation between prominent Serbian and Kosovar women in the framework of an initiative facilitated by the OSCE missions to Serbia and in Kosovo.

“As is so often the case, women are demonstrating again that they can play a leading role in furthering dialogue and a positive development between former parties to a conflict,” he said.

Battelli also emphasized the strong leadership role of the Serbian OSCE Chairmanship and the active contribution of Serbian members of parliament to the work of the OSCE PA.

In Prishtine/Pristina, the Special Representative was received by Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga on 3 June. The sides agreed that while the many documents resulting from the Belgrade-Prishtine/Pristina dialogue are a positive sign, implementation will be the key to real progress. The Special Representative supported the Kosovo President's call for a more inclusive approach to Kosovo’s representation in international organizations.

Battelli also held extensive talks with Kosovo former Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Kosovo Assembly Enver Hoxhaj. Among topics of discussion, the sides considered possibilities for enhancing co-operation between the OSCE PA and the Kosovo Assembly without violating the status-neutral approach of the OSCE towards the issue of Kosovo’s independence. 

The sides also discussed minority issues and related developments in the region, including recent incidents in Kumanovo, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Both agreed that the standstill in the EU-accession process for the country and the halt in Skopje’s integration into Euro-Atlantic structures, caused by the name dispute with Greece, are creating serious challenges and are among the most important causes for the rise of conflict situations.

At the OSCE PA’s 2014 Annual Session, parliamentarians from across the OSCE area approved a resolution on co-operation in South East Europe that encourages the countries of the region to better work together and calls upon the European Union, in particular, to avoid creating artificial obstacles along tracks toward accession.

While in Prishtine/Pristina, Battelli also met with Sasa Milosavljevic, Chief of the Kosovo Assembly’s Srpska Lista group, and Jasmina Zivkovic, Chair of the Kosovo Assembly Committee on Rights, Interests of Communities and Returns. He continued discussions on co-operation between Serbian and Kosovar women with Teuta Sahatqija, Chair of the Kosovo Assembly Committee on European Integration and former Chair of the Women’s Caucus.

The Special Representative held further meetings with Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, and with representatives of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX); the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (SRSG); the Commander NATO Kosovo Force (COMKFOR); and the Council of Europe.

Battelli is also scheduled to meet with Kosovo Assembly Chair Kadri Veseli before traveling to Skopje.

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Spot report by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM), 3 June 2015: Fighting around Marinka

OSCE - Thu, 04/06/2015 - 00:24

Summary

Fighting erupted around the government-controlled town of Marinka (23km west-south-west of Donetsk city centre) in the morning of 3 June. The SMM observed the movement of a large amount of heavy weapons in “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled areas – generally in a westerly direction towards the contact line – close to Marinka, preceding and during the fighting. Calm was restored by the early evening.

Detail

Between 22:30hrs on 2 June and 05:30hrs on 3 June, the SMM – positioned in the “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled Tekstilshchik area of Donetsk city (14km east-north-east of Marinka) – made a number of observations. It observed, inter alia, eight tracked armoured vehicles moving west, four of which were main battle tanks (MBT) at 22:30hrs; four MBTs at 23:03hrs; a military-type truck moving west, towing a 122mm artillery piece at 23:45hrs; two T-64 MBTs moving west at 04:30hrs; and a column of one infantry fighting vehicle (BMP-2), three military trucks (one carrying an ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft gun), and two T-72 MBTs, moving west, at 04:50hrs. In addition, the SMM – at the same location – heard approximately 100 outgoing artillery rounds fired from a location 1-5km north-north-west of its position between 04:30 and 04:40hrs; an outgoing salvo of BM-21 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) Grad rockets fired from a location 1-5km west of its position at 04:55hrs; and, 100 outgoing artillery rounds fired from a location 5km north-north-west of its position.

Between 04:30 and 05:00hrs, the SMM – positioned in Donetsk city-centre – heard several salvos of outgoing MLRS rockets and approximately 100 incoming heavy-artillery rounds.

Between 07:00 and 08:00hrs, the SMM – mobile in an area 6-9km east of Marinka – observed seven T-64 MBTs facing west. In addition, it heard, on two separate occasions, more than five salvos of outgoing MLRS (BM-21) rockets and heavy-mortar rounds; and 12 outgoing MLRS Grad rockets and mortars.

At approximately 06:00hrs, an SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) observed intense shelling targeting an intersection of the H15 highway 3.5km south-west of Marinka. The UAV spotted four 2S3 Akatsiya 152mm self-propelled howitzers 9km south-west of the town at 15:30hrs.

The SMM made several attempts between 10:45 and 12:11hrs to contact high-ranking “DPR” personnel – including the “DPR” “prime minister”, “parliamentary speaker”, “minister of defence” and “chief of the general staff” – in order to facilitate a cessation to the fighting around Marinka. Either they were unavailable or did not wish to speak to the SMM.

At 15:00hrs the SMM received a letter from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, saying Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons would be placed on the contact line in order to deal with the “real threat” posed by the fighting in Marinka, which they said had started at 06:00hrs that morning. Ukrainian officials later publicly acknowledged that the weapons had been used, saying their use was necessary in thwarting a “DPR” attack.

The Representative of the Russian Federation Armed Forces to the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination told the SMM at 15:00hrs that a ceasefire around Marinka would take effect at 17:00hrs. He told the SMM at 21:00hrs that the situation around Marinka was currently calm. At around 19:00hrs a representative of the Anti-Terrorist Operation command in Kramatorsk and the “DPR” “ministry of defence” confirmed to the SMM that Marinka was under government control.

The SMM will follow up on reports of civilian and military casualties in Marinka. 

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OSCE Chairperson-in-Office encourages dialogue within South Caucasus region during visit to Armenia

OSCE - Wed, 03/06/2015 - 21:36

YEREVAN, 3 June 2015 – OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić in Yerevan today emphasized today in Yerevan the importance of regional dialogue as he concluded his trip to the South Caucasus, following visits to Baku on 1 June and Tbilisi on 2 June.    

During talks with Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan, Dačić highlighted the importance of a dialogue which would steer the region towards a sustainable peaceful solution for the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and discussed co-operation between the OSCE and Armenia.

Dačić also met Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Speaker of the National Assembly Galust Sahakyan and representatives of political parties.

Referring to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Dačić underlined his concern about the recent increase in reported violations of the long-standing ceasefire agreement and the reported casualties. “The basic precondition for progress is full adherence to the ceasefire agreement,” he said. “There is no military solution to this issue. One can only be reached through dialogue. I speak with a certainty that stems from Serbia’s own experience,” he added. “Once the ceasefire is fully respected, it will be easier to explore together issues affecting the security and livelihood of people. Slowly but surely, such talks construct a platform for re-establishing mutual trust and discussing a sustainable peaceful solution.”

Dačić reiterated his full support for the efforts of the Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, as well as for the work of his Personal Representative, Ambassador Andrzej Kaspryzk, and his Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Ambassador Angelo Gnaedinger, who accompanied him.

Visiting the OSCE Office in Yerevan, the Chairperson-in-Office said he was pleased with the level of co-operation between the OSCE and Armenia. “It sets a good example of how a country can employ the OSCE’s expertise to help foster the reforms on which it has embarked,” he said.

Dačić met the OSCE Office’s head, Ambassador Andrey Sorokin, and other mission members, who presented the results of the Office’s work and detailed plans for future programmes of co-operation.

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OSCE Presence, German Embassy launch project to foster public discourse about Communist past in Albania

OSCE - Wed, 03/06/2015 - 17:17

TIRANA, 3 June 2015 – The OSCE Presence in Albania, funded by the German government, launched today a project that aims at fostering a broad public dialogue about the communist past in Albania.

The first event of the project took place at the Andon Zako Çajupi high school in Tirana, where students talked with two former politically persecuted people and watched a documentary about the young generation’s knowledge of the dictatorship. Similar events will take place in other schools and in communities in co-operation with several civil society organizations.

Among the first project activities is also a nationwide survey about the public’s knowledge, perceptions and expectations for dialogue regarding the Communist past in Albania. The results of the survey are expected to provide a clear picture of differences in knowledge about the past across segments of society, as well as give insight into hopes and concerns about dealing with legacy of the former regime. The survey results will also provide a sound basis for future initiatives in this field. A major televised debate will take place towards the end of the year.

“A new momentum for initiatives to address the human rights violations of Albania’s former Communist regime has built up over the past few months. We are launching this project because we believe that there is a need for an inclusive national discourse about the goals and expectations of society at large about the various initiatives proposed to address this difficult history,” said the Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Florian Raunig.

German Ambassador Hellmut Hoffmann said: “I am delighted that we can support the OSCE Presence in Albania in this important endeavor and I should like to thank it for engaging in it. From our own experience we know that confronting difficult pasts is not an easy task, but we also know that if done in a fruitful way it can be beneficial for the people and the society as a whole. However, each case is unique – so while we are pleased to be able to give support, at the end of the day it is for the Albanians themselves to determine how exactly they wish to deal with that task.”

 

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OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine to hold news briefing in Kyiv tomorrow

OSCE - Wed, 03/06/2015 - 16:34

KYIV, 3 June 2015 – The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) will hold its regular news briefing tomorrow in Kyiv.

Michael Bociurkiw, the SMM’s Spokesperson, will talk about the recent Mission’s activities and the general security situation throughout Ukraine.

Journalists are invited to attend the news briefing tomorrow, 4 June, at 13:15 (Kyiv time), at the Ukrainian Crisis Media Centre, at 2 Khreshchatyk street, Ukrainian house.

Live online streaming of the news briefing will be available at http://uacrisis.org/ru/stream/#eng

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Latest from OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine based on information received as of 19:30 (Kyiv time), 2 June 2015

OSCE - Wed, 03/06/2015 - 15:29

This report is provided for the media and the general public.

The SMM monitored the implementation of the “Package of measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements”. Its monitoring was restricted by third parties and significant caution regarding security considerations. The SMM observed continuing ceasefire violations at and around Donetsk airport. The SMM observed the exhumation of human remains in “LPR”-controlled Raivka and Zhovte.

In Minsk the SMM Deputy Chief Monitor chaired the Trilateral Contact Group's Working Group on Security. The participants intensively discussed security issues. The Working Group established consensus on a number of issues, including on unconditional support by all sides to the SMM’s freedom of movement.

The SMM observed continuous ceasefire violations at and around Donetsk airport[1] (“Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”)-controlled, 12km north-west of Donetsk). On 2 June, while at the JCCC observation point at the Donetsk central railway station (“DPR”-controlled, 8km north-west of Donetsk city centre) the SMM heard a total of 126 explosions. Between 12:19 and 13:01hrs, the SMM heard 64 distant explosions, barely audible, from the south-south-west. Between 13:26 and 17:15hrs the SMM heard a total of 62 explosions and 20 bursts of small arms fire.

In line with current security considerations, the SMM did not visit the area of Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol). The mayor of Shyrokyne informed the SMM that two civilians had been injured as a result of shelling in the village on 2 June.

Based on information received from the “DPR”, the SMM monitored three sites in Donetsk city’s Kirovskyi district (“DPR”-controlled, 6.2km south-west of Donetsk city centre) where it observed fresh impacts on each site. On the first site the SMM observed an impact on the north side of the building on its second floor. On the second site, the SMM, based on an impact analysis, its angle and diameter, estimated that an artillery round of a calibre of at least 122mm incoming from the north-north-west, had penetrated the asphalt but did not detonate. On the third site, the SMM observed a crater which, based on its angle, it estimated to be from an unspecified artillery piece incoming from the same north-north-west direction. Local residents said to the SMM that on 1 June they heard approximately ten mostly incoming explosions between 19:00 and 19:30hrs.

At the JCCC headquarters in Soledar (government-controlled, 77km north-north-east of Donetsk), the Ukrainian Armed Forces Major-General, head of the Ukrainian side to the JCCC informed the SMM that on 1 June the situation had significantly deteriorated and eight Ukrainian Armed Forces servicepersons were wounded in action. The Russian Federation Armed Forces Colonel-General, senior representative of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to the JCCC was absent. The SMM was presented with two log files, compiled independently by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Russian Federation Armed Forces officers at the JCCC; both contained 76 violations, but with significantly different attributions.

The SMM visited the Uspenka (“DPR”-controlled, 97km southeast of Donetsk) border crossing point between Ukraine and the Russian Federation where it observed 108 civilian vehicles waiting to cross into the Russian Federation. The SMM interviewed three outbound travellers from Horlivka (“DPR”-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk), who all stated that they were leaving to seek work in the Russian Federation.

The SMM monitored the exhumation of bodies, presumed to be from government armed forces in “Lugansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”)-controlled territories in the vicinity of Raivka and Zhovte (“LPR”-controlled, 18km and 19km north-west of Luhansk). The exhumation was conducted by the Afghan War Veterans Association and two “LPR” “police investigators”. At a site near Raivka the excavation team exhumed one body dressed in what appeared to be Ukrainian Armed Forces uniform. At another site near Zhovte, the team found human remains including bones, as well as a boot and pieces of a uniform. The SMM later observed the body found at Raivka being transferred past the last “LPR”-controlled checkpoint near government-controlled Shchastia (20km north-west of Luhansk) and subsequently observed it being transported away in a refrigerated truck under escort by Ukrainian Armed Forces. The exhumation will resume on 3 June.

The SMM met the “deputy chief of police” in “LPR”-controlled Rovenky (55km south of Luhansk), who said to the SMM that there were currently 160 “police officers” covering Rovenky and the villages of the district. He said that crime rates were below pre-conflict levels but added that cases related to domestic violence and neglect of children was common.

The SMM observed a live-fire exercise in the vicinity of Trokhizbenka (government-controlled, 33km north-west of Luhansk, 1km north of the contact line) during which it identified the use of a 125mm T64 main battle tank gun, 82mm mortars, and weapons of more than 100mm calibre, anti-tank guided missiles, anti-tank grenade launchers, 30mm guns, and small arms. All the weapons were stationary and the fire was directed away from the contact line.

The SMM visited seven Ukrainian Armed Forces heavy weapons holding areas, all in compliance with the Minsk withdrawal lines, and noted that on some locations some of the heavy weapons previously recorded were missing; two multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS, 122mm BM-21 Grad) on one site and five MLRS (122mm BM-21 Grad) on another.

Despite claims that heavy weapons have been withdrawn, the SMM unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) observed one main battle tank (MBT) in “DPR”-controlled areas and two MBTs in government-controlled areas.

The SMM met with chiefs of police in Bereznehuvate and Kazanka districts (74km and 130km north of Kherson). Both characterized the overall situation in the districts as calm noting that the most common crime in the area was street crimes such as assaults and robberies, which are related to poverty and high unemployment. They also expressed concerns about unclear criteria of the application of the law on lustration, which may cause the loss of qualified professionals from the system, e.g. through early retirement.

On 1 June, the SMM monitored a protest in Lviv against soaring utility prices. The event was organized by the non-governmental organization Autonomous Resistance and gathered approximately 60 people, mostly young men. Protesters met at the city centre and marched towards the regional administration building waving banners reading “Gas plus 280 per cent salaries minus 300 per cent” and chanting “Power to the Millions, not to Millionaires”. Some 50 police were present at the event which ended peacefully.

The SMM monitored in front of the Lviv regional administration building, a demonstration of some 150 people, mostly women between 30 and 60 and former staff of the Lviv Regional Perinatal Centre which had been shut down in 2013 for renovations which are still not completed. The protestors denounced the lack of progress, which they believe was linked to funds misappropriation. According to the protestors, 500 staff remained unemployed as a result. The SMM observed that officials from the Lviv Regional Administration met with protesters promising a quick resolution on the issue. Ten police officers were present at the event which ended peacefully.

In Kyiv the SMM observed a protest attended by 20 people, mostly young women, demanding action against corruption. Some participants wore T-shirts with slogans stating that corruption was an endemic problem and banners threatening to start another “Maidan”. The SMM observed the presence of ten police officers, 20 National Guards as well as twenty buses of National Guards on standby in the vicinity. The demonstration ended peacefully.

The SMM also observed a gathering of about 200 elderly people, mostly women, at Kyiv’s Independence Square (Maidan), protesting against corruption and lack of reforms. Only regular traffic police were in the vicinity and the event ended peacefully.

The SMM continued to monitor the situation in Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Odessa, Chernivtsi and Ivano-Frankivsk.

* Restrictions on SMM monitoring: access and freedom of movement

The SMM is restrained in fulfilling its monitoring functions by restrictions imposed by third parties and security considerations including the lack of information on whereabouts of landmines.

The security situation in Donbas is fluid and unpredictable and the ceasefire does not hold everywhere.

  • The SMM was stopped at a Ukrainian Armed Forces checkpoint near Volnovakha (government-controlled, 35km south-west of Donetsk) on road H20 and was asked for the nationality of the patrol leader. The SMM was allowed to proceed after the SMM patrol leader presented her identity card and the SMM vehicles were inspected.  
  • In Andriivka (government-controlled, 57km south of Donetsk) the SMM attempted to visit a fuel depot, which could potentially be used for military purposes, but entry was denied by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The SMM observed several mine signs in the vicinity of this depot.
  • The SMM UAV experienced temporary jamming in the area between the “DPR”-controlled villages of Sakhanka and Zaichenko (24 and 25km east of Mariupol).

For a complete breakdown of the ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table.

 

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