OSCE

OSCE urges Trump to stop 'attacks' on media

Vienna - AFP

The OSCE's media freedom watchdog on Monday called on US President Donald Trump to tone down his virulent attacks on the press, warning that they "degrade" the media's key role in a democracy and open journalists to abuse. Since taking office in January, the 71-year-old leader has made a habit of publicly bashing mainstream media outlets like The New YorkRead more

American OSCE monitor killed

Kiev - Arab Today

An American monitor with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe died after a mission patrol vehicle hit a landmine in the Russian-backed separatist east, eliciting sharp words towards Moscow from US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Sunday. It marked the first loss for the security body's Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) since Europe's only current war broke outRead more

Erdogan gets congrats call from Trump as he tells monitors

Washington - Arab Today

Ignoring concerns raised by international monitoring groups, President Donald Trump called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday to congratulate him on the country’s contested referendum greatly expanding presidential powers. The move comes despite protests from opposition parties and international monitoring groups - as well as Trump’s own State Department - about voting irregularities during Sunday’s referendum. And it alignsRead more

EU boosts support for OSCE mission in Ukraine

Kiev - ArabToday

The European Union (EU) said on Friday it has allocated an additional 3 million euros (about 3.2 million U.S. dollars) for the mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which monitors the situation in eastern Ukraine. The funds, which are provided under the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP), will support the work of theRead more

OSCE to increase number of monitors in Ukraine

Kiev - ArabToday

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will increase the number of its monitors in Ukraine, its Chairperson-in-Office Sebastian Kurz was cited Thursday by local media as saying. Speaking at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Kurz said that the technical equipment of the international observers working in Ukraine will be improved, while operating hours willRead more

Albania has one more month to agree on electoral reform

Tirana - ArabToday

Albanian politicians have another month to agree on the new electoral reform as Albania Parliament decided to pass the ruling coalition's proposal to postpone the deadline for the parliamentary ad hoc committee on this reform, official sources said Friday. Electoral reform and improvement of the electoral code was one of the conditions set by the European Union (EU) for Albania'sRead more

OSCE reports sharp rise in civilian deaths in Ukraine's Lugansk

Kiev - ArabToday

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which monitors the situation in the conflict-hit eastern Ukraine, said on Friday it has recorded a sharp spike in the number of civilian deaths in Lugansk region. "Over the past two weeks, we have confirmed at least five civilian fatalities compared to 19 for all of 2016," Alexander Hug, the deputyRead more

Sanctions will hit Russia hard after cyberattack

Riga /Vienna - Arab Today

A US senator said on Wednesday that Russia and President Vladimir Putin could expect sanctions after cyberattacks during the US presidential election in November. “You can expect that the Congress will investigate the Russian involvement in our elections and there will be bipartisan sanctions coming that will hit Russia hard, particularly Putin as an individual,” Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham ofRead more