- OSCE Permanent Council reiterates offer to assist Kyrgyzstan

VIENNA, 2 July 2010 - The OSCE Permanent Council adopted a statement today that expressed its readiness to assist Kyrgyzstan and called for a quick conclusion of negotiations with Kyrgyzstan’s authorities.

The statement said the Permanent Council "expresses its readiness to consider the early deployment of a Police Task Force to Kyrgyzstan and calls for the swift conclusion of the negotiations with the competent Kyrgyzstani authorities so that the Permanent Council can take an appropriate decision".

The statement, adopted unanimously by representatives from the 56 OSCE participating States, took note of an OSCE Needs Assessment Mission that recently visited Kyrgyzstan. It also recalled that the Permanent Council in June had offered "to assist Kyrgyzstan upon its request in resolving the current crisis, preventing the spillover of tensions in the region and in promoting post-conflict rehabilitation".

Direct link to the press release.

- Head of OSCE Mission in Kosovo condemns northern Mitrovica/Mitrovice violence, regrets loss of life

PRISHTINE/PRISTINA, 2 July 2010 - The OSCE Mission in Kosovo condemned the violence today in northern Mitrovica/Mitrovice, in particular the use of explosive devices and firearms.

"The OSCE Mission in Kosovo deeply regrets the loss of life and the injuries sustained in the violence today," said the Head of the Mission, Ambassador Werner Almhofer. "I offer my condolences to the family of Dr. Mesud Dzekovic, who was a distinguished member of his community and wish a speedy recovery to those injured."

"I wholeheartedly condemn today’s violence, which is of no benefit to anyone living in Kosovo and represents a challenge to public safety. I call on all people in Kosovo to keep calm and refrain from any further disturbance of the security situation, and on all relevant public safety agencies to investigate the case and bring the perpetrators to justice," said Almhofer.

Direct link to the press release.