Wednesday, 24 October 2012 FOR INTERNAL INFORMATION ONLY. The content of this brief is taken from press sources and does not in any way reflect official

Wednesday, 24 October 2012Wednesday, 24 October 2012

FOR INTERNAL INFORMATION ONLY.The content of this brief is taken from press sources and does not in any way reflect official OSCE policy.

Situation/Communications Room

Russia/ OSCE

The OSCE should become a full-fledged intergovernmental structure acting in the interests of all its member states, Russian FM Sergei Lavrov said after meeting with OSCE SG Lamberto Zannier in Moscow on 23 October.He emphasized the need for an OSCE reform to enable it to rectify imbalances in its work, called for a new charter for the OSCE and for improving the activity of the election monitoring mission of the OSCE Bureau for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.Lavrov and Zannier exchanged opinions on the role of the OSCE in the European security architecture and discussed some issues concerning its executive bodies.

Voice of Russia (23 Oct.): Lavrov meets OSCE SG Zannier

Serbia / Kosovo

Kosovo PM Hashim Thaci on 23 October called on the nationalist opposition to halt its street protests against talks with Serbia after a demonstration in Pristina turned violent and left two dozen people wounded.Thaci called on Albin Kurti, the leader of the nationalist Self-Determination Movement that organised the protest, "to return to parliament and not threaten (government) institutions with anarchy." The group, Kosovo's third-biggest political party, held another demonstration on 23 October after Thaci spoke but no incidents were reported.Thaci accused Kurti of "taking an issue to the streets that he has already lost in parliament".

AFP (23 Oct.): Kosovo leader urges opposition to end street protest

NEWS ITEMS from the OSCE Mission Areas:NEWS ITEMS from the OSCE Mission Areas:

24 October 2012OSCE / CPC Situation Room

Albania / Serbia: Protest in Tirana over Serbian minister's visit (Tanjug)

Albania / Serbia: Albanian premier, Serbian minister discuss ties (ATA)

BiH / Serbia: Izetbegovic slams Nikolic over Bosnia remarks (BIRN)

Serbia / Albania: "Greater Albania poses threat to all of Balkans" (B92)

the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Anti-gay attacks on the rise (Pink News)

former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Macedonian hackers attack several websites of Albanian govt (FOCUS)

South - Eastern EuropeSouth - Eastern Europe (slides 12 - 17)(slides 12 - 17) South - Eastern EuropeSouth - Eastern Europe (slides 12 - 17)(slides 12 - 17)



Eastern EuropeEastern Europe (slides 18 - 22)(slides 18 - 22) Eastern EuropeEastern Europe (slides 18 - 22)(slides 18 - 22)

Belarus: We basically have one army with Russia - Lukashenko (Telegraf.by)

Moldova: Moldovan, Russian premiers discuss ties, gas issue by phone (AFP)

Moldova: European commissioner backs Moldova's EU integration prospect (All Moldova)

Ukraine: Tymoshenko asking to clarify where she will vote, says defense lawyer (Interfax.ua)

Ukraine / Russia: Yanukovych to discuss gas issue with Putin in November (Kyiv Post)



South CaucasusSouth Caucasus (slides 23 - 32)(slides 23 - 32) South CaucasusSouth Caucasus (slides 23 - 32)(slides 23 - 32)

Armenia: Authorities seek to restrict opposition’s chances in PACE – activist (Armenia Liberty)

Armenia: Ter-Petrosian bloc seeks continued cooperation with Tsarukian (Armenia Liberty)

Armenia: Armenian NGOs urge for screening Serbian LGBT film (Tert)

Armenia / Azerbaijan: Czech parliamentary committee adopts resolution on Safarov case (News.am)

Azerbaijan / Armenia: Face-Off in Mexico over el Nagorno-Karabaj (EurasiaNet)

Azerbaijan: Azeri, Russian news agencies sign cooperation accord (APA)

Azerbaijan / Armenia: No incident during OSCE monitoring of contact line (APA)



South CaucasusSouth Caucasus (slides 23 - 32)(slides 23 - 32) South CaucasusSouth Caucasus (slides 23 - 32)(slides 23 - 32)

Georgia: Minority complains about pressure on their MPs by majority (Civil Georgia)

Georgia / Abkhazia: Abkhaz leader rules out bilateral talks with Tbilisi (Georgia Online)

Georgia / Abkhazia / South Ossetia: Minister-to-be says breakaways won't be recognized as conflict sides (Channel 1)



Central AsiaCentral Asia (slides 33 - 42)(slides 33 - 42) Central AsiaCentral Asia (slides 33 - 42)(slides 33 - 42)

Central Asia: Journalists and human rights activists from CA countries condemns manual for migrants (Asia Plus)

Kazakhstan: Kazakh, Czech leaders discuss cooperation (Interfax.kz)

Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan may join WTO in 6 months (West Kazakhstan Today)

Kazakhstan: Paper sues mayor's press aide (Interfax.kz)

Kyrgyzstan: UN allocates USD 12 mln grant to fight TB (24.kg)

Tajikistan: New US Tajik envoy downplays Moscow pact (RFE)

Tajikistan: Tajik embassy blasts Russian manual for labor migrants (RFE)

Turkmenistan: Turkmen leader unveils USD 80 bln economic plan (AFP)



Central AsiaCentral Asia (slides 33 - 42)(slides 33 - 42) Central AsiaCentral Asia (slides 33 - 42)(slides 33 - 42)

Turkmenistan: Turkmenistan to pardon over 2,000 convicts in Independence Day amnesty (TV Altyn Asyr)

Uzbekistan: Second jobs forbidden for government officials (Trend)

NEWS ITEMS:NEWS ITEMS:

24 October 2012

Miscellaneous Miscellaneous (slides 43 - 48)(slides 43 - 48) Miscellaneous Miscellaneous (slides 43 - 48)(slides 43 - 48)

Afghanistan: NATO kills four children in Afghan East - Karzai (Reuters)

Energy Security: Bulgaria shuts nuclear reactor after generator problem (AFP)

Energy Security: Russia taps mega Arctic gas field (AFP)

Hungary: Tens of thousands in anti-PM rally in Hungary (AFP)

ICTY: War crimes court rejects Karadzic subpoena of Greek president (AFP)

Russia: Russian activist charged with preparation of mass disorders (RFE)

OSCE / CPC Situation Room

Situation/Communications Room

FOR INTERNAL INFORMATION ONLY.The content of this brief is taken from press sources and does not in any way reflect official OSCE policy.

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Documents

Wednesday, 24 October 2012 FOR INTERNAL INFORMATION ONLY. The content of this brief is taken from press sources and does not in any way reflect official