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Vienna Hosts Meetings for Belarusian Opposition Leader
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In a diplomatic engagement, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg welcomed Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian opposition leader, for a pivotal discussion in Vienna. This meeting, which took place within the framework of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, brought the key figure of the Belarusian opposition to Vienna to address the OSCE and the European Community under the symbolic presence of the Austrian and EU flags.
February 28, 2024
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International Observers: Lack of Political Alternatives in Presidential Elections in Azerbaijan
International observers have found that the early presidential election in Azerbaijan lacked genuine political pluralism due to a restrictive environment. Russia has sharply criticized the OSCE mission for its lack of understanding of election monitoring.
February 11, 2024
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Russia Refuses OSCE Observer's Invitation to Presidential Elections
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The Russian Federation's decision not to invite observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to the upcoming presidential elections has been met with deep regret by the leaders of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA).
February 11, 2024
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International Observers Highlight Concerns in Serbia's Early Parliamentary Elections
In Serbia's early parliamentary elections, held amidst a politically and socially divided landscape, international observers have raised significant concerns about the fairness and integrity of the electoral process. The OSCE and the European Parliament expressed their criticism. The elections were marked by overwhelming advantages for the ruling party and the dominant involvement of the President, overshadowing the technical efficiency of the voting process.
December 19, 2023
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Skopje Hosts OSCE Youth Forum: A Convergence of Young Innovators and Parliamentarians
The OSCE 2023 Chairpersonship, led by North Macedonia, hosted a pivotal Youth Forum in Skopje, focusing on integrating youth perspectives into security, with an emphasis on entrepreneurial and innovative solutions for fostering peace, dialogue, justice, trust, and reconciliation.
November 15, 2023
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OSCE Court of Conciliation and Arbitration: Promoting Peaceful Dispute Resolution
The OSCE Court of Arbitration is an important institution within the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and recently the President and Vice-President of the OSCE Court met with the leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to further strengthen it. But what is the OSCE Court of Arbitration and why is it important?
May 3, 2023
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Minister Edtstadler Defends Visa Exemptions for Russians
Austrian Europe Minister Karoline Edtstadler has defended Austria’s decision to grant visas to the Russian Delegation amidst the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly.
February 21, 2023
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Journalists' Associations Against Exclusion of Media at OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
In response to plans by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) that media representatives would not be permitted to attend the winter session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) at the Hofburg in Vienna, the Association of European Journalists (AEJ) and the Association of Foreign Press in Vienna objected.
February 20, 2023
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Ukraine Wants to Boycott OSCE-Meeting Because of Russian Delegation
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is not going through its best times. Especially Austria’s role in it. After many countries sent an open letter to Austria to disinvite the Russian delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly, countries are now boycotting the meeting.
February 16, 2023
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Austria Obligated to Grant Visas Says OSCE
The Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE) has decided in a parliament assembly that Austria must grant visas to all visiting member states, including Russia. The visas for the Russian Delegation have caused quite some controversy in the last week however, the visa issues seem to be settled.
February 8, 2023
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Schallenberg Defends his Stance Regarding the Russians
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Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg has defended his position to allow the Russian delegation to enter the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly by trying to keep a communication channel open.
February 6, 2023
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Open Letter to Austria to Disinvite Russian Delegation
Over 80 representatives from 20 different countries have asked Austria in an open letter to disinvite members of the Russian delegation from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly concerning the anniversary of the Russo-Ukrainian war.
February 2, 2023
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Austria Stuck in a Dilemma at the OSCE
Austria may cause some controversy at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna by letting sanctioned Russian politicians enter the country and granting them visas. Moreover, of all days, the Parliamentary Assembly will be held on February 23 and 24.
February 1, 2023
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Weekly Briefing: Latest Developments in and Around Diplomacy
The Find out more about this week's developments. Last week was turbulent for the most important matters of diplomacy in Vienna. The war in Ukraine, the European Forum Alpbach or the efforts of international organizations in Vienna towards peaceful solutions shows once again how multifaceted diplomacy is. Read about the latest developments in diplomacy in Vienna and Austria.
August 25, 2022
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OSCE's Dilemma over Bosnia and Herzegovina’s General Elections
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 2 October parliamentary elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The OSCE mission is taking place in a country deeply scarred by war, now in the shadow of the Ukraine war and after a turbulent past few months of political conflict between the ruling parties in the country.
August 24, 2022