OSCE Parliamentarian Jan Richard Andersson of Sweden (right) and OSCE PA Director of Elections Andreas Baker view documents posted in the window of a polling station in Belgrade, 16 March. BELGRADE, 17 March 2014 – The 16 March 2014 early parliamentary elections offered voters a genuine choice, were conducted on a sound legal basis, and fundamental freedoms were respected throughout the campaign, international election observers said in a

OSCE PA President Ranko Krivokapic addresses the PACE Standing Committee as OSCE PA Secretary General Spencer Oliver (left) looks on. Election co-operation, situation in Ukraine top agenda COPENHAGEN, 7 March 2014 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ranko Krivokapic today addressed the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Paris, where he called for expanded co-operation between the Assemblies

OSCE PA President Ranko Krivokapic (right) greets Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka. COPENHAGEN, 5 March 2014 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ranko Krivokapic today completed a two-day visit to the Czech Republic, where the crisis in Ukraine and the role the OSCE can play in helping to resolve it featured in talks with government leaders and lawmakers. Krivokapic met with Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, Senate President Milan

COPENHAGEN, 4 March 2014 – Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, today criticized Russia for "violating several key provisions of the Helsinki Final Act" in its recent actions with respect to Ukraine and called on OSCE officials to consider the implications. In an address before the OSCE Human Dimension Committee in Vienna, Santos said: "When I

COPENHAGEN, 4 March 2014 – OSCE parliamentarians will travel to Serbia next week to observe the country's 16 March parliamentary elections and provide leadership for the OSCE's short-term observer mission. OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Didier Burkhalter has designated Roberto Battelli (MP, Slovenia) as Special Co-ordinator of the mission. Luigi Compagna (MP, Italy) will serve as Head of the OSCE PA Delegation, which includes nearly 40

COPENHAGEN, 3 March 2014 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ranko Krivokapic today expressed grave concern at developments in Ukraine and urged all OSCE participating States to respect the principles and spirit of the Helsinki Final Act. “I am gravely concerned at the deteriorating situation in Ukraine, which threatens the security and peace of the entire region. Any breach of the sovereignty of an OSCE participating State is in violation