Doris Barnett (MP, Germany) speaks with the press in Lviv on 15 May 2014. LVIV, 16 May 2014 – In the latest in a series of high-level visits to Ukraine ahead of the presidential election later this month, senior members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly emphasized today in Lviv the importance of holding a fair vote in line with OSCE election-related commitments. "Being in this old European city, I can only say that Ukraine does not have to

COPENHAGEN, 15 May 2014 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ranko Krivokapic today issued the following statement on the mine disaster in Turkey: "I am greatly saddened by the mining tragedy in Soma, Turkey, which has claimed the lives of at least 282 people in what is being called Turkey's worst mine disaster ever. My deepest condolences go out to the families of the victims, the communities affected and to the people of Turkey. "Mine

From R to L: Mehmet Sevki Kulkuloglu of the OSCE PA; Amb. Zoltan Taubner, Director of External Relations for the Council of Europe; Amb. Ivan Simonovic, Assistant Secretary General of OHCHR at the UN; Amb. Thomas Greminger, Chairperson of the OSCE Permanent Council; Amb. Janez Lenarcic, Director of OSCE/ODIHR. COPENHAGEN, 12 May 2014 – Deepened co-operation and permanent channels of communication between parliamentary bodies are needed to meet

COPENHAGEN, 10 May 2014 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ranko Krivokapic today called on separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts of eastern Ukraine to cancel planned referendums on self-rule scheduled for 11 May. "The idea that free and fair voting could take place in these so-called referendums is absurd. Not only are these referendums completely illegitimate in the eyes of the international community, they would be taking place

Joao Soares (left) and Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk at the conclusion of their meeting on 6 May. COPENHAGEN, 9 May 2014 – Senior parliamentarian Joao Soares (Portugal), who will lead the short-term OSCE observer mission to Ukraine's presidential election, has met with interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk in Kyiv and completed a visit to Odessa. The trip is the latest in a series to Ukraine by OSCE parliamentarians and staff in

COPENHAGEN, 3 May 2014 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ranko Krivokapic today issued the following statement on recent events in Ukraine: "On behalf of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, I deplore the senseless violence and mourn the loss of life that occurred in Odessa yesterday. These events represent a shocking escalation at a time when all Ukrainian citizens and all in the international community have a profound responsibility to