Skip Navigation
UPDATED: 29 Jan 2009 GMT
  • OSCE delegates and staff members watch Barack Obama's Inauguration Ceremony at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. (photo: USOSCE) OSCE Celebrates Obama Inauguration

    On January 20, Barack Obama was sworn in as President of the United States. Delegations of OSCE participating States and OSCE staff members were invited to watch his inaugural speech, where Obama said "America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity".

    Also: Inaugural Address | White House
  • OSCE military monitoring officers on patrol in Georgia, September 2008. (photo: OSCE/David Khizanishvili) Closure of the OSCE Mission to Georgia

    The United States deplores Russia’s decision effectively to veto a measure supported by the overwhelming majority of OSCE participating States to renew the mandate of the Mission to Georgia.

    Also: US Statements on the Situation in Georgia
  • Under Secretary of State William J. Burns, head of the U.S. delegation, at a joint appearance with Greek Foreign Minister Theodora Bakoyannis. [photo: Heidi Day/US Embassy Helsinki] The 16th OSCE Ministerial Council

    The 16th OSCE Ministerial Council was held in Helsinki on December 4-5, 2008. Under Secretary of State William J. Burns led the U.S. delegation. He and Greek FM Dora Bakoyannis announced the Women Against Terror Initiative. Greece will hold the chairmanship of the OSCE in 2009. [photo: Heidi Day/US Embassy Helsinki]

    Also: Ministerial Council website | Photos
Previous Pause Next
Regional News
Logo of theOrganization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

The OSCE Website
Learn more about the OSCE

Ambassadors Bernard Fassier (France), Matthew Bryza (U.S.) and Yury Merzlyakov (Russia), the Co-Chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group. (photo: OSCE/Mikhail Evstafiev)

OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs Statements

Logo of U.S. Helsinki Commission

U.S. Helsinki Commission
Compliance with Helsinki Final Act

LATEST OSCE CONFERENCES & EVENTS
OSCE military monitoring officers on patrol in Georgia, 3 September 2008. (photo: OSCE/David Khizanishvili)

Closure of OSCE Mission to Georgia
The United States deplores Russia’s decision effectively to veto a measure supported by the overwhelming majority of OSCE participating States to renew the mandate of the Mission to Georgia.

Julie Finley, Ambassador to the OSCE

"the United States has treated you ... to a front row seat to watch democracy"
At the Permanent Council on November 6, Ambassador Julie Finley informed OSCE participating States of the outcome of the US elections.

OSCE flags in front to the Hofburg in Vienna. (photo: USOSCE)

Symposium "Helsinki to Helsinki: The Future of the OSCE"
On October 15, Assistant Secretary David J. Kramer participated in a panel discussion on the future of the OSCE at a symposium co-sponsored by the Finnish Embassy in Washington , DC and the Center for Transatlantic Relations at Johns Hopkins University SAIS.

2008 Human Dimension Implementation Meeting held from Sep. 29 through Oct. 10
The annual HDIM brings together hundreds of government representatives, human rights activists, and international experts from the OSCE region to benchmark progress of governments in meeting their mutually-agreed human rights and democracy commitments.

Diana Marvin, Senior Advisor VCI/CCA, Dept. of State and U.S. Chief Arms Control Delegate Hugh Neighbour, Chairman of the Open Skies Consultative Commission (photo: USOSCE)

500th Open Skies Observation Flight took off on August 20
The 500th military-observation flight under the Open Skies Treaty was flown on August 20, 2008. This remarkable achievement was celebrated, under US Chairmanship, already on July 14 by representatives from the 34 States Parties to the Treaty.