OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 1

Vol. VIII No. 5 MAY 2001

NEWSLETTER Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

INSIDE THIS ISSUE El Mundo

■ CiO focuses on Balkan developments . . . . 3 ■ OMIK Department for Democratic www.gongadze.com.ua Governance and Civil Society ...... 4

■ Mobile.culture.container for Balkans . . . . . 6 ■ Annual meeting with Council

of Europe held in Bucharest ...... 7 ■ Discussion on minority education

intensifies in Estonia ...... 8

■ News from the field ...... 10

■ Press profile ...... 11

■ Update from the ODIHR ...... 13

■ News from the HCNM ...... 16

■ Report from the OSCE PA ...... 17

■ News from the RFOM ...... 18

■ José Luis López de Lacalle (left) and Georgiy Gongadze, who have been awarded the Report from the Secretariat ...... 19 OSCE PA Prize for Journalism and Democracy – after their deaths

Murdered reporters share 2001 OSCE PA prize for journalism and democracy Posthumous award signals international trend towards “censorship by killing”

wo investigative journalists, who The prize will be received in the “These were outstanding journalists were both murdered during the names of the Spanish journalist, José who tried to further the values of the T course of careers spent support- Luis López de Lacalle, and the Ukrainian OSCE by intervening in conflicts and ing human rights and democratic values, journalist, Georgiy Gongadze. Both secretive political environments through have been jointly awarded this year’s were the victims of unrelated killings, their writing. By awarding this prize, we Organization for Security and Co-oper- and both had made enemies in the course will be sending a signal against the unfor- ation in Europe Prize for Journalism and of their professional work. tunate growing international trend Democracy. The decision to split the In recommending the two journalists towards censorship by threats and prize and, for the first time, to award it for the award, the Chairman of the OSCE killings.” posthumously was taken during the PA General Committee on Democracy, The prize, amounting to $20,000, is Bureau meeting of the OSCE Parlia- Human Rights and Humanitarian Ques- awarded annually by the OSCE PA to mentary Assembly (OSCE PA), held in tions, the German parliamentarian Gert journalists who, through their work, have Copenhagen on 19 and 20 April. Weisskirchen, said: promoted the OSCE’s principles regard-

1 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 2

ing human rights, democracy and the pute ensued over the investigation into The Prize for Journalism and Democ- unimpeded flow of information. the circumstances of his disappearance. racy was established by the OSCE PA in Mr. López de Lacalle was a colum- This was compounded by initial confu- 1996, largely on the initiative of Mr. nist and member of the regional editorial sion over the identification of a headless Duve (then a German Bundestag and board of the Spanish daily newspaper, El body that was found near on 2 OSCE PA member). Its purpose is to pro- Mundo, as well as being a founding November. Subsequent DNA testing by mote the principles of free journalism, as member of the Ermua Forum. He openly scientists from two countries – Russia laid down in the OSCE Budapest Decla- opposed the use of violence for political and the United States – has confirmed ration of 1994. ends and strongly advocated peaceful that the body discovered was that of Mr. The first recipient was the Polish dialogue in the struggle between Basque Gongadze. This month, Ukrainian pros- journalist, Adam Michnik, followed by separatists and the Spanish State. His ecutors informed his relatives of the find- the group Reporters sans frontières in weekly column, Fog and Light, is ings and intend to hand over the body to 1997. The British journalist, Timothy believed to have earned him the enmity them for burial. Garton Ash, received the prize in 1998, of Basque extremists. and Christiane Amanpour of CNN in On 7 May 2000, Mr. López de Protection for journalists 1999, while last year the award went to Lacalle was killed by the Basque extrem- On several occasions, the OSCE the Russian journalist, Andrei Babitsky. ist group, Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA), Representative on Freedom of the Media, The 2001 Prize for Journalism and in the small town of Andoain. He had Freimut Duve, voiced his concern over Democracy will be presented on the refused offers of protection from the the fate of the journalist, and on 8 Febru- opening day of the OSCE PA’s Tenth Basque autonomous police. ary, he issued a report to the OSCE Per- Annual Session, which will take place in The other posthumous recipient of manent Council on the Gongadze case, Paris from 6 to 10 July. the award, Georgiy Gongadze, was the urging the authorities to conduct a thor- The Prize is supported by the dedi- editor of Ukrainskaya Pravda, an on-line ough investigation into the murder. cated and generous assistance of the fol- publication founded in April 2000, “Those in power must realize that lowing donors: Bertelsmann AG, Ger- which has a reputation of being gener- protection of investigative journalists is many; Bonnier Group, Sweden; Den ally critical of the current administration protecting their country’s future,” said Berling-ske Fond, Denmark; the George in Kyiv. Mr. Gongadze had a long and Mr. Duve. and Thelma Paraskevaides Foundation, distinguished career in investigative Almost a year earlier, on 2 Decem- Cyprus; Southam Inc., Canada; and Ship- journalism, uncovering corruption in a ber 1999, Mr. Gongadze had been a par- sted ASA, Norway. closed political environment. ticipant in an OSCE round table on the Mr. Gongadze had also worked as use of libel law in , which the For more details of the award, contact news director of Radio Continent and co- Representative organized in Kyiv, with OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, hosted a television programme. Although the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Radhusstræde 1, he worked closely with the Ukrainian Ukraine and the . On 1466 København K, Denmark; Opposition, he was said to have no polit- that occasion, the journalist had read out tel.: (+45) 33 37 80 40 ical affiliation. a statement signed by a large number of fax: (+45) 33 37 80 30 On 16 September 2000, Georgiy his colleagues regarding the state of the e-mail: [email protected] Gongadze disappeared. A protracted dis- media in the country. website: www.osce.org/pa/

Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg/IFSH OSCE Yearbook 2000 now available in German from Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft Waldseestrasse 3-5, D-76530 Baden-Baden (www.nomos.de) tel: +49 7221 2104-0

NEWSLETTER 2 Vol. 8 No. 5 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 3

Balkans incidents remain major source of concern to Chairman-in-Office Praise for conduct of elections in Montenegro but setbacks seen elsewhere

oncern about serious develop- However, an upsurge in violence necessary to overcome the current situa- ments affecting the situation in shortly before the end of the month again tion”, added Mr. Geoana. C several countries of south-east- brought condemnation by the Romanian The former Yugoslav Republic of ern Europe was voiced repeatedly last Foreign Minister, who strongly attacked Macedonia was not the only Balkan month by the OSCE’s Chairman-in- the fatal assault, reportedly by ethnic country causing concern to the OSCE Office, Romanian Foreign Minister Albanian extremists, against Macedo- during April. On 7 April, the Chairman Mircea Geoana. The brightest light on nian security troops operating near again had to strongly condemn organized the horizon was the favourable response Tetovo on 28 April. violence, in this instance being used of the international community to elec- “Those who have again acted to against international representatives and tions held in Montenegro, one of the two destabilize the former Yugoslav Repub- Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina constituent republics of Yugoslavia. lic of Macedonia by resorting to armed (BiH) law enforcement officials, in Mostar Visiting the former Yugo-slav Repub- force have made a grave error. Their and other parts of the country. lic of Macedonia on 5 April, The violence flared up accompanied by Ambas- after action by the authorities sador Robert Frowick, his to investigate allegations of Personal Representative, the corruption and illegal activ- CiO reaffirmed the support ities at a bank, the Herzego- of the Organization for the vacka Banka. The operation country’s independence, involved the bank headquar- sovereignty and territorial ters in Mostar and several integrity. branch offices throughout He encouraged both ethnic the country. During the action communities, the Albanians in Mostar, a riot injured sev- and the Macedonians, as well eral people and throughout as the authorities and civil the day extremists orga- society, to rely on the support nized riots in various parts and assistance of the recently- of the country, which unfor- strengthened OSCE Spillover Chairman-in-Office Geoana gives interviews to journalists tunately resulted in several Monitor Mission to Skopje. injuries among local civil- “I am impressed by the resolve shown actions will inevitably prove to be pro- ians, police, soldiers and other interna- by both Macedonia and the ethnic Alba- foundly counterproductive”, he said. tional officials. International property nian political parties to start a compre- and offices were targeted specifically for hensive dialogue on the issues that are Offer of support vandalism or destruction. causing tensions in the country”, said Mr. “The OSCE calls upon all concerned The CiO received assurances from Geoana. “The OSCE strongly supports to restore stability promptly in order to the OSCE Mission to BiH that proper this dialogue, and we stand ready to carry forward the promising political measures had been taken to ensure full assist in every way possible. The OSCE dialogue already underway. The OSCE protection of the personnel deployed in remains fully committed to co-ordinat- firmly supports the courageous efforts of the area. ing with the EU and NATO in order to those political leaders presently seeking He issued a call to all local authori- assist and facilitate a productive political to close ranks in a new coalition gov- ties and political leaders in BiH to assist dialogue.” ernment capable of making the decisions in ensuring that security was restored and

NEWSLETTER Vol. 8 No. 5 3 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 4

that all violence ceased. Those instigat- nian Foreign Minister firmly condemned April in Montenegro, one of the two ing the attacks would be held responsi- the terrorist attacks in Kosovo, while constituents of the Federal Republic of ble for their behaviour and for any harm urging the international community to Yugoslavia. Foreign Minister Geoana said inflicted upon individuals, local or inter- remain determined in its quest to build a he was pleased with the assessment by national. He also demanded that all those multi-ethnic society. the International Election Observation who had violated the law be prosecuted. “Bombs and shootings will neither Mission that the elections were generally In mid-April, the CiO’s attention was intimidate us nor prevent us from con- in line with international commitments turned towards Kosovo, where the shoot- tinuing our important work in rebuilding for democratic elections. ing of a Russian KFOR soldier brought this shattered province for all those who Describing the elections as being of instant condemnation: “I am horrified by desire to live in peace,” he said. At the the utmost importance for the overall sta- this cowardly murder of an international same time, he called on all political lead- bility, not only of the Federal Republic peacekeeper. Nothing justifies such an ers in the province also to condemn of Yugoslavia, but of the whole region attack against someone who is working extremism and terrorism and to demon- as well, he said, “I would encourage the in Kosovo as part of a mission to heal the strate the necessary restraint in order to new government that will be formed as wounds of war.” avoid escalating the violence and tension. a result of these elections to enter into a Heightening the level of tension in dialogue as soon as possible with the the province, a bomb explosion occurred Montenegro Elections Federal Government in Belgrade, accord- a week later in the centre of Pristina, Almost the only welcome news dur- ing to democratic principles, on an accompanied by a shooting at one of ing the period reflected the satisfactory agreed lasting re-definition of the rela- Organization’s field offices. The Roma- conduct of parliamentary elections on 22 tions within the Federal Republic.”

Putting the ‘J’ into the Joint Interim Administrative Structure By Robert Schupp In the field of post-conflict rehabilitation, Kosovo’s Department of Democratic Governance and Civil Society may be unique, since rather than establishing democratic structures, it tries instead to inculcate democratic values.

ome 20 departments were set up under the supervision of Daan Everts, the national expert and one local expert – under the agreement of 15 Decem- Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo who also serve as members of what has Sber 1999 to establish a Joint (OMIK). It is charged with observing the been referred to as the “Council of Min- Interim Administrative Structure (JIAS) work of the whole JIAS structure and isters,” a bi-weekly meeting between all for Kosovo. Most of them mirror tradi- advising the other departments on ques- JIAS co-heads and the UN Special Rep- tional European ministries. However, the tions of human rights and governance resentative of the Secretary General. The Department of Democratic Governance practices. Kosovar Co-Head, Dr. Vjosa Dobruna, a and Civil Society (DDGCS) is different. According to Mr. Everts, the Depart- paediatrician and human rights activist, It aims to ensure that the values it repre- ment was developed as a way to incor- has received numerous international sents – human rights, equal opportunity porate key democratic values into awards over the past ten years for her and democratic governance – are incor- Kosovo’s emerging governmental struc- health-care and human rights work in porated into the interim government tures. “All too often,” he said, “human Kosovo, while her OSCE counterpart, arrangements for Kosovo. rights and other such values are left Robert Pulver, has worked in both The DDGCS is the only JIAS depart- solely to outside bodies.” Kosovo and Albania on rule of law and ment directly supported by the OSCE. As with all the JIAS departments, the democratization issues. Established in July 2000, it operates DDGCS is run by co-heads – one inter- In addition to its array of responsi-

NEWSLETTER 4 Vol. 8 No. 5 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 5

bilities, the DDGCS is mak- tion of 25 parties in Kosovo ing strides to create a to take part in the OSCE-run department that will be October 2000 Municipal staffed mainly by the people Elections. The DDGCS is of Kosovo and to more heav- now assuming full responsi- ily involve Kosovo’s civil bility for the registration of society in law and policy for- political parties in Kosovo. mulation. The DDGCS staff According to the Depart- call this task “putting the J ment’s international Co- (that is, joint) into JIAS.” head, Robert Pulver, the But with salaries relatively main aims of the Depart- low for Kosovar staff, many ment’s two offices – the NGO work more out of dedication Office and the Media Office – to the principles the Depart- are to facilitate links between ment upholds than for the OMIK Department of Democratic Governance and Civil Society NGOs and Kosovo’s govern- remuneration. co-heads, Robert Pulver (left) and Vjosa Dobruna ing structures and to strive to Since most of the depart- ensure a continued positive ment’s functions are shared between and practices that are in accordance with environment for media development. OSCE mission members and profes- internationally recognized human rights “The role of the NGO Office is to pro- sional Kosovo counterparts of all eth- standards. mote a healthy NGO sector, which is a nicities, the DDGCS is often cited as a The Equal Opportunity Bureau strives pre-requisite for the development of model of joint Kosovo-international to ensure that all groups of society – democracy,” said Mr. Pulver. “Mean- administration. According to Dr. including women, minorities and dis- while, the Media Office can help formu- Dobruna, teamwork accounts for that. abled persons – enjoy equal opportuni- late government media policy with an “There clearly is a helpful collaboration ties in all aspects of public life, from eye towards protecting the independence among the experts in the Department,” equal access to employment and job of the media.” she said. advancement, to education, housing, and Given already impressive results of In order to enable it to cover all public services. the DDGCS, the Department is prepared aspects of its wide-ranging task, the to be equally active in establishing demo- DDGCS is composed of three special- Party registration cratic governance policies and practices ized bureaux dealing with human rights, A third unit, the Democratic Gover- in Kosovo’s emerging self-governing equal opportunities and democratic gov- nance Bureau, is mandated to encourage structures, after Kosovo-wide elections ernance, as well as two offices. transparency, accountability, public par- are held. So rather than remaining an The Human Rights Policy Bureau ticipation and other principles of good anomaly, the DDGCS may well provide advises other JIAS departments on governance in the JIAS and in Kosovo’s other countries with a model for incor- human rights issues and has helped draft emerging self-governing structures. For porating the values it represents into a regulations on such subjects as traffick- instance, last year this Bureau advised governing structure. ing and domestic violence. The Bureau the UNMIK on the applications by polit- also helps the United Nations Mission in ical parties for registration as legal enti- Robert Schupp is Senior Public Kosovo (UNMIK) develop legislation ties. The effort resulted in the registra- Affairs Officer, OMIK.

Latest edition of OSCE Handbook Updated to 1 July 2000 ■ English version available online at www.osce.org/publications/handbook Hard copies also available from the OSCE Secretariat, Kärntner Ring 5-7, A-1010 Vienna, Austria

NEWSLETTER Vol. 8 No. 5 5 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 6

OSCE supports new Stability Pact initiative for south-eastern Europe The ‘mobile.culture.container’ aims to encourage young people to assess the future as the project travels through Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Yugoslavia By Alexander Nitzsche

he citizens of a number of towns possible”, said Mr. Duve. in Bosnia and Herzegovina, The project is designed to give older TCroatia and Serbia will this sum- schoolchildren a place to come to reflect, mer be experiencing an unusual initia- or to produce their own newspapers. It tive. For several weeks, their towns will will be a place for exhibitions, dancing, host a rather unconventional project – the listening to music, writing, reading, chat- ‘mobile.culture.container’. Between ting and perhaps also a theatre, a video June and October, a 20-metre-wide cir- laboratory or a café. cular tent town, resembling a circus big The 12 team members, most of whom top, will welcome people from Tuzla, come from south-eastern Europe them- Osijek and Cacak who want to become selves, will start their journey in Vienna, engaged in a wide variety of cultural and where the containers have been assem- artistic activities. bled. But they will make their debut on 6 The innovative project, which was June in Tuzla, in the north of Bosnia and put together by the OSCE-supported Herzegovina. Once on the road, their tasks foundation ‘Defence of our Future’ with will be to organize debates and discussions basic financing provided by Germany, is Freimut Duve, OSCE Representative on between the young people, give advice intended as a creative venue, a place for Freedom of the Media, at last month’s on the use of the Internet and the video ideas and a place for continuity and presentation of the project lab, take care of press and public relations relaxation. work and assist the project director. The OSCE Representative on Free- “In the framework of the Stability The team will spend a few weeks in dom of the Media, Freimut Duve, who Pact for South-Eastern Europe, we each town, though the schedule is not chairs the foundation and who conceived explicitly want to work against any kind inflexible: they might also stop at other the project, emphasizes however that the of group identification and instead pro- nearby towns, if invited by the mayor. In initiative, which will run for two years, mote the idea of a citizen’s identifica- order to operate efficiently, the project is more than just a stage for artistic per- tion”. requires some local assistance at every formances: So the main target audience of the stopover. Not only are electricity and “People in south-eastern Europe are project is young people living in south- water connections needed, but also, more asking what future they will have in eastern Europe. Several tools and meth- importantly contacts with the local Europe. With this project, we want to ods have been designed to achieve the schools, teachers, parents, town coun- give them a concrete vision”, he said. aims of the culture container, which is cils, press representatives and artists. to engage youth in discussion about their “This project has been a very per- Opposing “hate speech” future in Europe – their personal future sonal idea”, said Mr. Duve. “There can Mr. Duve sees an important part of and the future of their war-torn coun- be no prosperity without peace. There can his OSCE mandate as being to combat tries. be no peace without overcoming hatred. the use of hate speech in the media: “Although this is not some sort of This is why we have designed the culture “With this in mind, we want to address youth project, we want to convey to them container for the young people in the the issue of hate speech, starting already the message that Brussels is not just a cash- post-war towns of the Balkans”. at the secondary school level”, he explains. point, but that it took two wars to make the Some very basic questions lie at the

NEWSLETTER 6 Vol. 8 No. 5 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 7

heart of the idea. What does the per- cians and bands who want to per- sonal future of young people in this form on the small stage. region look like? How can lasting It is planned that the containers peaceful co-existence be achieved? themselves, initially painted white, How can the region move closer to will be transformed over the months the united Europe? What are the into an art exhibition on wheels. prospects in a world which is at pre- The project team will invite artists sent undergoing a technical revolu- not only to exhibit their works, but tion? And what skills will people also to decorate the outside of the need in the future? 15 containers and thus to give On a typical day, the project everyone a taste of the rich artistic will employ a range of approaches talent in south-eastern Europe. to try and answer these questions. The project co-ordinators hope In the mornings, school classes will that the ‘mobile.culture.container’ be invited to discuss the future, and will also leave something behind in will be given the opportunity to the towns it is visiting. “We hope produce their own school newspa- that – if people are interested and pers as platforms for the free the hardware can be acquired by the expression of their own thoughts culture container – local Internet and opinions. The Internet café will cafés and the planned school news- be open during the communal dis- papers can be left in the towns”, said cussions and during the afternoons, Cover page of the project’s brochure Mr. Duve. However, these local so that the young users can docu- projects would have to be kept alive ment their own work and explore the maintain contact with the project team and run independently at the operators’ Internet to carry out research for their when the container is “hibernating” in own expense. newspapers or to establish contact with Vienna during the winter months. other institutions, Internet cafés or The team will be constantly on the Alexander Nitzsche is Public Infor- school projects around the world. lookout for directors, actors, choreo- mation Officer (Kosovo) in the OSCE The Internet will also be used to graphers and dancers, as well as musi- Secretariat OSCE and Council of Europe hold annual high-level meeting in Bucharest Co-operation between the two bodies stressed as “2+2” becomes “3+3”

ey issues of mutual concern Foreign Minister Indulis Berzins, as well tion in south-eastern Europe. They were the focus of the annual as the Secretaries General of the two expressed their concern over an alarm- K“2+2” meeting between high- organizations, Jan Kubis and Walter ing increase in violence in the former level officials from the Organization for Schwimmer. Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Security and Co-operation in Europe A “trilateral approach” was intro- Kosovo and southern Serbia. The OSCE (OSCE) and the Council of Europe duced by the participation of the Presi- Chairman-in-Office described concrete (CoE), held in Bucharest on 11 April. dents of the respective Parliamentary steps aimed at easing tensions in that The host, Romania’s Foreign Minister, Assemblies, Adrian Severin and Lord area, including active consultation with Mircea Geoana, the OSCE Chairman-in- Russell-Johnston. other international organizations regard- Office, welcomed the Chairman of the The participants concentrated on ing the specific contributions they might CoE Committee of Ministers, Latvian issues such as the evolution of the situa- make.

NEWSLETTER Vol. 8 No. 5 7 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 8

The Council of Europe spoke about CoE experts in the Office of the Special ing to a settlement of the political situa- receiving the Federal Republic of Yugo- Representative of the President of the tion, the Council would consider further slavia’s membership application and all Russian Federation for Human Rights in assistance to Moldova, including a recent the participants stressed their full support the Chechen Republic, as well as the joint support programme with the Euro- for the country’s efforts to become a truly recent visit by the OSCE Assistance pean Commission for judicial reform, the democratic European State. They also Group to and its plans. formation of democratic institutions and expressed the hope that the present par- The prospects for positive develop- civil society. liamentary and governmental majority in ments in Nagorno-Karabakh were also With regard to Belarus, the partici- Bosnia and Herzegovina would speed up discussed, and the participants wel- pants expressed concern with respect to the process of democratic transition and comed as a sign of progress the recent the further deterioration in the political accelerate that country’s accession to the Key West round of consultations. climate. They urged the Government to Council. On the situation in the eastern part of encourage the development of a strong the Republic of Moldova, which remains civil society and to fulfil the necessary Dialogue on Chechnya “frozen”, the participants expressed their conditions for free and fair presidential On Chechnya, the representatives of regret that no significant progress had elections. both organizations reiterated their strong been made on the issue of the withdrawal The participants emphasized the view that the Chechen conflict could be of Russian troops and equipment. They importance they attach to concrete co- settled only through political dialogue. expressed concern over the steady dete- operation between the two organizations They expressed dissatisfaction with the rioration in the economic and social sit- with the aim of helping to build a Europe fact that the OSCE Assistance Group had uation in the country. During the discus- without dividing lines, where the rule of not, so far, been able to return to Chech- sions it was agreed that while the OSCE law, democracy and human rights are nya. They discussed the activities of the should take the lead in matters pertain- fully respected. Discussion on minority education intensifies in Estonia By Johanna Helin The OSCE Mission to Estonia supported the dialogue on educational models and school reforms with two events in March. It organized a round table for education experts on multicultural school models and assisted in the organization of a major conference on minority education in Estonia

n Estonia, as in other countries, edu- Presidential Round Table on National the trip of Estonian education experts, cation is one of the keys to success- Minorities. organized by the Mission in November Iful integration of society. Over On 19 March, the Mission, together 2000. recent years, the OSCE Mission to Esto- with the Estonian Ministry of Education A number of recommendations came nia has organized and supported various and the Danish Cultural Institute, jointly out of the round table, including practi- seminars and conferences on education organized a round table on multilingual cal ways to improve communications issues in order to facilitate the dialogue and multicultural education models. Dis- between people working in the education and flow of information on various cussion focused on how to create an edu- sector, how to promote the ideal of mul- teaching models. cational environment where pupils can ticulturalism in school, how to include The discussion has intensified this develop and preserve their national iden- parents in the decision-making process, spring with discussions in the Parlia- tity and learn to respect that of others. and how best to develop teacher training ment’s Cultural Committee and public This event, financed by the German Fed- and the teaching of Estonian in kinder- debates organized by the Mission and the eral Foreign Office, was a follow-up to gartens. Specific recommendations

NEWSLETTER 8 Vol. 8 No. 5 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 9

Russian as the language of instruction should start teaching 60 per cent of the subjects in Estonian.

Raivo Juurak/Opetaja While optimists believe this to be possible in most schools in Estonia, the planned reforms have been criticized by others, who either deem it impossible to implement the law in time or who oppose the idea of bilingual education alto- gether. There also continues to be widespread dissatisfaction with the deadline among teachers in Russian schools. Panel discussions were held for researchers discussing their views on education reforms as well as for teach- ers, officials from the Ministry of Edu- cation, experts in teacher training, Representatives from the Russian Teachers Association listen to presentations on minority representatives and experts education models for minorities working in foreign language training projects. focused on the support of education car- Ms. Katrin Saks, spoke on education as For the Mission, it was particularly ried out by minority associations. part of the state integration programme, positive to note that all these sensitive These recommendations were a good under which education accounts for the and complicated issues were debated in preparation for the education conference, major share of activities and money. a friendly and constructive manner, which took place two weeks later, on 30 The Head of the Parliamentary Cul- despite clear differences of opinion. March in Tallinn, on the Estonian edu- tural Committee, Mart Meri, and fellow Events like these offer the potential to cation system and national minorities. committee member, Mihhail Stalnuhhin bring the theory and practice of educa- This one-day event was organized by the offered different views on the Law on tion and integration together in a useful Presidential Roundtable on National Basic and Upper Secondary Schools. and positive way. Minorities, again with financial assis- This law is probably the most disputed tance from Germany, and drew more in the field of education, with its stipu- Johanna Helin is Press, Social than 200 participants. lation that, in the academic year 2007/8, and Education Adviser in the OSCE The Minister of Population Affairs, those upper-secondary schools using Mission to Estonia

Journal of Conflict, Security and Development

A new publication has appeared that examines the relationship between security policy and development and is dedicated to bridging related disciplines, offering a forum for the cross-fertilization of ideas and perspectives.

For more information and subscription details, contact the Editor, Richard Jones Centre for Defence Studies, King’s College, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom Phone: +44 (0)207 848 2947 ■ Fax: +44 (0)207 848 2748 ■ E-mail: [email protected]

NEWSLETTER Vol. 8 No. 5 9 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 10

News from the field The OSCE currently has Missions or other field activities in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Estonia, , Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo (Yugoslavia), Latvia, Skopje (the former Yugoslav Republic of Mace- donia), Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, , Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Yugoslavia. The following brief reports reflect some of the recent work which these field operations have undertaken.

OSCE signs MoU on defence budget BiH to achieve gender equality in these nized by the Mission, the OSCE Office audit with BiH Federation two legislative bodies. for Democratic Institutions and Human The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and “The establishment of the Commit- Rights (ODIHR) and the Council of Herzegovina (BiH) and the Government tees to Establish Gender Equality in the Europe, focussed on the identification of of the Federation of BiH have signed a BiH Parliament and the RSNA signals needs and priorities for the reform and memorandum of understanding (MoU) that the country’s legislative bodies are strengthening of an independent judi- concerning the organization, planning serious about putting women’s issues on ciary in Yugoslavia. The workshop was and execution of an audit of the budget the agenda. We are looking forward to attended by prominent government offi- of the Federation’s Ministry of Defence the establishment of a similar committee cials, high-ranking judges and prosecu- for 2000. in the Federation’s House of Represen- tors, and prominent representatives of “We welcome this progressive step tatives,” said Sverre Johan Kvale, Direc- non-governmental organizations and the toward greater transparency and account- tor of the Mission’s Democratization international community. ability”, said the outgoing OSCE Head department. of Mission, Robert Barry. “This move by Among the participants were former New OMIK radio programme the Federation Government demon- and current female parliamentarians “With us, for us” goes on air strates its understanding that the people from state and entity parliament, as well On 15 April, the OSCE Mission in have a right to know what it is doing with as members of the BiH Parliament and Kosovo’s new weekly radio programme their money”. the RSNA Equality Committees. “Me ne, per ne” (“With us, for us”) went The main aim of the agreed audit is on the air on more than 20 Kosovo radio to create transparency in defence expen- OSCE launches assistance project to stations. The 15-minute show, which is ditures and help identify where further facilitate judicial reforms in the FRY co-produced by the OSCE and the Swiss- controls and improved oversight mecha- At a workshop held on 9 April, the based NGO, Media Action International, nisms are required. The Mission expects Mission to the Federal Republic of features stories about OMIK’s daily that the enhanced transparency will Yugoslavia (FRY) launched an assis- work in the province. It examines the ensure good governance and greater par- tance programme aimed at facilitating Mission’s efforts to promote democracy, liamentary control in defence matters, judicial reforms in the country. The pro- respect for human rights and support for increase military accountability to civil- gramme will include support for struc- the rule of law. ian authorities, and further the process of tural changes in the courts and the pros- Topics will include the OSCE’s role confidence- and security-building, as ecutor’s office, the eventual establish- in police and prison-officer training, the laid down in the Dayton Peace Accords. ment of institutions such as an Ombuds- judicial system, as well as trafficking and man’s office, training activities and property rights. The programme will also Mission to BiH holds seminar on prison reform. look at issues such as women in politics, gender equality in legislatures “Structural reforms take time and civil service training, the rights and The OSCE Mission to BiH organized require funds. The international commu- responsibilities of parties and politicians, a seminar, ‘Strategic steps towards gen- nity is ready and willing to support the working with NGOs, media training and der equality’, on 6 April focusing on gen- Yugoslav authorities in utilizing resources elections. der equality in the country’s Parliament in the best possible manner in order to and the Republika Srpska National promote rule of law and improve human Events held in Kosovo mark Assembly (RSNA). The seminar looked rights”, said Stefano Sannino, Head of International Roma Day at the formation, operations and future the FRY Mission. The discussions held On the occasion of International work of the committees established in at the workshop, which was jointly orga- Roma Day, 8 April, the OMIK sponsored

NEWSLETTER 10 Vol. 8 No. 5 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 11

several related events in cialists met for the first the Prizren municipality. time on 17 April at a The events, which com- regional conference on prised dance, music and narcotics organized by a theatre performance in the OSCE Mission to the Romani language, Georgia and the Geor- were staged by local gian ‘Research Institute Roma non-governmental on Addiction’ in . organizations (NGOs). The physicians famil- The theatre performance iarized themselves with was the first play in this the work of narcotic language staged in drugs services in the Kosovo since 1998. The regions, supplementary event marked the 30th treatment methods for anniversary of the Inter- drug addicts, and the national Roma Day cele- Kosovo police on last month’s fun run through Vushtrri/Vucitrn current situation regard- bration in Kosovo, and ing drug expertise. They provided an important opportunity to money raised by this initiative was also looked at ways to promote further celebrate Roma identity and culture and donated to the “Cops for Kids” project, co-operation. to raise awareness of their rights in the established by the KPSS to raise funds “A sustainable and dynamic process province. The OMIK supports Roma, for children’s projects and orphanages in can only be ushered in if such initiatives Ashkali and Egyptian communities in Kosovo. The cross-country run, which become part of comprehensive and the province, co-ordinating its efforts was open to everyone, started at the long-term projects,” said Jean-Michel with the ODIHR. KPSS premises and finished at the school Lacombe, Head of the OSCE’s Mission with an awards ceremony, at which the to Georgia. KPSS holds mini-marathon Director of the Police School and the The conference was part of the for “Cops for Kids” project Commander of the KFOR contingent OSCE’s efforts to assemble various pro- The OMIK-run Kosovo Police Ser- officiated. fessions across the former conflict lines vice School (KPSS), together with the in Georgia. Previously, the Mission has United Arab Emirates contingent to the Abkhaz and Ossetian drug specialists organized training programmes for jour- Nato-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) based in renew contacts at OSCE conference nalists in the South Caucasus and a train- Vushtrri/Vucitrn, held a 10-kilometre After several years of intermittent ing seminar for Abkhaz, Georgian and “Run for Kosovo” on 28 April. The contacts, Abkhaz and Ossetian drug spe- Ossetian narcotics experts in Warsaw.

Belarusian allegations that its training of , 26 April PRESS PROFILE local monitors for this year’s presidential ‘A senior official of the OSCE on Excerpts from election amounted to recruiting spies. In the Tuesday cancelled a visit to Belarus international media latest stand-off between the OSCE and because its Government refused to issue coverage of the Belarusian authorities, the group rejected a visa to an aide. Western countries and OSCE and its activ- criticism by (the) head of the Belarusian some international institutions have ities over recent KGB about the international assistance expressed concern about the lack of weeks. given to train monitors. “The programmes democratic reform and poor human were, and continue to be, transparent and rights situation in Belarus, a former BELARUS have nothing to do with espionage or polit- Soviet state. The OSCE said its Repre- ical militancy,” the OSCE’s Advisory and sentative on Freedom of the Media, Reuters, 17 April Monitoring Group in Belarus said in a state- Freimut Duve, had been due to meet ‘The OSCE on Tuesday rejected ment.’ independent and state-employed jour-

NEWSLETTER Vol. 8 No. 5 11 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 12

nalists on a visit to Belarus on April 25 the rule was necessary to fill a vacuum been in the educational field. After many but had cancelled the visit after a senior in that part of the law and reject the alle- years of confrontation about higher edu- aide was denied a visa. “He cannot accept gation that it encouraged self-rule.’ cation in the Albanian language, further a severe interference in the independence aggravated by the establishment of a of his OSCE institution by a participating KOSOVO “para-university” in Tetovo, the High State,’ the 55-nation security and human Commissioner on National Minorities, rights watchdog said in a statement.’ Reuters, 18 April Max van der Stoel, managed in endless ‘A car bomb exploded near the talks to achieve a compromise. Now, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Yugoslav government office in the private South East European University 27 April Kosovo provincial capital Pristina on will open in Tetovo in October, with the ‘The relations between Belarus and Wednesday and NATO peacekeepers teaching language being Albanian, but the OSCE have been tense for a long said one man was killed and four people also English. The project is being financed time. The OSCE Advisory and Monitor- were woundedÉ “We condemn yet by Western governments.’ ing Group in Minsk, which is headed by another act of senseless terrorism in the German Hans-Georg Wieck, is con- Kosovo,” the OSCE, part of the post-war TALKS ON stantly being verbally attacked by the international mission running the sepa- NAGORNO-KARABAKH Belarusian authorities. In January, Pres- ratist province, said in a statement. “Vio- ident Lukashenko called the 14,000 elec- lence like this aims to undo any progress The New York Times, 3 April tion observers who are being trained by we make. But we will not be deterred. ‘Secretary of State Colin L. Powell the OSCE mission for the upcoming We are working to build a democratic opened peace talks here today on a long- elections an “army of fighters and col- future for Kosovo where there is no place standing conflict between Azerbaijan laborators” paid by the West, whereby he for terror and butchery,” OSCE Ambas- and Armenia, hoping that the sun- used the word boyeviky, which in Rus- sador Daan Everts said in a statement.’ splashed setting of this resort and the sia is reserved for Chechen rebels. The presence of America’s principal diplo- chairman of the Belarusian KGB has FORMER YUGOSLAV mat would help nudge the presidents of threatened the organizers of the election REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA the two countries toward a settlement… observation with expulsion.’ The talks have sputtered on and off under Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 6 April the auspices of the OSCE. The conflict BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ‘The OSCE has been present in is over the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave Macedonia since 1992. Although the that is in Azerbaijan, but occupied by Reuters, 19 April mission has been unable to prevent the Armenia.’ ‘A change in the rules for last year’s spillover of violence from Kosovo, it has election in Bosnia by the OSCE encour- according to its own assessment been Financial Times, 4 April aged radical Croats in their push for self- able to function as an early-warning sys- ‘The presidents of Armenia and rule, a European parliamentarian said on tem. The OSCE mission members are Azerbaijan began talks in the US yester- Thursday. Doris Pack, chairman of the above all monitoring the minority situa- day in what is being hailed as an historic European Parliament’s Foreign Policy tion, the human rights situation and the opportunity to resolve a 13-year-old ter- Committee, was the first public figure to media landscapeÉ The international ritorial dispute that has claimed at least openly criticise the OSCE rules, which management of the Macedonian crisis is 25,000 lives. Robert Kocharyan, Presi- Croat nationalists cite as a major motive firmly in the hands of the EU. NATO is dent of Armenia, and Azerbaijan’s Pres- for launching a self-rule campaign last playing the dominant role in Kosovo. On ident Haydar Aliyev met in Key West, month. “I would like to stress clearly that the other hand, little is heard or seen of Florida, for US-brokered talks to try to election rules for the last general elec- the OSCE, which has had a field mission settle their claims on the enclave of tions were not fully democratic and I in Macedonia since 1992. The OSCE is Nagorno-KarabakhÉ Details on the hope something like that will not happen concentrating on the long-term process talks are vague, however. The Minsk again,” Pack, on a three-day visit to of stabilization of society and it has Group, the body set up by the OSCE to Bosnia, said after meeting Bosnian offi- achieved quite a lot in that regardÉper- supervise the talks, has imposed a media cialsÉ OSCE officials in Bosnia argue haps the biggest success of the OSCE has blackout. Nevertheless officials familiar

NEWSLETTER 12 Vol. 8 No. 5 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 13

with the thrust of the negotiations say the the OSCE, are preparing “a new com- welcomed the fact that the political lead- two sides are close to agreement.’ prehensive proposal for peace” to be dis- ers of Transdniestria had refused to par- cussed in Geneva, Cavanaugh said.’ ticipate in a meeting on a resolution of Le Monde, 5 April the Transdniestrian problem which had ‘The mediation is being conducted by Izvestiya, 9 April been planned by the OSCE in the Slo- the US, Russia and France, members of ‘Over the course of four days in vakian capital Bratislava. Transdniestria “the Minsk Group” of the OSCE, which southern Florida, the leaders of the was an internal matter of Moldova’s. The has been tasked with finding a resolution Trans-caucasian republics discussed the OSCE has for years been trying to of the conflict. This is the seventh meet- possibilities for resolving the conflict in resolve the conflict.’ ing of the two presidents.’ Nagorno-Karabakh. They were assisted in devising a formula for a mutually STABILITY PACT FOR Reuters, 6 April acceptable compromise by delegations SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE ‘The presidents of Azerbaijan and of diplomats and experts from Russia, Armenia made excellent progress in the US and France – countries belonging Financial Times, 6 April peace talks over the Nagorno-Karabakh to the so-called Minsk Group of the ‘Efforts to reconstruct and democra- region which ended in Florida on Friday, OSCE.’ tise the Balkans through the Stability international mediators said. “We are Pact set up by the international commu- much closer to peace than we were TRANSDNIESTRIA nity after the Kosovo war need a thor- before this conference,” said Ambas- ough rethink to become more effective, sador Jean-Jacques Gaillarde, who Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, an independent report saysÉ The headed the French mediating team at the 5 April report’s thinking appears to coincide talks in Key West. “We achieved more ‘The new President (of Moldova) with that of many policymakers in the progress here than we had expected,” stated that an agreement with the sepa- region. Mircea Geoana, Foreign Minis- said Special Ambassador Carey Cava- ratist Transdniestrian region was one of ter of Romania, present holder of the naugh, who headed the US delegation to his priorities. This Slav-dominated rotating chairmanship of the OSCE, the the talks. The mediators said a new round region separated from Moldova in 1992; pact’s parent body, said: “We should try of talks would be held in Geneva in the war between the Moldovan Army and to learn why (the pact) didn’t work prop- JuneÉ The US, French and Russian the Russian-backed separatists has erly, try to rationalize the pact andÉ give mediators, acting under the auspices of claimed around 1,500 lives. Woronin it some strategic direction.” ’

from the Office for Democratic UPDATE Institutions and Human Rights The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is located at Aleje Ujazdowskie 19, PL-00 557 Warsaw, Poland, tel.: (+48-22) 520 06 00, fax: (+48-22) 520 06 05, e-mail: [email protected]

ELECTIONS Observer team issues marked by the participation of a broad comings remain. Problems noted by the favourable view of spectrum of political parties, a pluralis- international observers include the con- Montenegro elections tic media landscape and exceptional trol of election mandates by political par- An International transparency regarding public access to ties and a small number of errors in the Election Observation voter registers and the publication of voter register, as well as a few instances Mission concluded the detailed voting results at all levels. The of political pressure on state employees, 22 April parliamentary elections in Mon- legislative framework provided a largely police involvement in campaign activi- tenegro, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, adequate basis for democratic elections. ties and inflammatory rhetoric. The print was generally in line with international The positive assessment confirms the media also failed to observe the pre-elec- commitments for democratic elections. progress observed during last year’s tion campaign silence. The observers noted that the election was local by-elections, though some short- The Mission stressed that, given the

NEWSLETTER Vol. 8 No. 5 13 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 14

overall strength of the electoral frame- regarding the judiciary and prosecuting Romanian NGOs set up work, the few remaining problems could service. Priorities were discussed with anti-trafficking network not impact significantly on the results of the participating government representa- An anti-trafficking network was cre- the election. The international mission tives, judges, prosecutors, NGOs and ated by Romanian NGOs at a round table was a joint undertaking of the ODIHR, international organizations. meeting organized by the ODIHR in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly It was concluded that reforms have Sinaia from 4 to 7 April. Seven NGOs, (PA), the Parliamentary Assembly of the just begun and that serious efforts need active in combatting trafficking, from dif- Council of Europe (PACE), and the to be undertaken quickly, in particular ferent regions of Romania participated in Congress of Local and Regional Author- with regard to the salary situation, reform the meeting. The network will provide the ities of Europe. An ODIHR long-term of the personnel structure, re-organiza- framework for the development of rec- observation mission, headed by Nikolai tion of workload and training. Rapid ommendations for a national plan of Vulchanov, was established on 28 March. progress is needed simultaneously in all action for Romania, which is currently On election day, 174 short-term observers these fields, in order to prepare the legal under preparation. The participating were deployed, including 40 parliamen- system for the numerous challenges organizations identified co-operation, tarians from the OSCE PA and the PACE. ahead, which might include the prosecu- information sharing and developing a tion of war crimes, corruption, new forms common strategy as priorities. Needs assessment mission to Bulgaria of criminality and adjudication of resti- In view of the parliamentary elections tution and compensation cases. Stability Pact anti-trafficking group in Bulgaria scheduled to take place on 17 holds meeting in Vienna June, the ODIHR sent a needs assessment Round table held in Belgrade The Task Force on Trafficking in mission to Sofia from 9 to 12 April. On on trafficking in human beings Human Beings under the Stability Pact the basis of the mission’s recommenda- A round table discussion assessing for South-Eastern Europe, chaired by tions, the ODIHR will establish an obser- the situation of trafficking in human Helga Konrad (ODIHR), met on 27 April vation mission for the elections and beings in Yugoslavia was initiated and in Vienna for the second time since its request eight long-term observers and 80 organized by the ODIHR and the OSCE establishment last year. In his opening short-term observers from the OSCE par- Mission to the FRY in Belgrade on 19 remarks, ODIHR Director Gerard Stoud- ticipating States, in addition to seven core and 20 April. High-level officials from mann called on all actors to support the staff at headquarters. both national and federal levels opened Anti-Trafficking Task Force and to the event, at which key government and strengthen it by providing additional Election observation report issued NGO actors involved in the fight against human and financial resources. He The ODIHR has released a final trafficking met for the first time to begin stressed that the credibility of the Task report on the parliamentary elections in a dialogue on developing a national anti- Force was heavily dependent on suffi- Moldova (25 February 2001). The report trafficking strategy. cient funding of its Action Plan. is available on the ODIHR website at The participants convened in work- Minister Konrad provided informa- www.osce.org/odihr/elecrep.htm ing groups on prevention, protection and tion about the achievements and future prosecution where they identified needs plans of the Task Force. During the sub- DEMOCRATIZATION and set priorities for taking further mea- sequent discussions, Austria confirmed sures. The Government in particular, but its commitment to support the Task ODIHR promotes also non-governmental and international Force and to fund the establishment of a legal reform efforts representatives, showed a strong com- shelter for trafficking victims in Bel- in Yugoslavia mitment to the development of a co-ordi- grade. The ODIHR, to- nated strategy against trafficking. Regularly updated information on gether with the OSCE It was agreed that the OSCE Mission the activities of the ODIHR-chaired Sta- Mission to the Federal Republic of would take on the lead co-ordinating role bility Pact Task Force on Trafficking in Yugoslavia (FRY) and the Council of for national anti-trafficking activities. Human Beings is now available online. Europe, held a workshop on judicial The Mission will also organize the next The new website can be visited at reform on 9 April in Belgrade. The work- meeting of all key actors on this issue at www.stabilitypact.org/antitrafficking- shop reviewed reform efforts and plans the beginning of May. taskforce

NEWSLETTER 14 Vol. 8 No. 5 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 15

ODIHR supports creation of an wide anti-trafficking hotline network in system reform projects in the ‘Newly anti-trafficking infoline in Minsk the country. The network currently con- Independent States’. With support from the ODIHR, an anti- sists of six NGOs: apart from La Strada The Ukrainian officials visited the trafficking information telephone line Ukraine in Kyiv, there are five grassroots Copenhagen Registration Office, the (infoline) has been established in Minsk by NGOs in Kharkiv, Lugansk, , Copenhagen Metropolitan Police Office, the Belarusian YWCA as part of its joint Sevastopol and Ternopil. Another the Data Protection Agency, the National project with the Polish NGO, La Strada. In regional NGO, located in Uzhorod, will Social Appeals Board under the Ministry its first three months of operation, the info- soon be added to the network. of Social Affairs, and the Danish Immi- line received 437 calls and responded to After receiving training from La gration Service. As a result of the visit, questions about migration, work and mar- Strada, the regional NGOs now provide participants identified key elements of riage abroad. While the infoline has been hotline consultations, collect data on traf- the Danish system that could serve as a set up specifically as a counselling service ficking in human beings, conduct public model for the new Ukrainian legislation. to raise awareness and prevent traffick- awareness raising activities and co-ordi- ing, its providers also knew that they nate with state authorities and other local Tajikistan is helped to meet its inter- might eventually receive calls asking for NGOs to provide direct social, medical national human rights obligations assistance for victims of trafficking. and legal assistance for trafficked women. On April 18, the ODIHR held a round By way of illustration, the infoline table meeting on reporting to the UN recently received such a call from the ODIHR assists with reform of Human Rights Committee, jointly orga- boyfriend of a Belarusian woman who Ukrainian registration system nized with the Ministry of Justice of had been taken by traffickers to Bosnia From 29 March to 2 April, the Tajikistan and the OSCE Mission to and Herzegovina and forced into prosti- ODIHR launched the first phase of a new Tajikistan. The country committed itself tution. She had managed to use a client’s project which is aimed at assisting with to prepare a state report on its compli- mobile phone to call her ance with this main UN boyfriend in Belarus and to human rights treaty when give him information about it ratified the International her situation and location in Covenant on Civil and Bosnia. Her boyfriend was Political Rights (ICCPR) able to turn to the infoline in 1993. for help and the YWCA The participants from took steps to follow up on a number of ministries, the the case. The International Supreme and the Constitu- Organization for Migration tional Court as well as rep- (IOM) in Minsk was resentatives from non-gov- informed and shared the ernmental and international information with the IOM in organizations stressed the Bosnia, which co-ordinated need to create an open and with local actors to find the Participants in the ODIHR workshop on the new Tajik Criminal Pro- transparent reporting pro- cedural Code discuss drafts of the law victim and three other cess. An ODIHR expert, women trafficked from Professor Bill Bowring, Belarus. In early April, all four women the reform of the registration system in pointed out that a proper reporting pro- were voluntarily repatriated to Belarus. Ukraine. A group of Ukrainian officials cess had to be used to identify existing involved in registration system reform shortcomings in compliance with the Anti-trafficking hotline network visited Denmark to get acquainted with treaty. The reporting process should also established in Ukraine the Danish model of population registra- help to develop policies to improve the The ODIHR and the Office of the tion. On the Danish side, the visit was human rights situation in Tajikistan. OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine organized by the National Association of The meeting, which was part of a have supported the Ukraine branch of the Local Authorities, one of the ODIHR’s broader legislative reform project agreed NGO, La Strada, in establishing a nation- most prominent partners for registration in a memorandum of understanding

NEWSLETTER Vol. 8 No. 5 15 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 16

between Tajikistan and the OSCE, con- ROMA AND SINTI number of elected Roma representatives cluded with a recommendation to the and NGO activists from all across south- Government to create an inter-ministe- First regional meeting eastern Europe. rial co-ordination commission for the under ODIHR One major outcome of the meeting preparation of the state report. This com- programme on Roma was to establish the basis for a ‘Roma- mission should have the authority to of SE Europe to-Roma’ process of self-organization at obtain all the necessary information for A first regional meeting under the regional level: Roma NGOs, experienced the report. new joint ODIHR-Council of Europe in Roma rights advocacy, will assist in The meeting was preceded by a two- programme on Roma of south-eastern the establishment of Roma civic associ- day workshop on the draft Criminal Pro- Europe (see OSCE Newsletter April 2001 ations in communities which are partic- cedural Code with the working group on page 19) was held in Bucharest from 28 ularly affected by crisis or post-crisis sit- the elaboration of this new law. Two to 30 April. The meeting, organized by uations. Target groups include Roma in ODIHR experts, Professor Bill Bowring the ODIHR in co-operation with the the Presevo valley (Serbia), young Roma and Professor Stefan Trechsel, partici- Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Roma women in Prizren (Kosovo), pated in these discussions and provided and the Roma Centre for Social Inter- Roma refugees and internally displaced information about the requirements under ventions and Studies, brought together persons in other parts of Yugoslavia, and the International Covenant on Civil and participants from governments and inter- Roma refugees who have returned to Political Rights. national organizations, as well as a large Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

from the High Commissioner NEWS on National Minorities The Office of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) is located at Prinsessegracht 22, NL-2514 AP The Hague, The Netherlands, tel.: (+31-70) 312 55 00, fax: (+31-70) 363 59 10, e-mail: [email protected]

Concern over former Yugoslav on local self-government were also donors’ committee, which received the Republic of Macedonia remains raised. financial and activity reports for January a high priority for HCNM A priority in resolving the current ten- to March 2001. The new institution, Reflecting the importance of current sions is inter-ethnic dialogue. Mr. van der which will provide education in Alba- developments, the OSCE High Com- Stoel discussed various possible ways for- nian and Macedonian as well as English missioner on National Minorities, Max ward in this regard with Foreign Minister and other “world languages”, is sched- van der Stoel, made three more visits to Srgjan Kerim and his OSCE colleagues. uled to open its doors in October 2001 the former Yugoslav Republic of Mace- It was also the main topic of discussion (see report in OSCE Newsletter, March donia last month. From 1 to 4 April, he with Arben Xhaferi, leader of the main 2001, page 17). was in Skopje to organize a meeting on Albanian party, the Democratic Party of From 24 to 26 April, Mr. van der Stoel the coming census in Macedonia. It was Albanians (DPA). Both men agreed on the was again in Skopje, where he was later agreed that the census would be need for substantive dialogue to begin as received by President Boris Trajkovski postponed until the first half of October. soon as possible, in order to avert a new and met with a number of interlocutors During his visit, the High Commis- wave of violence and the further polar- to see what steps could be taken to build sioner also discussed the preamble of the ization of Macedonian society. confidence between the Albanian and country’s Constitution, an issue that Mr. van der Stoel returned to the Macedonian communities. Some progress remains contentious with ethnic Albani- country a week later, on 10 and 11 April, was noted, for example on renewed sup- ans who object to the formulation of to follow up on these issues and to over- port for the University project, agree- ‘Macedonia as a national state of the see the start of ground-levelling for the ment on Channel 3 of Macedonian tele- Macedonian people’. The use of Alba- future campus of the South Eastern Euro- vision providing programmes in minor- nian in official communications and pean University (SEE). He also attended ity languages, and the decision to post- decentralization in line with the new law the first meeting of the university’s pone the census. However, underlying

NEWSLETTER 16 Vol. 8 No. 5 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 17

tensions remain and Mr. van der Stoel designed to give support to the draft Con- Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, brought again stressed the urgent need for com- stitutional Law on Minorities. The High together minority representatives and prehensive inter-ethnic dialogue. Commissioner’s office has been involved government officials dealing with minor- in assisting in the drafting of the law. ity issues. The aim was to better acquaint High Commissioner addresses From 6 to 8 April, the High Commis- them with international standards regard- meetings in Zagreb and Baden sioner’s office organized a conference in ing the protection of persons belonging to On 5 April, Mr. van der Stoel addressed Baden, Austria. The conference, orga- national minorities. On the margin of the a conference in Zagreb organized by the nized in co-operation with the Ministry of conference, a fruitful discussion took place Serb National Council. The event was National and Ethnic Communities of the on the draft law on minorities in the FRY.

from the OSCE REPORT Parliamentary Assembly The Secretariat of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is located at Rådhusstræde 1, DK-1466 Copenhagen K, Denmark, tel.: (+45-33) 37 80 40, fax: (+45-33) 37 80 30, e-mail: [email protected]

PA President Severin finds ities to work more closely wide support in Central together and to increase Asia for planned forum mutual trust with the OSCE OSCE Parliamentary centres in their countries, in Assembly President Adrian an effort to improve the Severin travelled to Kaza- effectiveness of the Organi- khstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajik- zation’s work in the field. istan between 26 April and 5 While recognizing the May, as part of his first visit to importance that each country the Central Asian region. Dur- has placed on promoting ing the trip, he had meetings economic development and with the three Heads of State, regional security, he nonethe- the Speakers of Parliament, as less underlined the impor- well as other high-level repre- Left: PA Vice President Tiit Kabin, (MP Estonia), who led the tance of strengthening demo- sentatives from the executive OSCE Election Observation Mission in Montenegro cratic processes at the same and legislative branches. He time. The PA President indi- also met representatives of political par- other OSCE participating States and cated his intention to return to the region ties, media outlets and non-governmen- from the Partners for Co-operation, in the autumn to visit Uzbekistan and tal organizations. would seek to address issues related to Turkmenistan. Mr. Severin’s goal was to assess the Central Asia through regional co-opera- situation in the region and to encourage tion, a topic high on Mr. Severin’s agenda. Parliamentarians lead OSCE election the Central Asian countries to play a “The obstacles to a more effective monitoring in Montenegro more active role in the OSCE in general regional approach in the fight against PA Vice President Tiit Kabin, (MP and in the OSCE PA in particular. With poverty, terrorism and religious extrem- Estonia), acting as Special Representa- this in mind, he was pleased to find broad ism are in themselves a source of insta- tive of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, support among all his interlocutors for a bility which must be addressed prop- declared Montenegro’s parliamentary new initiative of the OSCE PA – the erly,” he said during the visit. elections, held on 22 April, to have gen- Trans-Asian Parliamentary Forum. Encouraging the Central Asian par- erally complied with international demo- Such a body, which would bring liaments to play a more active role in cratic standards. “The overall electoral together the parliaments from the Cen- addressing domestic and regional prob- process was pluralistic, accountable and tral Asian States as well as those from lems, Mr. Severin also urged the author- transparent,” he said during the presen-

NEWSLETTER Vol. 8 No. 5 17 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 18

in the voter register, and a few In response to the Ukrainian Delega- instances of political pressure tion’s request for the OSCE PA to assist on state employees as well as in improving the socio-political situation police involvement in cam- in Ukraine, President Severin asked paign activities. Despite these Third Committee Chair, Gert Weiss- irregularities, he emphasized kirchen, to assess the current political and that the polling and vote count social situation in Ukraine. He was asked were largely in accordance with to travel to Ukraine to appeal to the the law, and that the high voter Ukrainian Parliament to find solutions to turnout indicated public confi- the current crisis, and to urge the various dence in the electoral process. institutions and the Opposition to find ways to strengthen mutual confidence. OSCE PA President Finally, Mr. Severin asked the Head Severin requests MPs of the French Delegation to the OSCE to take on special roles PA, Michel Voisin, to consider becoming Michel Voisin (MP France), has been proposed as During the Expanded his Special Representative for Mediter- Special Representative for Mediterranean Affairs Bureau meeting of the OSCE ranean Affairs, in order to develop PA, held in Copenhagen on 19 stronger links with the OSCE PA’s tation of the OSCE Election Observation and 20 April, PA President Adrian Sev- Mediterranean Partners. Mission’s preliminary findings. erin asked three members of the Assem- The OSCE team, which included an bly to address topics of importance to the Head of OSCE Office in Yerevan OSCE PA delegation of 40 parliamen- body. visits PA Secretariat tarians from 16 OSCE participating OSCE PA Vice-President Bruce On 7 and 8 May, the Head of the States, concluded that a broad spectrum George was asked to carry out and in- OSCE Office in Yerevan (Armenia), of political parties had participated in the depth analysis of how national parlia- Roy Reeve, visited the International Sec- elections within a pluralistic media land- ments deal with OSCE issues and how retariat of the OSCE PA and had con- scape, and that there had been excep- national delegations engage both in par- sultations with the Secretary General, tional transparency of public access to ticipating in the activities of the Assem- Spencer Oliver, and other senior staff. voting registers and the publication of bly, and in promoting the achievements Mr. Reeve also spoke at a joint OSCE detailed voting results at all levels. of the Assembly in their own parlia- PA/Danish Institute of International While confirming that substantial ments. He was asked in particular to ana- Affairs (DUPI) round table discussion at progress had been made, Mr. Kabin lyze how each of the Parliamentary the DUPI Office in Copenhagen, where acknowledged some remaining shortcom- Assembly’s legislatures scrutinizes and he gave a presentation on the role of the ings. Political parties had controlled the influences decisions of the executive on Organization’s field missions, focusing election mandates, there were small errors national security issues in the OSCE area. on the OSCE Office in Yerevan.

from the OSCE Representative NEWS on Freedom of the Media The Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media is located at Kärtner Ring 5- 7, A-1010 Vienna, Austria. Tel.: (+43-1) 512 21 45-0, fax: (+43-1) 512 21 45-9, e-mail: [email protected]

RFOM reviews activities in 2001 where inter alia he discussed the activi- Russia, the Federal Republic of Yugo- before the Permanent Council ties of his office since December. He slavia and the former Yugoslav Republic The OSCE Representative on Freedom raised the current state of the media in of Macedonia. Mr. Duve stressed that his of the Media, Freimut Duve, spoke at the several participating States: Georgia, office wanted to focus on media and OSCE Permanent Council on 5 April, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, minority issues in conjunction with the

NEWSLETTER 18 Vol. 8 No. 5 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 19

High Commissioner on National Minori- media climate in that country. However, Republic of Belarus, for to do so would ties, with a view to organizing a meeting the OSCE Representative’s planned visit set a precedent which would weaken the later this year. The OSCE Representative to Minsk, due to have taken place later working conditions of OSCE institu- planned, in addition, to continue paying in April, was cancelled because his tions,” said the Representative. attention to the situation of public broad- Senior Adviser, Diana Moxhay, was casting in Central and Eastern Europe as denied a visa. Ukraine radio station denied licence a structural issue. At the Permanent Council on 26 Radio Continent, a leading indepen- April, Mr. Duve presented his view that dent radio station in Ukraine, was denied Representative focuses on worsening this decision by the Belarus Government a licence on 16 April by the National media situation in Belarus was a severe interference in the inde- Television and Broadcasting Council. During April, the Representative on pendence of the institution of the OSCE On 19 April, the OSCE Representative Freedom of the Media devoted much of Office of the Representative on Freedom on Freedom of the Media intervened with his attention to the deteriorating media of the Media. the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Ana- situation in Belarus. On 12 April, Mr. “I firmly believe that no OSCE par- toliy Zlenko, stressing his concern with Duve addressed the Belarusian Foreign ticipating State should dictate for or the fate of Radio Continent, and empha- Minister, Mikhail Khvostov, stressing against any of the staff members of an sizing that he had previously recom- his continued concern about problematic OSCE institution. I cannot accept this mended that it should receive a new developments that are affecting the interference by the Government of the licence.

from the OSCE Secretary General REPORT and the Secretariat The OSCE Secretariat is located at Kärntner Ring 5-7, A-1010 Vienna, Austria. Telephone: (+43-1) 514 36-0, Fax: (+43-1) 514 36-96, e-mail: [email protected]

SG attends Nagorno-Karabakh tary General made a courtesy call on met Assistant High Commissioner peace talks in the United States Ruud Lubbers, the United Nations High Jessen-Petersen and with the staff of the At the invitation of the Co-Chairmen Commissioner for Refugees. The short Emergency Response Unit to discuss the of the OSCE Minsk Group Process, the meeting focused on Central Asia and the new approaches that both the OSCE and Organization’s Secretary General, Jan Caucasus. Secretary General Kubis also the UNHCR are developing to issues such Kubis, attended OSCE- as staffing, security, and sponsored talks held in rapid response capability. Key West, Florida, from 3 to 6 April. The talks were Secretary General makes part of a process aimed at trip to three participating working towards a resolu- States in Central Asia tion of the long-standing At the invitation of For- dispute over Nagorno- eign Minister Imanaliev of Karabakh, a region within Kyrgyzstan and Foreign Azerbaijan which was Minister Nazarov of Tajik- occupied during the 1990s istan, the Secretary General by Armenian forces. visited the two countries between 24 and 26 April. Visit paid to UNHCR He was received by the The new Head of the Permanent Mission of the Holy See, Monsignor in Geneva Leo Boccardi, presents his credentials to Secretary General Kubis respective Heads of State, On 18 April, during a on 10 April. He succeeds Monsignor Dominique Rezeau in this posi- President Akayev and Pres- trip to Geneva, the Secre- tion. ident Rakhmonov and had

NEWSLETTER Vol. 8 No. 5 19 OSCE_MAY_01 5/23/01 1:23 PM Page 20

talks with other top officials. He also met In the discussions, the Tajik officials New online: representatives of various political par- addressed the OSCE Secretary General OSCE video documentary ties and civil society, OSCE ambassadors on the general political climate in the The Press and Public Information and representatives of international orga- country during the period of post-con- Section has now made the English lan- nizations. flict stabilization. They informed him of guage version of the OSCE video docu- The primary aim of the visit was to the most recent important foreign policy mentary, ‘For Human Dignity’ available assess and discuss various external and steps undertaken by the Tajik Govern- online on the OSCE website at: internal aspects of security and stability ment in the last period, and provided an www.osce.org/publications/video. in the individual countries as well as in assessment of the situation in the region the region, specifically in the light of the as well as on the further strengthening of The documentary explains how the situation in and its spillover the relations between the OSCE and OSCE evolved from the Conference on effects, as well as last year’s military Tajikistan. Mr. Kubis in turn reaffirmed Security and Co-operation in Europe, activities in Central Asia and reports of the support of the international commu- which began in 1973, into the largest similar activities this year – and to assess nity in supporting Tajikistan during this regional security organization in the the eventual impact of these develop- post-conflict period. world and describes the work of the ments on security and the activities of the By mutual agreement, the Secretary Organization’s 4,000 staff in its missions OSCE there. General then met on 27 April in Tashkent and other field activities. In both countries, the Secretary Gen- with Foreign Minister Kamilov of Uzbek- For easier viewing, the video is avail- eral discussed matters related to their co- istan, with whom he discussed a similar able in clips and in several video formats. operation with the OSCE and its mis- range of topics. Among other things, it A limited number of copies are available sions, including the concerns of both was agreed to explore further possibili- upon request to universities, research sides in relation to all OSCE dimensions. ties of enhancing OSCE activities in the centres, international and non-govern- He looked also at the preparation for the economic and environmental dimension mental organizations, government agen- forthcoming visit of the Chairman-in- of the OSCE in Uzbekistan and in its dif- cies, and broadcasters. Requests may be Office to the region. ferent regions, such as in Karakalpakia. submitted online.

The OSCE NEWSLETTER is published monthly by the Secretariat of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Kärntner Ring 5- 7 A-1010 Vienna, Austria Tel.: (+43-1) 514 36-180 Fax: (+43-1) 514 36-105 E-mail: infoÍosce.org Keith Jinks, Editor Alexander Nitzsche, Deputy Editor

For more information on the OSCE see the OSCE Website: http://www.osce.org