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Vol.IX No. 5 MAY 2002

NEWSLETTER Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe High Representative: OSCE is “able, energetic and wise partner” in implementing Dayton Petritsch and Ashdown review crossroads, challenges in Bosnia and Herzegovina In separate addresses to the OSCE Per- Organization’s 55 participating States in porting and advising the country’s Elec- manent Council in May, outgoing High Vienna on 9 May. tion Commission.” Representative for Bosnia and Herzegov- “The OSCE was one of the first orga- The Republic of Bosnia and Herze- ina, Wolfgang Petritsch, and his succes- nizations to see the importance of a co- govina (BiH), the Republic of Croatia sor, Paddy Ashdown, praised the crucial ordinated approach in Bosnia”, said the and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia contribution of the OSCE towards Austrian diplomat in his last address to signed the Dayton Accords – the General rebuilding the country and called on par- the Permanent Council as High Repre- Framework Agreement for Peace in ticipating States to stay the course. sentative. “It has not only played a cru- Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) – in Paris cial role in the hard work surrounding on 14 December 1995. The Accords pro- cannot overstate how lucky I have elections and the Election Law, but also vided for the designation of a High Rep- “ been to have had such an able, ener- in the difficult areas of property law resentative to monitor, facilitate and co- I getic and wise partner in implement- implementation and democratization. ordinate the civilian implementation of ing the Dayton Accords”, Ambassador Still the lead agency when it comes to the Agreement. Petritsch told the delegations of the elections, the OSCE is now actively sup- Ambassador Petritsch started his OSCE/Jaqueline Godany

Young Bosnians are thrilled at being able to produce their own radio show inside the radio station of the OSCE mobile.culture.container OSCE culture.container mobilizes that the project,which provides an opportunity of our Future”, the mobile.culture.container – Mostar’s youth. A highly acclaimed long- to publish community newspapers, experi- literally a set of containers arranged around a term project by the OSCE Representative on ment in fashion design or simply surf the Inter- circular tent to provide an auditorium for Freedom of the Media was featured promi- net,had brought them together without regard shows and meetings – is moved by truck every nently on German television news on 30 April. to ethnic background. The project manager, five or six weeks to a new town or city in the A three-minute report by the ZDF showed the Josipa Crnoja, told viewers that by offering former Yugoslavia. Having clearly achieved its impact of the mobile.culture.container on young people activities that were usually not objective in Mostar, the project has since Bosnia and Herzegovina’s divided city of open to them, the project motivated them to moved on to Banja Luka, in the Republika Srp- Mostar. Several young Croats and Bosniacs avoid the usual political divisions and discover ska,before pitching camp in Skopje,in the former who were interviewed said they were grateful a new tolerance.Under the slogan “In Defence Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in early June.

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duties in Sarajevo in the summer of international assistance to returnees for Ultimate proof 1999. Since then, he said, he believed rebuilding their homes. “We cannot However, he believed that “the ulti- that BiH had made tremendous progress, allow – when return is politically possible mate proof ” that the country had entered adding that its journey offered profound and really happening – returns to fail due a new era stemmed from the recent lessons at a time when the danger of to a lack of assistance”, he said, urging amendments to the Entity Constitutions. “failed States” has been recognized in the OSCE delegates to lobby their gov- “The Republika Sprska Constitution rec- international politics. ernments to support the return process. ognized only the Serbs as a constituent He acknowledged that the powers people, while the Federation Constitu- Counting returns vested in a High Representative made tion only recognized Bosniacs and “There is a way to measure the suc- that official “almost a benevolent dicta- Croats. In 2000, the Constitutional Court cess of the peace effort – through count- tor”. That had been necessary in the short of BiH declared these provisions uncon- ing refugee returns”, he told the Perma- term to uproot entrenched resistance and stitutional.” nent Council. “Up to 1999, the rate of create the framework for democracy to After almost two years, followed return meant it would have taken decades work. “But I knew in the long term it by close to 100 hours of difficult nego- to implement Annex 7 [the Agreement on would work against the whole point tiations under his auspices, a framework Refugees and Displaced Persons under of post-war international engagement had been reached for the constitutional the Dayton Accords]. In particular, in Bosnia, namely, to have the country amendments. “This is of monumental stand on its importance. The ability to compromise own two feet”, is the essence of a democracy. Here it OSCE he said. finally happened… The effects of the One piece amendments will reach into the lives of of legislation that was not INSIDE THE MAY ISSUE imposed and instead got OSCE is “able, energetic and wise special treat- partner” in implementing Dayton_____1 ment and con- sideration was OSCE culture.container mobilizes the Election Mostar’s youth______1 Law. “Robert Water supplies and security: link is Barry and Bob strengthened at Economic Forum_____3 Beecroft – the The Asian way: seeking a meeting of two fine ambas- minds______4 sadors who hea- ded the OSCE Leaving Latvia, with care______6 Mission to BiH Wolfgang Petritsch, outgoing High Representative (left), with OSCE Chairmanship hosts international during my man- meeting on fight against terror______19 Robert Beecroft, Head of OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina date – agreed Republika Srpska was defending its with me that it should not be imposed. Its REGULAR REPORTS mono-ethnic structure, having allowed passage or non-passage would be the only 10,000 Bosniacs and Croats to return yardstick for measuring the ability of News from the field______8

and scaring even those few with frequent BiH’s parties to find a compromise. In brief ______9 violence.” “It was worth the wait”, he The Office of the High Representative, remarked. The Alliance for Change Press profile______10 in close co-operation with the OSCE Mis- Government passed the Election Law Office for Democratic Institutions sion to BiH and other organizations, in August last year, paving the way for and Human Rights______12 “changed the property issue from a politi- Bosnia’s accession to the Council of High Commissioner on National cal one to a legal one. Crucially, co-ordina- Europe late in April, which was yet Minorities______14 tion was at field level right across the coun- another milestone demonstrating the try”, he said. The result was that minority country’s growing statehood and level Parliamentary Assembly______15 returns had leapt to 67,000 in 2000 and to of democratization. “And BiH authori- Representative on 92,000 in 2001. If those rates continued, he ties are now organizing their own elec- Freedom of the Media______17 believed, Annex 7 could be implemented in tions – slated for 5 October – for the Secretary General its entirety within four years. first time, after six rounds of elections and the Secretariat ______18 However, Ambassador Petritsch was arranged and supervised by the concerned about the sharp decline in OSCE.”

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Borrowing OSCE experience In his remarks to an informal Per- manent Council meeting before assuming office on 27 May, Lord Ash- OSCE/Alex Nitzsche OSCE/Alex down paid tribute to the firm founda- tion laid by Ambassador Petritsch on which to build, especially his strategy of “ownership” – giving the country back to its elected representatives and citizens. “I would like to borrow the OSCE experience in these matters”, he said, referring to the building of local capac- ity, such as in education, and the creat- ing of new institutions, such as a civil service college, to strengthen civil society: “The country is haemorrhag- ing … young people shouldn’t have to Paddy Ashdown, the new High Representative leave to get training and education.” every BiH citizen”, he said. out the highest expectations and hopes Both men spoke of a “recalibration” Finally, he turned to the critics of for our neighbours, for September 11 of international efforts in the country, international intervention: “I would say demonstrates only too well what happens especially in the light of declining that, yes, we do have our own interests: if we turn our backs on weak states… funding commitments from abroad. an interest in a stable Bosnia and Herze- “International engagement works. “The international community should govina, a stable Balkans which must be Look at Bosnia and Herzegovina and the speak with a single voice”, Lord Ash- given every encouragement to join the invaluable part the OSCE has played and down said. “If we do that, there’s noth- European family of States. We must hold you can see that for yourselves”, he said. ing that we won’t be able to do.” Water supplies and security: link is strengthened at Economic Forum

The Tenth OSCE Economic Forum ended including representatives of international Co-ordinator of the Portuguese OSCE in Prague on 31 May with a call for the organizations and non-governmental Chairmanship. 55 participating States to devote more organizations (NGOs) heard that scarcity The second working group reaf- energy to ensuring that disputes over of water supply and limited access to firmed the significant responsibility of secure water supplies do not undermine water were sensitive political issues in local communities and NGOs in promot- security in the OSCE area. For the first some regions, at times even putting ing regional co-operation and raising time, the annual gathering in the Czech regional stability at risk. awareness of the legal aspects of water capital addressed the financing of terror- “The concept of environmental secu- protection. ism and money laundering. rity is closely linked with water quality Marcin Swiecicki, Co-ordinator of and access to water,” delegates at one of OSCE Economic and Environmental he meeting, which demonstrated two working groups concluded at the end Activities, said economic and environ- the crucial importance of eco- of the four-day meeting. “The OSCE mental threats to security could not be Tnomic and environmental activi- should keep promoting political solu- overlooked: “Early-warning signs ties as part of the OSCE's comprehensive tions in water-related dialogues.” regarding the economic causes of con- approach to security, included sessions “Developing effective means of co- flict are increasingly clear”, he said. on the Aral Sea Basin, the water situation operation in securing proper use of water “There is a need for a more pragmatic in the Kura Araks Basin in the Caucasus resources would make a major contribu- and action-oriented focus in order to and the Sava River in south-eastern tion to reinforcing security in the OSCE address these challenges”. Europe. area”, said Rui Lopes Aleixo, Chairper- Reflecting the OSCE’s commitment to More than 500 decision-makers, son of the Economic Forum and Deputy the international fight against terrorism,

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the Forum concluded with a special ses- sion on issues related to ‘Suppressing the Financing of Terrorism’. The session, which drew about 150 participants, was

prepared in co-operation with the Global OSCE/Lubomir Kotek Programme against Money Laundering (GPML) of the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention. An intensive exchange of views took place on a U.S. proposal that all OSCE participating States should commit to submitting, by 1 September 2002, a ques- tionnaire assessing how they are imple- menting the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force on suppress- ing the financing of terrorism. This pro- posal found wide support and the Chair- man of the Economic Forum recom- mended bringing it promptly before the The Economic Forum stressed that in 30 years,more than half of the world could be affected Permanent Council for a formal decision. by water shortages Another proposal was for the OSCE to organize, with the GPML, national tribute its technical expertise and The Economic Forum was orga- workshops on legislative and adminis- know-how, while the OSCE would nized by the Portuguese OSCE Chair- trative matters related to fighting provide the political framework and manship with the support of the Office money laundering and the financing assist in the workshops through its of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic of terrorism. The GPML would con- field missions. and Environmental Activities. The Asian way: seeking a meeting of minds Trafficking in drugs and human beings is focus of OSCE-Thailand Conference

On the eve of the OSCE-Thailand Con- Why has Thailand chosen the and cultural differences, rather than by ference on the Human Dimension of Human Dimension of Security as ideology as in the past. Security, the Ambassador of Thailand the focus of this conference? Under the human dimension theme, in Vienna, Sorayouth Prompoj, spoke we would like to take the opportunity to with Elizabeth Abela, Senior External he previous conferences that were focus on drugs and human trafficking, Co-operation Officer, about what he co-hosted by the Asian Partners which Thailand considers as major expects from the event and what it Tfor Co-operation covered other threats to stability and security. But we means for his country to be an OSCE topics related to the OSCE’s work. The are not looking to the OSCE as a forum Partner for Co-operation. The confer- OSCE-Japan Conference in 2001 dealt for addressing technical aspects, nor as a ence, to be held on 20 and 21 June in with comprehensive security in Central panacea to all our ills. Rather, our aim is Bangkok, will enable information and Asia, while the OSCE-Korea Confer- to seek common ground – a meeting of experiences to be shared among some ence in 2001 explored the politico-mili- minds – so that we can determine how 100 senior representatives and experts tary dimension of security. best to prevent these issues from becom- from OSCE participating States, OSCE In today’s globalized world, tradi- ing a source of instability and mistrust Partners for Co-operation, member tional threats to security such as armed not only within our region but also states of the ASEAN Regional and political conflicts have become more between the OSCE region and ours. We Forum,and international and non-gov- difficult to manage once they take on a cannot impose our societies’values upon ernmental organizations. Excerpts from human dimension; that is, when they are one other, but we can at least open our the interview follow. driven by ethnic values, religious beliefs eyes and ears to each other’s way of pro-

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tecting and promoting the interests of States are more candid and direct and our citizens. can sometimes be quite blunt on most I have recently returned from a meet- issues. At the same time, they respect ing between our Prime Minister and the the equality of each other’s status. Thai ambassadors in Europe. We all However, in the ARF, some critics agreed that we should focus more on would say that we tend to avoid crit- building a relationship with European icizing each other when it comes to countries in the form of partnerships addressing sensitive issues, or do not rather than through the traditional donor- even address them at all. This is the recipient relationship. For example, Asian way. We hope that in the Europe could play a vital role as partner in future, we might be motivated combating the trafficking in illicit drugs – enough, through a closer dialogue not by funding technical assistance, but by with the OSCE, to start having dis- providing other forms of co-operation. cussions among ourselves in the OSCE fashion. Member States of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) will attend What can Thailand offer to the the conference as guests of the OSCE through partnership and Ambassador Sorayouth Prompoj host country. How will they benefit? co-operation? Thailand can act as a go-between Thailand is interested in partici- hopes to learn from the OSCE’s experi- between the OSCE and ASEAN/ARF, pating in OSCE activities in the ence – positive and, sometimes, nega- but of course only if it is asked to do so. field, such as seconding experts to tive – in promoting its norms and prin- The conference could well be the start- missions or as election monitors. ciples, and to apply specific ideas ing point in a new chapter of confidence- Providing our human resources will towards making ASEAN/ARF a more and security-building between Europe and be the next step in our partnership. effective mechanism in promoting Asia. If successful, it could also set the We have already been participating security in Asia. stage for a new type of informal dia- actively in a number of OSCE con- Preventive diplomacy has always logue between the OSCE and ARF ferences and seminars in Vienna and been a strong pillar of Thai foreign pol- and other regions of the world. abroad. icy, going back to its ancient history. The OSCE and ASEAN share the Through the OSCE-Thai partnership, same goals and objectives. But they What does Thailand hope to we hope the OSCE can lend us its ear differ in approach when it comes to achieve through its partnership and learn more about certain crucial confidence- and security-building and co-operation with the OSCE? issues in Asia that may have an impact measures. From my experience in As one of the active and founding on European countries’ policies towards various OSCE fora, participating members of ASEAN and ARF, Thailand us. And vice-versa.

Mediterranean and Asian Partners for Co-operation: a successful outreach

The OSCE maintains an ongoing dia- linked with security in the Mediter- Each partnership has its own spe logue with nine Partners for Co-oper- ranean as a whole…” cial features. However, a common ation outside the OSCE area. The thread runs through all of them: Organization’s relations with the The Asian Partners started fostering a the belief that nations are depen- Mediterranean Partners goes back to flexible dialogue with the OSCE in the dent on one another for their the beginning of the Helsinki Process. early 1990s, when the Organization security. For both OSCE and its Currently, these are six: Algeria, had taken on a more formal structure. Partners, strengthening the dia- Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and This was also a time when the OSCE logue even further offers distinct Tunisia. In the 1975 Helsinki Final area was increasingly challenged by mutual advantages, including the Act, participating States had the fore- new security risks that emerged after opportunity to draw on each sight to include a chapter in which the end of the Cold War. Japan’s part- other’s experiences in promo- they stated their conviction that nership started in 1992, Korea’s in 1994 ting a comprehensive concept of “security in Europe … is closely and Thailand’s in November 2000. security.

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One issue which I, and surely others united Europe, but why is it that some that we in Asia are seeking. A dialogue in Asia, hope to understand more, con- areas in Europe are still striving for with the OSCE can help us find an cerns the conflicts in the Balkans and disintegration, only to become inte- approach that complements European other struggles in Europe for indepen- grated into a united Europe again in policy. We hope such a dialogue will dence and autonomy. We understand the future? also help satisfy Europeans’ curiosity the concept behind an integrated and This is the kind of understanding about Asian politics. Coming to closure: leaving Latvia, with care Turning over pieces of the OSCE legacy to civil society

By Neil Brennan

With the turning off of the lights in the made by the OSCE in Latvia as it closed hand as opposed to new or slightly used offices of the OSCE Mission to Latvia on its doors. The Mission had started work items. It was the K@2 people who first 1 May, the Mission’s administrative clo- in 1994 as a temporary office, and most told us that the people in their commu- sure process was brought to an end. of the furniture and equipment were nity were hesitant to go to an office that During the transition, mission projects from that period. By the time our work was furnished with new equipment. were completed, evaluations of others had been officially completed, most of They felt intimidated by the modern carried out, and archives and valuable the items were of little or no value to the atmosphere. We realized then that we equipment shipped to Vienna. But one OSCE for use elsewhere, given shipping could target a specific niche of needy more task remained to be accomplished costs and current computer require- organizations with what we had to offer. – one that would bring an unexpected ments. But they did have a distinct value The arrival of the fully-laden van at windfall to local initiatives and worthy for K@2 and four other Latvian NGOs. K@2 caused creative juices to flow in causes. Reducing the inventory to zero did Karosta, a predominantly Russian-lan- not, however, happen by accident but guage community. A small crowd of luorescent yellow, fire engine red was brought about by careful planning. children rushed into the centre to play and purple haze. These were the The idea was to see that each piece made with the new furniture. This led to Fcolours the artists and children of its way to the group that would most ben- impromptu group singing, which was the K@2 cultural centre chose to trans- efit from it. The trick lay in making the captured on film and made into a short form the austere office furniture of the donations in stages, timed in such a way movie that was shared with the children former OSCE Mission to Latvia for their as to make it possible for us to keep a and the OSCE. own creative and functional use. fully-functioning office to the very end, In Riga, some of the Mission’s other “The ’70s look of black wood and while gradually winding up our working older computers and furniture found a aluminium wasn’t appealing enough for base. deserving home. The Diakonas Centre young people”, explained Carl Biors- When the mandate of the Mission was selected because of its limited mark, a Swedish photographer and film- was not extended at the end of 2001, the resources and under-publicized efforts to maker, and the chairman of the centre’s Head of Mission, Peter Semneby, now teach English to street children in the board. Located in the heart of a former Head of Mission in Croatia, and his team capital. Soviet military base near Liepaja, K@2 of four international and five local staff, Limited resources also provided the is one of only two non-governmental mapped out extensive plans to make sure impetus for helping the Youth Detention organizations (NGOs) in Karosta. “But”, that the closure process would be part of Centre in Brasas Prison. On her visit to he was quick to add, “without the equip- a gradual and orderly withdrawal. It was the facilities last year, the President of ment donated by the OSCE, we would also important that it proceed according Latvia, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, expressed not have been able to set up our Internet to the priorities of the Mission, which concern at the conditions there and at centre and the new classrooms for our included assisting Latvian society in its the lack of resources for special activi- language programme and other creative integration efforts. ties for the centre’s young boys. activities.” When we considered the disposal of We did not have much to offer to fit The donation of surplus office fur- furniture, for example, we knew that the unique needs of the detention cen- nishings to K@2 was one of several some NGOs actually preferred second- tre’s classrooms, but we were able to

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hand over a few computers, books and some furniture. Our visit to the prison also led to a serendipitous productive encounter with Roger Cassidy, who was counselling HIV-positive young people. OSCE Mission to Latvia They account for an estimated 18 per cent of the country’s prison population. Roger, an American-Norwegian liv- ing in Riga, had recently registered an NGO named DIA+Logs (“Through the Windows”) as a contact and resource centre for AIDS victims and health and social workers specializing in AIDS. “Our plan was that, in addition to the counselling and prevention work in prisons, we would open a resource cen- tre by December 2002”, recalls Roger. “But trying to do this on a shoestring budget made December look opti- mistic. We also wanted to create an atmosphere which would encourage HIV-positive people, including drug DIA+Logs opens for business ahead of schedule with the help of the OSCE. Celebrating with addicts and others, to drop in for test- the NGO’s staff are Neil Brennan (left),Maris Krauklis,Latvian administrative assistant (in dark ing, counselling and needle exchanges.” jacket), and Maxim Markov, administrative and financial officer (right) of the OSCE Mission The OSCE saw an opportunity to assist. One large truck delivery and sev- eral car trips later, the DIA+Logs Cen- you have given us. And in HIV preven- spot where the OSCE sign used to hang tre was almost fully equipped with tion that’s a lot”, says Roger. outside the door at Jekaba iela 20. desks, counselling room furniture, two The lesson we took away from the Looking around the bare offices as the large safes for confidential files, an experience was the value of having a “last man out”, I feel a certain satisfac- alarm system and other essential equip- gradual, orderly closure with time to tion in knowing that we have done some ment. plan and think things through. Anything good, even as we departed. “With the support of the OSCE we else would have been messy and we have been able to open our counselling would not have achieved the same ben- Neil Brennan was the last Deputy services now – in May instead of eficial use of resources. Head of Mission in the OSCE Mission December. Six months. That’s the time Fresh brown paint now covers the to Latvia.

Recent OSCE Events

14 and 15 June, Czech Republic. Observation of parliamentary elections. OSCE/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)

13 and 14 June, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Conference on new challenges for mass media in Kazakhstan. OSCE Centre in Almaty, European Commission in Kazakhstan, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Adil Soz

4 to 7 June, Dushanbe,Tajikistan.Second regional workshop on the Aarhus Convention for Central Asia. OSCE and other organizations

3 to 11 June, Baku,Azerbaijan;Tbilisi, Georgia;Yerevan,Armenia.Workshops on the code of conduct on politico-military aspects of security in the Caucasus. Conflict Prevention Centre

21 and 22 May, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Follow-up meeting on trafficking in small arms and light weapons in Central Asia. OSCE Centre in Almaty, Conflict Prevention Centre

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News from the field

The OSCE currently has Missions or other field activities in Albania,Armenia,Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo (Yugoslavia), Skopje (the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), Moldova, Russia,Tajikistan,Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Yugoslavia.

Religious extremism discussed in Tajikistan Strengthening democratic institu- tions to counter religious extremism was the theme of a conference in Dushanbe courtesy of UNFPA on 25 April. Tajikistan’s unique experi- ence in reconciling former combating parties and in creating a basic national consensus was discussed. The Islamic Revival Party, which is the only legal Islamic party in Central Asia, has devel- oped into a constructive political force within the constitutional system. Several speakers emphasized that a dialogue between the government and the opposition, within the framework of democratic institutions, was the main The OSCE is assisting Central Asians to increase their awareness of enviromental matters deterrent to the growth of extremism. When people were able to express their demands and discontent freely and legal topics, a basic computer and Inter- governmental sector and local authorities openly, extremist ideas would lose their net course and a briefing on the role of on environmental problems. attraction. Extremism disguised in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Islamic clothes posed a threat and a chal- in building civil society in the country- Participants comprised representa- lenge, not only to society but to the side. The trainers were professors from tives from the academic and scientific Islamic community. the Tajik Academy of Sciences and junior communities, the Ministry of Natural More than a hundred participants, ecologists from national and interna- Resources and Environmental Protec- including religious and political leaders tional environmental NGOs. tion, parliament, NGOs and the media. as well as Tajik Government representa- The workshop was part of the on- The OSCE Centre in Almaty, with the tives, heard presentations by specialists going co-operation between the OSCE financial support of the Swiss Govern- from Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federa- Mission to Tajikistan, the Youth Eco Cen- ment, organized the workshop in co- tion, Tajikistan, the United Kingdom and tre, a non-governmental youth organiza- operation with the Oblast Akimat in east- Uzbekistan. The event was organized by tion, and the Tajik Ministry of Nature ern Kazakhstan and the environmental the OSCE Mission to Tajikistan in co- Protection. NGO, Belovodye. operation with the Sharq Research Cen- tre and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Environmental charter is focus of Round table reviews election workshop in Kazakhstan reforms in Belgrade Environmental workshop targets A regional workshop to raise aware- A round table on election reforms youth in Tajikistan ness of the Aarhus Convention in was held in Belgrade on 17 April. It dis- Tajikistan’s best civic education stu- eastern Kazakhstan was held in Ust- cussed the recent proposals of the Centre dents, some from the most remote areas Kamenogorsk on 22 and 23 April. It was for Free Elections and Democracy of the country, recently gathered in the fourth such event to take place in the (CeSid) on the election of the Serbian Dushanbe for a five-day environmental country’s regions. The Convention, president and members of the Republican training workshop. The event served to adopted in Aarhus, Denmark, in 1998, parliament and municipal assemblies. launch a one-year OSCE project to enable grants civil society access to information, Representatives of political parties, the the country’s promising ecologists to gain justice and participation in the decision- parliament, national and international access to environmental information and making process in environmental mat- NGOs and the Republican Secretariat for to build networks of useful contacts. ters. The discussions strengthened the Legislation took part in the discussions. The training covered ecological and working relationship between the non- Both the Head of the OSCE Mis-

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sion, Stefano Sannino, and the Director Even in long-standing democracies, the lican Bureau of Statistics. of the OSCE Office for Democratic electoral framework needed to be The OSCE staff members will fol- Institutions and Human Rights updated from time to time, he added. low the work of the municipal census (ODIHR), Gerard Stoudmann, wel- The round table was organized by the commissions in the three municipali- comed the work of CeSid as a sign of OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of ties and join the government’s mobile civil society’s increasing involvement Yugoslavia and CeSid, with the participa- teams of census-takers that go from in the democratic process. tion of ODIHR. door to door in the regions to collect Mr. Sannino noted that CeSid’s pro- data. posals had focused on the establishment OSCE takes up role in census in The decision to send small inter- of election commissions, access to southern Serbia national teams, together with experi- media, the role of national and interna- Representatives of the OSCE Mis- enced local staff, was in response to tional observers and a number of features sion to the Federal Republic of the request of the Serbian authorities essential to an electoral structure. Mr. Yugoslavia have arrived in the munici- and the Albanian community in Stoudmann said that election legislation palities of Bujanovac, Presevo and southern Serbia for the OSCE to was an evolving process but one which Medvedja and have started their assist in the census process to help was, however, “not to be tinkered with assignments on the census that is cur- build confidence among the ethnic too close to the holding of elections”. rently being carried out by the Repub- communities.

OSCE’s anti-terrorism strategy with the of Action of the Bishkek International IN BRIEF Organization’s Parliamentary Assembly Conference on combating terrorism. at its Annual Session, which will be held The country’s security situation, in Berlin this July. measures for countering terrorism and The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, He also reaffirmed the political will organized crime, and co-operation in the Portuguese Minister for Foreign of the Chairmanship to adopt a charter training of law enforcement personnel Affairs Martins da Cruz, reiterated on on the issue of preventing and counter- were at the top of Mr. Monk’s agenda. a visit to Washington D.C., the will of the ing terrorism and stressed the impor- The need to make law enforcers more Chairmanship to integrate the role of the tance of a meeting of international orga- aware of universal human rights norms OSCE Parliamentary Assembly into the nizations scheduled to take place on 12 and standards was a particular focus. OSCE’s activities aimed at promoting June in Lisbon. In the two southern provinces of democratic institutions and values. He Osh and Jalal-Abad, Mr. Monk met the also spoke on the need to reinforce the The OSCE and Kyrgyzstan have governors, officials of local law fight against terrorism in the OSCE’s agreed to continue co-operating on enforcement agencies and leaders of area of influence. policing matters. This was one of the key non-governmental organizations. In Mr. Martins da Cruz delivered his points of the visit of the OSCE’s Senior Bishkek, meetings took place with the remarks to the U.S. Congress during a Police Adviser, Richard Monk, to Kyr- Interior Minister, the Director of the session of the Helsinki Committee on 8 gyzstan in early May, which served as a Prisons Department Ministry, and other May. He said he would take up the follow-up measure under the Programme officials.

OSCE launches news subscription service for journalists

A news subscription service for journal- information products. In just a few simple tion of feature stories published on the ists has been launched by the OSCE steps, journalists can create a personal- OSCE website and alerts on breaking and Press and Public Information Service. ized OSCE media information package up-to-the-minute developments. More that is directly relevant to their needs. services will be added continuously. The state-of-the-art online service is designed especially for media representa- Besides receiving press releases and Journalists can sign up for the new tives and provides an enhanced access to media advisories, media representatives service at: a wider range of OSCE press and public can subscribe to new services: notifica- www.osce.org/subscription/media

NEWSLETTER Vol. 9 No. 5 9 OSCE_May_02 6/13/02 17:16 Page 10

OSCE group focuses on reforming judiciary and combating organized crime in Albania

Vienna’s Hofburg Conference Centre sector and called for a provided the setting for three days of inten- comprehensive national sive discussions among the Friends of strategy for judicial Albania at their sixth international confer- reform.

ence, with judiciary reform and the fight “The European Union Nitzsche OSCE/Alex against organized crime topping the would like to underline agenda. The meeting ended on 17 April the central importance of with the adoption of a set of conclusions a functional and indepen- calling for further measures to accelerate dent judiciary”, said the country’s reform process Ambassador Pablo Bena- The Friends of Albania is an informal vides, the representative group of donor countries and international of the EU Presidency. organizations that was formed in Septem- “The need to enhance law The European Union and the OSCE: strengthening interna- ber 1998 to strengthen international sup- implementation and tional support for Albania port for the Balkan country. This year, it is enforcement must con- being chaired jointly by the OSCE’s Por- tinue to be an issue of major priority.” Government”, said Arta Dade, the Alba- tuguese Chairmanship and the European Ambassador Carlo Pais, speaking on nian Foreign Minister. “To this end, the Union's Spanish Presidency. behalf of the OSCE’s Portuguese Chair- Government has adopted measures for an The participants in the sixth meeting manship, also stressed the importance of efficient fight against trafficking … debated the process of Albania’s demo- continued judicial and legal reforms, call- which was drafted with the assistance of cratic transition and assessed the progress ing for a stronger commitment by politi- the United States Embassy and the made in institutional and structural reform. cians in Tirana to establish a strong, effec- OSCE.” The Friends commended the country for tive and independent judicial system. The Friends also discussed the coun- its constructive role in regional co-opera- The Friends noted that the Albanian try’s economic development and com- tion, and specifically for the signing of a Government had taken a more pro-active mended the authorities for adopting a free trade agreement between Tirana and stance towards combating organized national strategy for socio-economic neighbouring Skopje, capital of the former crime, and recognized the reported signif- development. They urged that a more Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. They icant decrease in the overall number of positive attitude be taken towards small also welcomed the progress achieved by irregular migrants coming from Albania. and medium-sized enterprises and Albania in its relations with the European They, noted, however, the need to continue expressed concern about persistent elec- Union (EU), which has brought the coun- addressing the problem of trafficking of tricity shortages, calling for the adoption try to the threshold of negotiating a stabi- women and children. of a long-term national energy strategy. lization and association agreement. “Control of the borders and the pre- For more information about the However, the group expressed concern vention of illegal trafficking on the border Friends of Albania meeting, please con- about the weaknesses in Albania’s judicial are a priority for the work of the Albanian sult: www.osce.org/albania/foa

bow, U.S. Ambassador to Moscow, and geographical area will not be determined Stephan Minikes, U.S. Ambassador to in the end by ministerial declarations, but PRESS PROFILE the OSCE] The new challenge for the by a common sense of purpose and a OSCE is to fit its mandate to the post- common vision and common actions. Excerpts from a selection of articles on September 11 environment and thereby the OSCE and its activities in April assure its future relevance in Europe. The Observer, 7 April This has equally challenged Russia, the [From an article by the senior British OSCE IN GENERAL U.S. and the other key OSCE members to diplomat, Robert Cooper, on ‘The New join together to redefine and reinvigorate Liberal Imperialism’] The CFE [Conven- the Organization through actions, specif- tional Forces in Europe] Treaty, under Kommersant, 3 April ically through practical attempts to which parties to the Treaty have to notify [In an article on ‘Russia and the increase stability and security where it is the location of their heavy weapons and OSCE: enhancing security co-operation needed. The OSCE and the contribution allow inspections, subjects areas close to to Russia’s south’, by Alexander Versh- it makes to security and co-operation in its the core of sovereignty to international

NEWSLETTER 10 Vol. 9 No. 5 OSCE_May_02 6/13/02 17:16 Page 11

constraints. It is important to realize what the Media] But what is the future of the wrote the former Albanian Ambassador an extraordinary revolution this is. It mir- next generation – and who shapes it? to the OSCE, Zef Mazi, in an article in rors the paradox of the nuclear age, that How shall we defend this future against the daily paper Shekulli. The Friends of in order to defend yourself, you had to be the power of the incompatible nationalist Albania reminded him of 1913, and prepared to destroy yourself. The shared myths of the past? Once again, “children how Albania had been treated then. The interest of European countries in avoid- of the war” and young academics who borders of the newly-emerged Albania ing a nuclear catastrophe has proved fled from their countries, and who are had been fixed at that time and the enough to overcome the normal strategic now discussing a common future with country placed under a temporary mil- logic of distrust and concealment. young people, are the moderators of the itary protectorate. Mutual vulnerability has become mutual next generation. On the topic of transparency. ‘defending our future’, they meet in the Reuters, 16 April so-called mobile.culture.container, an Akhmed Zakayev, an envoy of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, initiative supported by many OSCE Chechen rebel leader, Aslan Maskhadov, 9 April States, to confront hate speech. [See also met Carla del Ponte, the Chief Prosecu- The Russians want a new mechanism the story on page one and visit tor at the International Criminal Tribunal that is totally separate from the current www.mobile.culture.org] for the Former Yugoslavia, last month to NATO structures, a kind of ersatz- propose setting up a similar court to try OSCE, which would decide on certain OSCE MISSION AREAS Russian soldiers. [The Head of the matters independently of NATO. OSCE Assistance Group to Chechnya] Jorma Inki said setting up such courts US Newswire, 9 April Reuters, 12 April would be counter-productive. “If there [Reporting on a hearing of the U.S. [former Yugoslav President Slobo- are crimes, one should punish those that Helsinki Commission focusing on the dan] Milosevic, who is defending him- have committed them, but according to human rights struggle of Roma] The self [before the International Criminal local law. I don’t see any need for spe- hearing highlighted the fact that a wide Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia], cific tribunals.” range of barriers currently exist that lim- suggested during his cross-examination ited Romani access to education in a that the OSCE’s Mission had been anti- Agence France Presse, 29 April number of OSCE countries … The OSCE Serb. The accused has consistently used The head of a European security body remains an important forum for address- his cross-questioning of prosecution in Almaty slammed Kazakhstan in a ing Romani human right issues, includ- witnesses to press his case that not the statement … for muzzling almost all crit- ing the Office for Democratic Institu- Serbs, but the KLA [Kosovo Liberation ical media in the country. “ As a result of tions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The Army] and NATO were the true aggres- restrictive policies adopted in the last few ODIHR continues to support initiatives sors in the province. months, almost all critical media have to enhance voter education among Roma, now been silenced,” Heinrich Haupt, work with interested governments on Washington Post, 26 April head of the OSCE Centre in Almaty, ways to legalize Romani settlements, and “In general there’s a lack of confi- said… “The most disturbing aspect is bring Roma and non-Roma policy mak- dence between the two communities”, that there seems to be a tendency to fur- ers together. [See also Update from the said Craig Jenness, Head of the OSCE’s ther tighten controls and restrictions”, he ODIHR, page 12. A transcript of the Mission in the former Yugoslav Republic said, adding that there had been “cases of hearing is posted on the web site of the of Macedonia, which is helping to train physical harassment [of the media] by the United States Helsinki Commission: the ethnically mixed patrols. “The Alba- police and violent groups”. www.csce.gov] nian community sees them [the police] as the instrument of people whom they Reuters, 24 April Der Standard, 13-14 April fought against during the war. So, it’s “The OSCE group has pursued The new OSCE special representative going to take a lot of time before they only one aim, which is not envisaged in in the fight against terrorism, Jan Troej- treat them as their own.” any mandate – to topple the current borg of Denmark, presented his pro- authorities”, [Belarusian President gramme on Friday [12 April] to the Per- Die Presse, 29 April Alexander] Lukashenko told deputies. manent Council. “Good governance” [From an article headlined, ‘Frus- “We clenched our teeth and tolerated would be the answer to terrorism and its tration in Albania: the West and the these activities.”…The authorities roots, he stated. OSCE under verbal fire’, commenting have threatened to expel the group and on the Friends of Albania meeting in barred the OSCE special representa- Der Standard, 27 April Vienna in April] The press in Tirana tive from entering the country. [From an article entitled ‘How to was furious: “As expected, the so- Lukashenko said he would not tolerate Defend the Future’, by Freimut Duve, called Friends have not taken any of the the OSCE unless its mandate was the OSCE Representative on Freedom of 12 proposals of Albania seriously”, reviewed.

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UPDATE from the Office for Democratic 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]

Protecting human rights through ELECTIONS Gerard Stoudmann, led the group, which judicial reform is seminar theme included ODIHR experts, a member of More than 150 government repre- the Swiss Parliament, representatives of sentatives and international experts ODIHR to issue report on Hungary’s the Central Election Commissions of the from Europe, Central Asia and North parliamentary elections Russian Federation and Ukraine, and an America gathered in Warsaw from 23 to The ODIHR observed the first election expert from the Federal Repub- 25 April to discuss how to improve the round of parliamentary elections in lic of Yugoslavia. protection of human rights through Hungary on 7 April and maintained a During its first visit, the delegation judicial reform. presence until the second round on 21 met with representatives of the Gov- The participants noted the substan- April. In a preliminary statement on 8 ernment and the municipality of Paris, tial progress made in the OSCE area, April, the ODIHR concluded that the and with members of the Conseil Con- especially in Central and Eastern first round had complied with interna- stitutionnel and the Conseil d’Etat. Europe, in the past decade. However, tional standards and commitments con- The ODIHR was especially interested several concerns remained, some of cerning democratic elections, although in the rules for campaign financing, which had emerged only recently in some specific issues remain to be which had recently been introduced to established democracies as well as in addressed. The Election Observation ensure a level playing field for all can- transition states. Among these were Mission noted that the election system didates. limits placed on the independence of and its supporting administrative struc- The first round of elections pro- the judiciary in some participating tures served as the basis for a generally vided the delegation with the opportu- States and shortcomings in judicial transparent, accountable, free, fair and nity to observe the transparency of the structures that did not always allow for equal process. electoral legislation and procedures checks and balances vis-à-vis the exec- However, specific issues to ensure the and the high degree of professionalism utive branch. long-term sustainability of the positive of the election administration bodies. The seminar also stressed the elements of the electoral system needed importance of ensuring judicial autho- attention. Among the concerns were: the rization for arrests, wire-tapping, house establishment of the National Election searches and other intrusive investiga- Committee, the Committee’s lack of DEMOCRATIZATION tive activities. The participants dis- authority to issue binding instructions to cussed ways of providing access to jus- lower-level election commissions, the tice for all sectors of society, especially submission of coupons in nominating Regional meetings aim to improve minorities, the poor and the disadvan- candidates, and delays in the appeals pro- co-ordination of human dimension taged. cedures concerning complaints related to activities Another focus was on strengthening the media during the campaign period or The ODIHR organized the first in the contribution of the international their inadequate resolution. a series of regional co-ordination community towards rebuilding judicia- The ten members of the Election Obser- meetings on 16 and 17 April, with the ries following conflicts. Where it was vation Mission, headed by Linda Edge- participation of senior staff and the acting authority, the international worth (U.S.), were deployed to Budapest, experts from OSCE Institutions, the community should practice account- Pecs and Debrecen in March. The final Secretariat and missions in south- ability and should not neglect the report on the elections will be issued soon. eastern Europe. Held in Belgrade, the rebuilding of civil jurisdictions. Hav- meeting was a first step in a process to ing a judiciary that individuals and legal ODIHR assesses French presidential identify strategic approaches to entities could depend on, participants elections regional and cross-boundary issues, pointed out, was crucial to building a Responding to an invitation by the focusing on the human dimension. democratic society, to the protection of French Government, an ODIHR delega- The goal is to identify priorities for human rights, and to the fostering of tion visited Paris on 8 and 21 April to future assistance, while improving economic stability. A report on the sem- assess the pre-election environment and current activities in close co-ordina- inar is posted on the ODIHR website: the first round of voting in the French tion with all the OSCE bodies www.osce.org/odihr presidential elections. The Director, involved.

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Moldovan parliament passes anti- Human rights training for NGOs held ROMA & SINTI trafficking legislation in Caucasus and Central Asia A new criminal code, adopted by Following last year’s successful Moldova’s parliament on 18 April, con- training course for NGOs in human Meeting focuses on access to justice tains a wide range of provisions designed rights monitoring and reporting, the During the Human Dimension Semi- to combat trafficking, reflecting propos- ODIHR recently completed the first nar on Judicial Systems and Human als by the OSCE. The ODIHR had pro- phase of the programme’s second round Rights in Warsaw (see page 12), the vided expertise to the parliamentary in Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzs- ODIHR Contact Point for Roma and working group in co-operation with the tan. Twenty-five new participants Sinti Issues organized a meeting on 24 OSCE Mission to Moldova, the Ameri- attended the training course in each of April specifically to discuss providing can Bar Association/Central and East the three countries, including several Roma and Sinti with access to the justice European Law Initiative and other orga- representatives from government institu- system. Discussions focused on how to nizations. The new legislation will enter tions. apply human rights instruments more into force in January 2003. Three experts from the Polish effectively to protect the rights of Roma The ODIHR also helped the working Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights and Sinti and ensure that they receive group to review the code of criminal pro- focused initially on international and legal assistance. cedure, preparatory to discussions by national mechanisms for the protection parliament which will start in June. This of human rights. The second phase, to Seminar reviews question of self- ODIHR project will establish the legal start in the summer, will cover practical determination basis for training and other activities to monitoring and reporting skills. The United States-based NGO, Pro- counter trafficking. The programme, implemented in co- ject on Ethnic Relations, assisted by the operation with the OSCE field presence ODIHR Contact Point for Roma and Workshop examines criminal justice in each country, aims at strengthening Sinti Issues, organized a seminar on reform in Tajikistan local capacity in human rights monitor- Roma and the question of self-determi- The ODIHR legal reform project in ing. Similar training programmes will nation for Romani leaders and activists Tajikistan concluded with a workshop in be offered in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Tajik- from all over Europe on 15 and 16 May Dushanbe on 18 and19 April, aimed at istan and Uzbekistan. in Jadwisin, Poland. The subject has translating the country’s been eliciting interest in recent international human rights years, in both Romani and non- obligations relating to crimi- Romani circles. Areas of special nal justice into national concern are Romani representa- norms and practices. The tion at the national and interna- workshop, which was tional levels and participation in attended by more than 100 Tajikistan OSCE Mission to Roma-related policy-making pro- participants, was jointly grammes. The Contact Point has organized by the OSCE Mis- been actively supporting the pro- sion to Tajikistan and the cess of developing a pan-Euro- government commission pean consultative assembly of responsible for implement- Roma representatives. ing international obligations in national legislation. ODIHR Adviser testifies at The diverse representa- hearing on Roma rights tion from government, law Nicolae Gheorghe, the enforcement bodies, the par- ODIHR Adviser on Roma and liament, the judiciary and Sinti Issues, testified at a hearing civil society resulted in a on 9 April in Washington, D.C., on lively discussion. The partici- ‘Romani human rights: old prob- pants adopted a set of recom- lems, new possibilities’, which mendations on the changes was organized by the Commission required to bring the Tajik on Security and Co-operation in code of criminal procedure Europe. Mr. Gheorghe informed into conformity with the the Commission about the chal- International Covenant on lenges faced by Roma in educa- Civil and Political Rights, tion – the focus of the hearing – which was ratified by Tajik- The Tajik code of criminal procedure was the subject of lively and in the related areas of human istan in 1999. debate in Dushanbe rights and democratization.

NEWSLETTER Vol. 9 No. 5 13 OSCE_May_02 6/13/02 17:16 Page 14

NEWS from the High Commissioner 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]

High Commissioner encourages missioner for Refugees integration in Moldova (UNHCR) in support- The OSCE High Commissioner on ing the schools, and National Minorities, Rolf Ekeus, visited called on the Transd- worldcityphotos Moldova from 8 to 10 April to look into niestrian authorities not language and education issues which to obstruct the school have been a source of disagreement operations. “The rights between the country’s Moldovan- and welfare of children (Romanian-) and Russian-speaking should not become the communities. He met with President victims of political Vladimir Voronin, Foreign Minister agendas”, said Ekeus. Nicolae Dudau, several senior officials “There must be practi- and leading members of the Moldovan cal solutions to imme- Chisinau, Moldova: achieving integration without sacrificing lin- parliament. In his meetings, the High diate and solvable prob- guistic diversity is the theme of the ongoing dialogue with the Commissioner focused on language lems to prevent a wors- OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities training, the status of the Russian lan- ening of the situation.” guage, school curricula, and the inter- More generally, the High Commis- was not mutually exclusive, and that ethnic dialogue. He was also informed sioner noted the importance of achiev- more had to be done to achieve inte- about Moldova’s bilateral relations and ing integration without sacrificing gration without sacrificing linguistic the internal political situation, particu- diversity in Moldova. This was the diversity in Moldova. larly in Gagauz-Yeri, an autonomous theme of a seminar on ‘Language and region of the country. integration: reflecting on standards Ekeus holds consultations in the The High Commissioner was con- and practice’, which was held in United States cerned about the plight of a number of Chisinau on 20 and 21 April. The sem- Rolf Ekeus was in the United States schools in Transdniestria that were trying inar, organized by the High Commis- from 26 April to 5 May for consulta- to teach Romanian in the Latin script in sioner’s Office with the assistance of tions with the diplomatic and donor the face of considerable opposition from the OSCE Mission to Moldova and co- communities. In New York and Wash- local and Transdniestrian authorities. He hosted by the Department for Inter- ington, he covered a wide range of sub- met with school directors, visited a school Ethnic Relations, brought together jects and sought further support for in Bendery and spoke with Transdnies- people from across the political and conflict-prevention activities. He held trian officials about the fate of the linguistic spectrum to talk about lan- discussions with senior officials of the schools. He expressed solidarity with the guage policy and integration. They State Department and the United teachers and parents who are facing broadly agreed that more training in Nations, and with financier and phi- intimidation, praised the humanitarian the State language was needed, that the lanthropist, George Soros, Chairman work of the United Nations High Com- use of minority and majority languages of the Open Society Institute. Corrigendum

Due to a technical error, a crucial paragraph in the article by Gerard Stoudmann, Director, OSCE Office for Democratic Institu- tions and Human Rights, in the April 2002 issue of the OSCE Newsletter was inadvertently left out .The article, headlined ‘Strik- ing a fair balance: protecting human rights in the fight against terrorism’, on page one, should have carried the following second paragraph:

Striking a fair balance between new methods for combating terrorism and protecting human rights can be a delicate undertaking. It has become obvious in the past months that even long-standing and well-developed democracies are encountering difficulties in finding appropriate responses to the changed security environment following 11 September.

The Editors of the OSCE Newsletter regret the omission.

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REPORT from the OSCE 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]

Expanded Bureau meets The Expanded Bureau of the Parlia- mentary Assembly (PA) met on 18 and 19 April in Copenhagen to discuss draft reports and resolutions of the three General Committees and preparations for the PA’s Annual Session in Berlin. OSCE/Parliamentary Assembly Featured speakers included the Co- ordinator of the OSCE Chairmanship, Ambassador Joao Rosa La, who out- lined the priorities of the Portuguese OSCE Chairmanship, and the Personal Representative of the Chairman-in- Office, Jan Troejborg, who spoke on the OSCE’s role in the global fight against terrorism. Isabel Tocino, head of the PA Span- ish Delegation, briefed the Expanded Bureau on the preparations for the Par- The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Expanded Bureau met on 18 and 19 April liamentary Conference to be held in Madrid from 2 to 4 October. PA Vice- President Bruce George, MP (United media. In the light of the parliamentary development. In Georgia, the focus was Kingdom), who led the OSCE election reform process under way in the coun- on the conflicts in Abkhazia and South observers in Ukraine on 31 March, try, the delegation exchanged views Ossetia, the situation of internally dis- reported on the monitoring mission and with members and committee chairper- placed persons, economic issues, the its findings. PA Vice-President Rita sons of the Oliy Majlis on parliamen- coming elections and democratization. Süssmuth, MP (Germany), reported on tary practices. In Samarkand, the group The visits to Uzbekistan, Armenia the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on met with the Deputy Mayor and repre- and Georgia provided parliamentari- Transparency and Accountability, of sentatives of local NGOs. ans with further opportunities to which she is the Vice-Chairperson. obtain a first-hand look at the activi- Parliamentarians visit Armenia and ties of OSCE missions and to identify Parliamentarians visit Uzbekistan Georgia ways in which the Parliamentary Eleven members of the OSCE Par- Twelve OSCE parliamentarians Assembly can improve its contribu- liamentary Assembly visited the OSCE from seven countries, led by Tone tion to the Organization’s work in the Centre in Tashkent from 10 to 12 April. Tingsgaard from Sweden, visited field. The delegation, headed by Elisabeth Armenia and Georgia from 6 to 11 Meijer (Netherlands), included 11 May. In the two countries, they were Severin holds meetings in Berlin other parliamentarians from eight briefed by the Heads of the OSCE mis- On a visit to Germany on 17 April, countries. sions and met with the national OSCE PA President Adrian Severin met with After their briefing by the Head of PA delegations, high-level government the President of the Bundestag, Wolf- the OSCE Centre in Tashkent, Gantcho officials, and representatives of NGOs gang Thierse, Foreign Minister Gantchev, the parliamentarians had and the media. Joschka Fischer, and members of the meetings with Sadik Safaev, Deputy In Yerevan, discussions focused on German Delegation to the OSCE Par- Foreign Minister, Erkin Vakhidov, the constitutional reforms, the coming liamentary Assembly. The discussions Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Com- parliamentary and presidential elec- focused on recent developments in the mittee of the Oliy Majlis (parliament), tions, freedom of the media, human OSCE and on preparations for the 11th and representatives of non-governmen- rights, trafficking in human beings, the Annual Session of the OSCE PA, to tal organizations (NGOs) and the environmental situation and economic take place in Berlin in July.

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PA Secretariat visits Rotterdam OSCE Chairman-in-Office during the Committee assesses post-election Secretary General Spencer Oliver, elections. The visiting group com- situation in Kosovo Deputy Secretary General Vitaly prised representatives of the Euro- A delegation from the OSCE Par- Evseyev and Counsellor Jan Jooren pean Parliament, the Council of liamentary Assembly’s Kosovo Com- visited Rotterdam on 10 and 11 April to Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly mittee visited Kosovo from 5 to 7 May prepare for the Annual Session of the and the OSCE Office for Democratic to assess the situation following the Parliamentary Assembly in 2003. They Institutions and Human Rights. Assembly election in November. had meetings with the Head of the The delegation met with the Pres- Vice-President Rita Suessmuth, MP Netherlands Delegation, Geertje Lyck- ident, the Speaker of Parliament, the (Germany); Elisabeth Meijer, MP lama a Nijeholt, the OSCE High Com- Minister of Foreign Affairs, the (Netherlands); and Giovanni Kessler, missioner on National Minorities, Rolf Chairman of the Central Election MP (Italy), examined the possibility Ekeus, and the Co-ordinator of the Commission, the Chairman of the of expanding the contribution of 2003 Netherlands OSCE Chairman- Supreme Court, and politicians and OSCE parliamentarians to democrati- ship, Daan Everts. diplomats. zation and institution-building. They The delegation discussed the mea- had meetings with the Head of the PA Vice-President George leads sures taken by the Ukrainian authori- OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Pascal follow-up visit to Ukraine ties to address the shortcomings Fieschi, the Special Representative of PA Vice-President Bruce George noted in the IEOM’s preliminary the United Nations Secretary-Gen- was in Kyiv from 9 to 11 May to fol- findings, as well as co-operation with eral, Michael Steiner, the Speaker of low up on the work of the Interna- the international community to the Kosovo Assembly, Nexhat Daci, tional Election Observation Mission strengthen the electoral process in and other Assembly representatives. (IEOM) to the parliamentary elec- Ukraine, with a view to the presiden- The delegation also visited the tions in Ukraine to be held on 31 tial elections in 2004. For more infor- Kosovo Police School in March. Mr. George was the desig- mation, please consult the website: Vushtrri/Vucitrn and met the school’s nated Special Representative of the www.osce.org/pa director, Steve Bennett.

OSCE Prize for Journalism and Democracy goes to Orter and Sheremet

Austrian television reporter ruskaya Delovaya Gazeta, was praised Freedom of the Media, who was then a Friedrich Orter and Belarusian journalist for demonstrating admirable courage in member of the German Bundestag and Pavel Sheremet are the recipients of the his independent and reliable reporting on OSCE PA. The prize aims to promote the seventh OSCE Prize for Journalism and the lack of free expression and violations principles of free journalism as laid Democracy. This was decided at the of human rights in Belarus. down in the OSCE Budapest Declaration OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) “By upholding the highest journalis- of 1994. Expanded Bureau Meeting in Copen- tic standards, Dr. Orter and Mr. Sheremet Previous recipients of the award are hagen on 18 and 19 April. The shared epitomize the essence of the OSCE Prize Adam Michnik in 1996, Reporters sans prize will be presented at the opening of for Journalism and Democracy”, said the frontières in 1997, Timothy Garton Ash the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Chairman of the OSCE PA General Com- in 1998, Christiane Amanpour in 1999 11th Annual Session, to be held in Berlin mittee on Democracy, Human Rights and and Andrei Babitsky in 2000. Last year, from 6 to 10 July. Humanitarian Questions, Gert Weiss- the prize was awarded posthumously to Since 1989, Friedrich Orter has been kirchen, MP (Germany). Mr. Orter was Georgiy Gongadze and Lopez de filing reports from war-torn areas for the nominated by the Speaker of the Austrian Lacalle, who died in the pursuit of Austrian national broadcaster, ORF. He Parliament, Heinz Fischer, while Mr. truth. was commended for promoting OSCE Sheremet was nominated by the Head of The $20,000 Annual Prize for Jour- principles on human rights and democ- the Swedish Delegation to the OSCE PA, nalism and Democracy is made possi- racy through his comprehensive and Tone Tingsgaard. ble by the generous assistance of Ber- impartial reporting in the Balkans and, The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly telsmann AG, Germany; Bonnier more recently, in Afghanistan. Pavel established the Prize for Journalism and Group, Sweden; the George and Sheremet, Bureau Chief of ORT Russian Democracy in 1996, at the initiative of Thelma Paraskevaides Foundation, television and editor-in-chief of Belar- Freimut Duve, OSCE Representative on Cyprus; and Shipsted ASA, Norway.

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NEWS from the OSCE Representative 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]

Free Media Representative urges of the newspaper, Pahonya, were branch of government. I would appre- dialogue in Moldova facing criminal charges for libelling ciate any information your legal advis- In a letter addressed to Nikolai the President. Mr. Duve stressed to ers and the Ministry of Justice would Dudau, the Moldovan Foreign Affairs the Permanent Council that journal- be able to provide to my Office on how Minister, Freimut Duve, the OSCE Rep- ists should not be prosecuted for these three journalists did use public resentative on Freedom of the Media, what they wrote and that no jour- television ‘in a criminal way’.” expressed concern about the deployment nalist should have to face imprison- of special police forces to the headquar- ment for carrying out professional Duve: “Turkmenistan lacks free- ters of Radio and Television Moldova in duties. He also emphasized that dom of expression” early April. “I understand that access to heads of State should not enjoy In the light of several recent reports the building is only allowed to those jour- undue protection from the reporting of harrassment of the media in Turk- nalists who are on a special list approved by the media on their activities. menistan, Freimut Duve said the coun- by its management”, Mr. Duve wrote. On 6 April, police arrested a try was absolutely lacking in freedom “Initially, I had the feeling that the dis- dozen journalists who had demon- of expression. In a letter to the Foreign pute between the 500 employees of Tele- strated in downtown Grodno Minister, Rashid Meredov, Mr. Duve radio Moldova and the company’s man- against the closure of Pahonya and wrote that “the print-run of a Moscow- agement, regarding allegations that the against the criminal prosecution of based newspaper, Komsomolskaya company practices censorship, would be their colleagues. Six of the journal- Pravda, was confiscated because of an resolved through dialogue. I understand ists were given prison sentences article describing the situation in your that the Government, controlled by the ranging from three to ten days. country. I consider such an act an unac- Communist Party, promised to satisfy the On 29 March, the Belarusian ceptable violation of OSCE commit- journalists’ demands. However, I do not Ministry of Justice issued a written ments signed by Turkmenistan as a par- see the decision to deploy police to the warning to the Minsk daily, Narod- ticipating State in our Organization. I television station as a means of encour- naya Volya, threatening it with clo- was also informed that access to the aging such a dialogue.” sure. newspaper’s website was blocked by Turkmenistan’s sole Internet-provider, Media harassment continues in Clarification sought from Italy the State-run Turkmentelekom.” Belarus The OSCE Representative on Free- The OSCE Representative also noted At the OSCE Permanent Council on dom of the Media sent a letter on 22 that since early 2002, the authorities in 12 April, Mr. Duve called attention to April to the Prime Minister and Acting Turkmenistan had blocked access to the continued pressure on independent Foreign Minister of Italy, Silvio Berlus- several other websites, among them media in Belarus by the authorities, coni, seeking clarification on an alleged Vremya Novostei, Yevraziya, TsentrAziya, violating numerous commitments of statement, which had been quoted in the Deutsche Welle, Erkin Turkmenistan and Belarus as an OSCE participating European media. In it, Mr. Berlusconi Gundogar. State. Mr. Duve had also written to was alleged to have said that the journal- Mr. Duve informed the Foreign Belarusian Foreign Minister, Mikhail ists “Biagi, Santoro and Luttazzi have Minister that, taking into account the Khvostov, about the recent attacks used public television in a criminal way”. “absolute lack of any freedom of against journalists. Mr. Duve wrote: “My Office is expression in your country, a situation involved in investigating cases of jour- unseen in the OSCE region since the Among the cases he raised were: nalists who are accused of committing establishment of this Organization”, he Editor-in-Chief Nikolai Marke- criminal acts, especially when these planned to commission a special report vich and journalist Pavel Mozheiko accusations come from the executive on the media in Turkmenistan.

Visit the OSCE website: www.osce.org

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REPORT from the OSCE Secretary General 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]

Moscow Secretary General Jan Kubis held OSCE consultations with senior officials of the Russian Federation’s Ministry of For- eign Affairs in Moscow on 4 and 5 April. He had meetings with Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Gusarov, Deputy Foreign Min- ister Sergey Razov and Vladimir Chizov, Dirctor of the Department of European Co-operation. He also met with the Head of the OSCE Assistance Group to Chechnya, Jorma Inki, and his staff, as well as with Paulo Vizen Pinheiro, Counsellor of the Portuguese Embassy in Moscow, who was representing the OSCE Chairmanship.

Central Asia The Secretary General held consul- Secretary General Jan Kubis (right) receiving the new Head of the Delegation of Latvia to tations in Tashkent on 6 April with the OSCE, Ambassador Aivars Vovers, on 14 May Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov. At a reception in his honour hosted by the Minister, he met representatives of the Lemierre, President of the European appreciation for the work of the OSCE diplomatic community. He also visited Bank for Reconstruction and Develop- Presence in Albania, as well as her expec- the OSCE Centre in Uzbekistan, meet- ment, James Wolfensohn, President of tation that it would focus its priorities ing with its Head, Gantcho Gantchev. the World Bank, and Wang Wenyuan, according to the needs of the country at Mr. Kubis was one of the discussion Vice-Chairman of the Chinese People’s this stage in its development, in co-ordi- leaders at the Eurasia Economic Summit Political Consultative Conference. He nation with other international organiza- in Almaty on 8 April, which was jointly also met several representatives of the tions. organized by Kazakhstan and the World business and banking communities. Mr. Kubis met the Deputy Minister of Economic Forum. Marcin Swiecicki, In all the consultations, participating Foreign Affairs for the Russian Federa- the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic States demonstrated strong support for the tion, Anatoly Safonov, on 17 April. Mr. and Environmental Activities, led a sep- work of the OSCE, for measures to Safonov was in Vienna to address a joint arate session. The Secretary General strengthen and reform the Organization, session of the Forum for Security Co- took the opportunity to discuss OSCE and for a successful Ministerial Council in operation and the Permanent Council. matters with Kazakhstan’s President, Portugal. They discussed the role of the OSCE in Nursultan Nazarbayev, Prime Minister countering terrorism, focusing on the Imangali Tasmagambetov, and the For- Vienna activities of the Secretariat, its new Anti- eign Minister, Kassymzhomart Tokayev. The Secretary General and Albania’s Terrorism Unit and the recently appointed He also met with the Head of the OSCE Foreign Minister, Arta Dade, held discus- Senior Police Adviser. They also under- Centre in Almaty, Heinrich Haupt, and sions on 17 April in Vienna, on the role of lined the need for closer co-operation his staff. the OSCE in Albania and the international with international organizations, espe- At the summit, he was received by community’s assistance, following the cially the United Nations and its Counter- President Askar Akayev of Kyrgyzstan Friends of Albania meeting in Vienna (see Terrorism Committee, as well as with the and President Emomali Rakhmonov of page 10). United Nations Office for Drug Control Tajikistan. He had discussions with Jean The Foreign Minister expressed her and Crime Prevention.

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OSCE Chairmanship brings together international organizations in fight against terror

Senior officials from the United Nations, NATO, the European Union and the Council of Europe

met on 12 June [as the OSCE Mission to Georgia OSCE Newsletter went to press] in Lisbon at the invitation of the OSCE Chairmanship, to discuss co-ordinat- ing international efforts in the fight against ter- rorism. The high-level representatives also addressed international co-operation in the pro- motion and protection of human rights and strengthening the rule of law.

The meeting was opened by Prime Min- Monitoring along the Georgian border is one of many examples of pragmatic OSCE-led activities that are ister Jose Manuel making a difference in preventing terrorism Durao Barroso of Por- tugal, the country that holds the Chair- were the International Committee of the The gathering was a key event under manship of the OSCE this year. Antonio Red Cross, the European Commission, the OSCE Portuguese Chairmanship. Martins da Cruz, the Portuguese Foreign the United Nations Office for Drug Con- OSCE Secretary General Jan Kubis has Minister and current Chairman-in-Office trol and Crime Prevention, and the also announced his intention to call for a of the OSCE, moderated the first of sev- Financial Action Task Force on Money meeting on terrorism-related issues later eral closed sessions. Also participating Laundering. in 2002.

OSCE Agenda

20 and 21 June, Bangkok. OSCE-Thailand conference: human dimension of security. OSCE and Government of Thailand

20 and 21 June,Almaty, Kazakhstan. Round table on strenghtening integrity in the public and private sectors, Kazakhstan. OSCE Centre in Almaty 24 and 25 June,Almaty. Conference on Islam and national security of newly independent states in Central Asia. OSCE Centre in Almaty, European Commission in Kazakhstan and Kazakh Institute for Strategic Studies

6 to 10 July, Berlin. Eleventh Annual Session of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly 8 to 9 July,Vienna. Meeting on prison reform. Second OSCE supplementary human dimension meeting in 2002. OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and OSCE Chairmanship

NEWSLETTER Vol. 9 No. 5 19 OSCE_May_02 6/13/02 17:16 Page 20 OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje OSCE Spillover

Graduation day. The first class of police cadets, representing of the country's Interior Ministry and the OSCE Spillover Moni- the different ethnic communities of the former Yugoslav Repub- tor Mission to Skopje. Under the Ohrid Agreement, signed in lic of Macedonia, graduated on 27 April from the police August 2001, the cadets are to be deployed in the former crisis academy at Idrizovo near Skopje. Another 152 cadets success- areas as a major step towards rebuilding confidence and ensur- fully concluded training on 24 May.The school is a joint project ing stability in the region.

The OSCE NEWSLETTER is published by the Secretariat of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.The views expressed are those of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the OSCE and its participating States.

Kärntner Ring 5- 7, A-1010 Vienna, Austria Tel.: (+43-1) 514 36-180 / Fax: (+43-1) 514 36-105 / E-mail: [email protected] Keith Jinks, Editor / Alexander Nitzsche, Deputy Editor / Patricia Sutter, Associate Editor For more information, see the OSCE website: www.osce.org

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