Vol. 6 no. 6 JUNE 1999

NEWSLETTER

OSCE Moves Back into

IN THIS ISSUE

• CiO Trip to Bosnia and Croatia 3 • Tragic Events in Bajram Curri 4 • Focus on Central Asia 5 • Gender Issues Feature 6 • Press Profile 8 • In Brief 8 • News from the Field 11 • Report from the HCNM 12 • Report of the Representative on Freedom of the Media 13 • Update from the ODIHR 15 • Report from the PA 17

The OSCE Assessment Team on the way to Priµtina

On 14 June, 48 hours after KFOR entered a Transitional Task Force for Kosovo, to ■ to prepare for the deployment to Kosovo Kosovo, an OSCE Assessment Team of focus on the preparations for a new of available and relevant OSCE assets 13 members and 5 vehicles arrived in OSCE mission. The Task Force replaced as soon as this may be required; Priµtina. The Assessment Team was part the OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission ■ to assist in planning and preparing for of the OSCE Transitional Task Force for (KVM), which was withdrawn from new tasks which the OSCE may take Kosovo, established to prepare for a new Kosovo on 19 March. After its with- on as part of a new international pres- OSCE mission in Kosovo. The principal drawal, the KVM was located in the for- ence in Kosovo; and goal of the Assessment Team was to mer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ■ to carry out preparatory visits and assess the situation on the ground, and (fYROM), where it focused on provid- activities in Kosovo in order to facili- particularly the damage to buildings pre- ing assistance to refugees from Kosovo tate the entry of a future OSCE mission viously occupied by the OSCE Kosovo in and fYROM, collecting infor- in Kosovo as soon as conditions allow. Verification Mission and whether or not mation about human rights violations these could be used for a new mission. against the population of Kosovo and The Task Force was also mandated to co- planning for the establishment of a new operate, as required, with the United From the Kosovo Verification OSCE mission. Nations and other international organi- Mission to the OSCE Transitional zations in activities relevant to possible Task Force for Kosovo The Transitional Task Force, based in future OSCE tasks in Kosovo, in partic- , was mandated to take over the ular the registration and documentation On 9 June, at a special session, the OSCE work of the KVM, and particularly: of refugees, and to continue assessing the Permanent Council decided to establish human rights situation in Kosovo. Am-

1 bassador Tore Bögh of Norway was ap- Kosovska Mitrovica, Prizren and Gnji- population who would be suitable for pointed to Head of the Transitional Task lane. The aim of the trips was to evalu- civil structures in the legal, medical, Force. ate the condition of the buildings previ- engineering, administration, police and ously used by the KVM and to secure education fields. The OSCE provided the The OSCE Assessment Team accommodation and office space for a necessary assistance, i.e. through selec- in Priµtina future OSCE mission. tion among the refugee population in Macedonian and Albanian camps. On arrival in Priµtina, the Assessment Despite problems with accommodation Team immediately visited the KVM and shortages of food and water, by the Planning for the OSCE Mission headquarters. The building was exter- end of the month the OSCE had 42 staff in Kosovo nally undamaged. The offices, however, persons working in Kosovo, and field had been comprehensively looted and all teams were deployed in the five political The tasks of a future OSCE mission in furniture and computer hardware had districts of Kosovo. Kosovo were outlined in United Nations been removed. The telephone lines were Security Council resolution 1244 of 10 still in place and water and electricity A number of Kosovo citizens visited the June and in a report of the Secretary- were available. The team immediately OSCE office in Priµtina in order to file General of the United Nations dated 12 began negotiations with the owner of the reports about human rights violations and June. According to these documents, the building, with a view to leasing it for a to report missing family members. The new OSCE mission in Kosovo will con- new OSCE mission. Also, the Assess- OSCE Assessment Team is working stitute a distinct component within the ment Team found accommodation for together with the International Commit- framework of the United Nations Interim OSCE personnel and parking for OSCE tee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to establish Administration Mission in Kosovo vehicles and established contacts with a mechanism for the transfer of informa- (UNMIK). The OSCE Mission in other key international organizations tion about missing persons to the ICRC. Kosovo will, within this framework, play present in Priµtina. a key role in matters relating to institu- The Assessment Team been asked to tion- and democracy-building and human The team conducted reconnaissance trips assist the United Nations in identifying rights. The OSCE’s tasks will consist of: to former KVM Regional Centres in Pe\, personnel among the Kosovo Albanian ■ human resources capacity-building, including the training of a new Kosovo police service within a Kosovo Police School which it will establish and operate, the training of judicial per- sonnel and the training of civil admin- istrators;

■ democratization and governance, in- cluding the development of a civil soci- ety, non-governmental organizations;

■ the organization and supervision of elections;

■ the monitoring and protection of Assessment Team members in front of a warehouse previously used by the Kosovo Verifica- human rights. tion Mission

For up-to-date information regarding the new OSCE Mission in Kosovo please visit the OSCE Website at www.osce.org

NEWSLETTER 2 Vol. 6 no. 6 Ambassador Daan Everts to Lead New OSCE Mission in Kosovo

The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Ambassador Everts, a Dutch national, positions at United Nations Agencies, Foreign Minister Knut Vollebæk of Nor- has been serving as Head of the OSCE including at the World Food Program way, has designated Ambassador Daan Presence in Albania since December and the UN Development Programme. Everts to lead the new OSCE Mission to 1997. The work of the OSCE in Albania Kosovo. As agreed between the United has been considered pivotal in fostering In designating Ambassador Everts, the Nations Secretary-General and the democracy and greater stability in the Chairman-in-Office emphasized the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador country. Previous to that, from January need for both the OSCE and other inter- Everts will also be appointed Deputy to December 1997, he was Head of the national organizations to become opera- Special Representative of the United European Community Monitoring Mis- tional as soon as possible in order to help Nations Secretary General for Institution sion in the former Yugoslavia. Ambas- assure all parts of the population a secure Building. sador Everts has also held various senior future in Kosovo.

Chairman-in-Office visits Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia

From 2 to 4 June the OSCE Chairman- in-Office, Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebæk, visited Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. The trip was part of an effort of the Norwegian Chair- manship to visit all the countries in which the OSCE is involved.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Chair- man-in-Office visited the OSCE Mission and met with key Bosnian political fig- ures and international representatives. Discussions centred on the status of implementation of the Dayton Agree- ment and the still unresolved political sit- uation in the Republika Srpska.

Mr. Vollebæk began his visit in Sarajevo where he met with members of the Mr. Knut Vollebæk (right) with Croatian President, Mr. Franjo Tudjman (left) Bosnian Joint Presidency and Ambas- sador Robert Barry, the Head of the joint institutions, and for the parties to tative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegov- participate fully and advance the work senior SFOR officials. In a statement to ina. In his meetings, Mr. Vollebæk urged towards the fulfilment of the goals of the the press following his meetings, he all the Bosnian parties to work together Dayton Peace Accords”. emphasized the need to adopt a regional in implementing the Dayton agreement. approach to the return of refugees, He stated: “At this time of increased ten- Mr. Vollebæk also met with Ambassador democratization and military stabiliza- sions, it is very important to de-block the Carlos Westendorp, the High Represen- tion: “As we prepare for peace in Kosovo,

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 no. 6 3 we need to restructure the international lika Srpska politicians and discussed the needed to be made. He welcomed the community’s effort. Refugee return, unresolved political situation in the entity. agreement reached by Croatian political elections, economic restructuring, insti- parties on the electoral law and on amend- tution-building – all must be carried out In Croatia, Mr. Vollebæk met with Pres- ments to the law on Croatian radio and on a regional basis,” he said, “Since the ident Franjo Tudjman, Prime Minister television, but pointed out that a key issue OSCE is the only international body that Zlatko Mateµa and Foreign Minister was that of implementation, so that the now has a mandate throughout the Mate Grani\, as well as representatives upcoming elections would be free and fair. region, it should logically fall to the of Serb parties. Discussions focused on OSCE to provide this desperately needed the forthcoming parliamentary elections, Mr. Vollebæk reiterated the fact that the regional dimension.” Mr. Vollebæk also return of refugees and democratization role of the OSCE Mission to Croatia was emphasized the fact that the OSCE’s of the media. Mr. Vollebæk said that to assist and advise authorities on how to experience in the region would be a valu- Croatia had achieved much in the recon- achieve conformity with European and able asset in building a stable environ- struction of society after the war and has international standards in areas such as ment in Kosovo. made progress in numerous areas, but human rights, minority rights and the that in some important areas – particu- rule of law, so that Croatia’s ambition of After Sarajevo, Mr. Vollebæk visited larly the return of refugees and democ- integration into European and Euro- Banja Luka, where he met with Repub- ratization of the media – further progress Atlantic structures could be realized.

Tragic events in Bajram Curri, Albania

The Bajram Curri Field Office of the OSCE Presence in Albania was closed until further notice on 15 June because of a tragic incident in which one local OSCE staff member, Hazir Kuca, a driver, and a local telephone engineer, Ram Braha, were killed.

The OSCE driver, Hazir Kuca, was returning to the Bajram Curri Field Office in an OSCE vehicle together with two other staff members, the telephone engineer, and a local policeman when it was ambushed. Rocks were blocking the road, and as the vehicle slowed, shots were fired from two different positions. Mr. Kuca was hit immediately in the OSCE border monitors in northern Albania body and the head, and the telephone engineer who was sitting behind him was ably saving the lives of the remaining This fatal incident came as a shock to all mortally wounded. An employee of the passengers. The fifth passenger of the OSCE employees. Hazir Kuca had been OSCE Headquarters in , who was car, also from the Headquarters of the working for the OSCE Office as a driver also travelling in the vehicle, was Presence in Albania, suffered from for eleven months. He lived in a simple injured. The local policeman returned shock. two-bedroom flat in Bajram Curri with fire and caused the bandits to flee, prob- his wife, with whom he had been mar-

NEWSLETTER 4 Vol. 6 no. 6 ried to for ten years. International OSCE to the outside world. However, it was ing and was joined by several other Monitors who worked closely with him deemed necessary to withdraw the inter- offices in the summer of 1998. during this period could find only posi- national staff from the area and close the tive words to describe Mr. Kuca. He was office because of the paramount concern The OSCE monitoring teams in Bajram seen as very reliable and loyal, and was for OSCE personnel and property. The Curri conducted daily monitoring of the respected as a good mechanic. Brian decision included a recommendation that border region, which included the use of Hansen, OSCE Officer, said “Working the Field Office should be reinstated as foot patrols where feasible. The teams for the OSCE was a matter of pride for soon as circumstances permit. kept precise records of the area covered him, and he considered himself very for- and maintained regular contact with tunate to have his position.” The Field Office in Bajram Curri was local army personnel and border police. opened on 28 March 1998 to assess con- The reports compiled by the teams The Head of Mission, Ambassador Daan ditions in the border region that runs described whatever activity they had Everts, attended the funerals together between Albania and Kosovo. The fre- observed during the patrol, which was of with OSCE colleagues. He delivered a quent reports from the Bajram Curri vital importance to the OSCE and the statement condemning this particular act Field Office, together with other field international community. of violence and the whole senseless chain offices in the region, were often the only of violence in the area. The Chairman- source of reliable information for the The conditions in which this border mon- in-Office of the OSCE, Norwegian For- international community from the volatile itoring is carried out are tough. The bor- eign Minister Knut Vollebæk, joined in and inaccessible region. der area is barren and rugged, the roads condemning the murder and said the inci- unpaved and steep in the mountainous dent illustrated the need for urgent mea- Permanent Council decisions 218 and areas. The security situation in the Dis- sures to strengthen the security situation 220, taken in March 1998, provided the trict of Tropoje is unpredictable. Several in Albania. Everyone expressed their foundation for the new border monitor- groups of bandits are known to operate heart-felt condolences with the families ing activities in Albania. The increasing in the area, and hijacking of vehicles is of the two who had been murdered. tensions in the neighbouring Federal always a threat. For these reasons, mon- Republic of Yugoslavia, especially in itors are usually accompanied by police Bajram Curri Field Office Closed bordering Kosovo, caused deep concern escorts. within the OSCE and led to a decision to The decision to close the Field Office in extend the monitoring capabilities of the The murder of Hazir Kuca was the first Bajram Curri, taken on 15 June, was OSCE Presence in Albania. This task incident of its kind in the history of the received with great regret by the inter- came in addition to the work already OSCE. It has raised concern for other national staff members and the local being carried out by the field offices in OSCE staff members in the area and community. The field office played a Albania in the areas of human rights and drawn greater attention to the serious vital role during the refugee emergency the rule of law, democratization and civil security situation of the Bajram Curri as the only permanent international pres- rights, media monitoring and institution Field Office. The seven international ence in north-eastern Albania, and it was building. The Field Office in Bajram OSCE monitors from Bajram Curri have seen as the local community’s main link Curri was dedicated to border monitor- been relocated.

Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office Ensures Central Asian Views are Taken into Account

At the Oslo Ministerial Council the low-up to that decision, a report on the visit the five OSCE States in June, with OSCE participating States underlined enhancement of OSCE’s activities in a view to contributing to the preparation the importance they attach to OSCE Central Asia is currently being prepared. of the report, but his visit unfortunately involvement in Central Asia. As a fol- The Chairman-in-Office had planned to had to be postponed. In order to ensure

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 no. 6 5 timely implementation of the Ministerial locutors, at all levels, stressed the broad dimensions of the OSCE’s concept of Decision, the Chairman-in-Office asked and varying spectrum of challenges fac- comprehensive security in Central Asia. Ambassador Willhelm Höynck, his Per- ing the Central Asian countries. They The views expressed will form the basis sonal Representative in charge of the highlighted risks stemming from outside of suggestions to be made in the report. work on the report, to visit the area. their region as well as issues related to unresolved problems within the region. Ambassador Höynck also met with rep- The purpose of Ambassador Höynck’s It was suggested that the OSCE’s aware- resentatives of major international orga- visit, which took place on 17-26 June, ness of security risks originating outside nizations active in the area. Various pos- was to collect the views of the Central its area – for example, drug trafficking sibilities for strengthening co-operation Asian participating States on enhancing and terrorism – needed to be increased, and co-ordination were discussed. OSCE activities in their area. During his and also that the Organization’s political Response to OSCE’s interest in raising visit, Ambassador Höynck had intensive potential could usefully be brought to its profile as a co-operative partner in key discussions in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, bear on issues like water and energy. There areas of its broad mandate was very Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbek- was general agreement on the necessity of favourable, and this, too, generated sug- istan, in the course of which his inter- increasing OSCE efforts to support all gestions for the report.

Spotlight: Gender Issues at the OSCE

In 1998 gender issues began to figure Council, followed by an address by Mar- ommendations, directed at all OSCE prominently on the agenda of the OSCE. tina Vandenberg of Human Rights institutions and at participating States, Several initiatives and projects related to Watch, who identified the key problems included: gender issues were initiated, both at the facing women in the OSCE area. After OSCE Secretariat and at the Office for this opening session, participants ■ A call for the Chairman-in-Office to Democratic Institutions and Human attended one of three working groups, produce an Action Plan on Gender Rights (ODIHR). This month the partic- each focused on one of the primary areas Mainstreaming for the OSCE; ipating States held a special meeting on of OSCE activity. ■ Calls for greater networking and sup- gender issues in Vienna. The meeting port for women’s organizations; provided an occasion to look at the key Some of the key problems identified in ■ Calls for all OSCE institutions to deal issues facing women in the OSCE area, the working groups were: discrimination with gender issues and the human to judge what has been done so far in this in the labour market; trauma, in particu- rights of women through projects, respect, and to put forward recommen- lar rape, sexual violence and increased monitoring and reporting. dations for the future. domestic violence during and after con- ■ Expressions of support for permanent flict; failure to take women’s needs into Gender Adviser posts in relevant Supplementary Human Dimension account in reconstruction efforts, includ- OSCE Institutions; Implementation Meeting on Gender ing the problem of unequal access to Issues, Vienna 14-15 June loans; under-representation in national, A summary of the meeting is available regional and local decision-making bod- from the ODIHR’s website at: A total of 210 participants, including rep- ies; and under-representation of women www.osce.odihr.org resentatives of 100 women’s organiza- within the OSCE itself. tions, attended the Supplementary The challenge now lies in the implemen- Human Dimension Implementation The principal aim of the meeting, once tation of key recommendations, and in Meeting which was organized by the the key problems and obstacles facing monitoring and evaluating current devel- ODIHR. The Meeting opened with an women had been discussed, was to pro- opments. Below is an outline of projects address by Ambassador Kai Eide of Nor- duce concrete recommendations on which and efforts currently being carried out by way, Chairman of the OSCE Permanent the OSCE could act in future. These rec- the ODIHR and the OSCE Secretariat:

NEWSLETTER 6 Vol. 6 no. 6 Gender Projects and Activities nally displaced persons from Kosovo. A been assisted by a Gender Adviser sec- at the ODIHR and in the Field gender perspective is also to be included onded by Switzerland. There are regular in the ODIHR’s Anti-Torture Handbook. contacts with other international organi- The ODIHR has been engaged in a wide The ODIHR has also been working with zations to exchange information about variety of projects related to gender OSCE Missions and field activities in internal structures and policies regulat- issues and the human rights of women compiling a database on women’s orga- ing the equal treatment of women and for over a year, beginning with the nizations, which is to be part of an NGO men, as well as information about other appointment of an Adviser on Gender database maintained at the ODIHR. aspects of a professional work environ- Mainstreaming and the Human Rights of ment, such as the prevention of discrim- Women seconded by the United King- Gender Issues ination and harassment. dom. The Adviser has been working at the OSCE Secretariat throughout the past year to bring gender One of the main tools for raising gender issues to the forefront of OSCE work, Within the OSCE Secretariat special awareness within the OSCE is the train- also in the field. In Bosnia and Herze- attention has been given to gender issues ing for new mission staff members. In govina, for instance, the ODIHR is sup- since May 1998 when the Secretary Gen- the bi-weekly training course given by porting a campaign against violence eral appointed the Senior Diplomatic the Secretariat in Vienna a special sec- against women. In Estonia, a language Adviser to act as the Focal Point for Gen- tion is devoted to gender issues. Since training programme was set up for wid- der Issues with the tasks of enhancing many OSCE field activities are deployed ows and divorcees of former Soviet mil- awareness of gender issues in the Secre- in post-conflict situations, the Gender itary officers, while “Women in Politics” tariat and in OSCE field operations, Adviser is currently preparing guidelines is the focus of efforts in Kazakhstan and monitoring the opportunities of women on gender issues for field staff working Kyrgyzstan. In Ukraine and Poland the in the OSCE, and serving as a contact in such situations, where gender roles are ODIHR has tackled the issue of traffick- person on gender issues for other inter- particularly visible and often subject to ing in women and in Uzbekistan a civic national organizations and for NGOs. change, and therefore need to be anal- and political education programme for Since April 1999 the Focal Point has ysed with special care. This project is women has been initiated. Other mis- supported by the Canadian Interna- sions have also engaged in small tional Development Agency. Its scale programmes to address gender long-term aim is to improve the field issues and promote the status of missions’ capacity to work with the women. The OSCE field offices in host societies on gender issues and Tajikistan for instance have formed thus further contribute to the sustain- several women’s groups who meet able development of civil society in regularily to develop awareness and the host countries. strategies for dealing with their spe- cific problems. Furthermore, gender Apart from these external aspects of issues have been integrated in other the OSCE’s work, the Secretariat will OSCE field activities. continue to monitor opportunities for women within the OSCE. The Orga- The Adviser has also been endeav- nization’s structure should reflect ouring to incorporate gender issues external standards and thus gradually into the mainstream of ODIHR activ- show an improved gender balance in ities, such as election observation and staffing. Today 24% of the OSCE’s human rights monitoring. For exam- staff are women. Particular attention ple, a new ODIHR human rights will have to be given to this issue by monitoring system will also focus on seconding States, because in the past, the human rights of women. This out of 4023 staff deployed in the field, approach has already been successful 568 were women (14%). in connection with refugees and inter- Women in Tajikistan

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 no. 6 7 PRESS PROFILE task of rebuilding the police force, the judiciary system and the media. The OSCE, with 55 participating States from International Herald Tribune, 2 June Europe, Central Asia and North America, is – in the eyes of “The Balkans will remain an unstable observers – in the best position to take on this role in danger to security unless Europe and Kosovo.” America adopt a comprehensive long- term strategy... In this context, the New York Times, 11 June United States should work with its allies to devolve leader- “Another organization, the Organization for Security and ship and day-to-day management of the Balkans to Euro- Co-operation in Europe, a 55-member transatlantic body pean institutions, freeing American leadership and resources based in Vienna, would also play a central role in rebuild- for global challenges. The European Union should take the ing Kosovo, officials said. In particular, the group would lead in developing a multi-billion-euro regional economic organize elections for a time yet to be set and could assist reconstruction effort, while the European-led OSCE could in forming a police force.” handle the political and civil aspects of rebuilding stricken states.” Der Standard, 17 June “With each finding the tragic realization is growing that the DPA, 2 June stories of the refugees in the Macedonian and Albanian “Even if the end of the Kosovo conflict is not yet in sight, camps have not been overstated. For weeks now, officials planning for the rehabilitation of the Serbian crisis province from the Hague Tribunal and the OSCE have been going is already in high gear at the Organization for Security and through the camps collecting statements for later indict- Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). After a peace agreement ments against those responsible.” for Kosovo, the OSCE could be entrusted with the sensitive

IN BRIEF The annual OSCE Heads of Mission free Europe, free of dividing lines, where every region is Meeting took place in Vienna from 15 headed for prosperity and stability.” Mr. Chrétien also to 16 June. Participants discussed sev- emphasized the importance that Canada attached to the con- eral issues including the Missions’ cept of human security, that is the security of individuals. reporting activities and how they could The campaign to eliminate anti-personnel mines and the cre- be improved, co-operation between ation an International Criminal Court were examples of OSCE Missions and Institutions, and efforts designed to, in Mr. Chrétien’s words, “put more focus the role of parliamentarians in promoting OSCE principles. in foreign policy where it belongs – on people.” Discussion also focused on questions relating to promoting a regional approach to OSCE activities in the field and to Mr. Cornelio Sommaruga, the President of the Interna- the opportunities offered by the Stability Pact for South- tional Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), addressed the Eastern Europe. Participants described the Pact as a histor- OSCE Permanent Council on 17 June. Mr. Sommaruga ical opportunity to open a new chapter in the development expressed his satisfaction at the gradual strengthening of of the region. the relations between the two organizations, both in the field and at the diplomatic level. He stated that the relations The Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Jean Chrétien, between the ICRC and the OSCE were characterized by addressed representatives of the Austrian Parliament and the transparency, communication, trust and absence of compe- OSCE at the Hofburg Congress Centre in Vienna on 17 June. tition. Mr. Sommaruga pointed out that the co-operation in In his address, Mr. Chrétien outlined the general goals of addressing the refugee crisis in and around Kosovo showed Canadian foreign policy and spoke about the Kosovo crisis. that the organizations’ understanding of and respect for Mr. Chrétien underlined the important role that the OSCE each others mandate could lead to complementarity and played in Canada’s relationship with Europe, stating that synergy. “the OSCE symbolizes our hopes for Europe, a completely

NEWSLETTER 8 Vol. 6 no. 6 OSCE Troika (from left to right): Dr. Jutta Stefan-Bastl of Austria, Polish Foreign Minister BronisÃaw Geremek and Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebæk.

The OSCE Ministerial Troika – the current, past and incom- those countries that had ratified the Convention to ensure that ing OSCE Chairman-in-Office – met in Oslo on 24 June 1999, prevention of torture was a priority. Governments should under Norwegian chairmanship. The newly appointed Sec- ensure that their legislation was in line with international stan- retary General of the OSCE, Ján Kubiµ, also took part in the dards for the prevention of torture and other cruel, inhuman meeting, as did the newly designated head of the future OSCE and degrading treatment or punishment, and that national leg- Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Daan Everts. The Ministers islation was fully implemented. expressed satisfaction that the OSCE would assume a large area of responsibility as part of the international effort in The Second Follow-up Conference on the OSCE Code of Kosovo. The Ministers noted that the OSCE had well-devel- Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security took oped plans for the tasks it would take on: the promotion and place in Vienna from 29 to 30 June 1999. At the conference, monitoring of human rights; democratization; preparation OSCE participating States discussed the implementation and and supervision of elections; and institution-building support, further development of the Code. The document, which took including the training of police, judges and public adminis- stock of OSCE commitments relating to political and mili- trators. The Ministers also emphasized the need for creating tary aspects of security, was adopted at the 1994 Budapest a safe and secure environment for all inhabitants of the Summit. The participating States discussed ways of improv- province and welcomed the adoption of the Stability Pact for ing co-operation in the full implementation of the Code. Del- South-Eastern Europe. egations also identified areas for further work on establish- ing national legislation necessary for the democratic control On the occasion of the United Nations Day in Support of of armed forces. One of the key points of discussion was Victims of Torture, on 26 June, the OSCE Chairman-in- international humanitarian law and the use of armed forces Office, Norwegian Foreign Minister Mr. Knut Vollebæk, and in internal security situations. In conclusion, the participat- the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, ing States outlined several measures for ensuring more effec- Ms. Mary Robinson, called on governments to take concrete tive implementation, including OSCE Missions providing measures to prevent all forms of torture and ill-treatment. operational support for the implementation of the Code and They called on those countries that had not yet ratified the regular discussions on this subject being established in the United Nations Convention against Torture to do so, and on Forum for Security Co-operation and its bodies.

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 no. 6 9 ANNOUNCEMENT

Third ”SUMMER SCHOOL ON OSCE” Under the patronage of the OSCE

JULY 5 - 17, 1999

Organised by : Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution Constitutional and Legal Policy Institute/Open Society Institute Berghof Research Center for Constructive Conflict Management Netherlands Helsinki Committee With the active and financial support of a number of OSCE participating states

From 5-17 July 1999 the third consecutive Summer School on OSCE will take place at the Peace Center Burg Schlaining, Austria. Almost all of the 26 participants will be diplomats from OSCE participating States and represent 21 countries. Participants from countries in transition were particularly targeted and provided with grants. Lecturers will be experts from the different OSCE Institutions as well as researchers and pro- fessionals specialised on OSCE matters.

The purpose of the Summer School is to expand and to deepen knowledge about history, functioning, and current activities of the OSCE as well as to provide training in working more effectively within the OSCE diplomatic and OSCE-NGO milieu. It is also aimed at exploring ways for the OSCE to enhance its capa- bilities in preventive diplomacy, peace-making, peace-keeping, and peace-building.

The curriculum provides a mix of lectures on the historical and political background of the OSCE, on struc- tural and institutional issues, on Security, Economy/Ecology, the Human Dimension, and on relations with IGOs and NGOs. In the working groups, several subjects dealt with in the lectures will be consolidated. Workshops will also be held on concepts and strategies for conflict transformation.

The participants will have the opportunity to attend the Permanent Council Meeting in Vienna on 8 July and to meet with the Director of the Conflict Prevention Center and other OSCE staff.

NEWSLETTER 10 Vol. 6 no. 6 News from the Field The OSCE currently has Missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Kosovo (FRY), Latvia, Skopje (fYROM), Moldova, and Tajikistan as well as an Assistance Group to Chechnya, a Presence in Albania and an Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus. The following are highlights from the work of some of the field operations during the past month.

Elections Postponed is to continue and enlarge the informal sentative of the Secretary General Ambas- in Bosnia and Herzegovina talks started in Bucharest. The govern- sador Ján Kubiµ, the Head of the OSCE ment has agreed to such talks in Minsk Mission to Tajikistan, Ambassador Marin On 24 June the Provisional Election and the AMG is in dialogue with impor- Buhoara, and the Contact Group made it Commission (PEC), the OSCE-adminis- tant public figures in preparation of a possible to overcome the stalemate and tered body responsible for election rules platform for further discussions. restart the negociations. A Working Group and regulation in Bosnia and Herzegov- was established, which prepared a meet- ina, announced the new dates for the In other developments, the OSCE AMG ing between the President and the leader municipal elections – April 8, 2000. has been following the consequences of of the United Tajik Opposition (UTO). At Originally the elections were scheduled the presidential decree according to this meeting several key issues were agreed for the fall of 1999, however after exten- which all public associations have to re- upon, including proposals for amend- sive consultations with election officials, register by 30 June. By mid-June, only ments to the Constitution, the appointment international representatives and Bosnian 471 out of 2,554 registered associations of a number of UTO nominees to govern- political parties, the PEC decided that the had applied for re-registration. Several ment posts, a timetable for the demobi- elections could be conducted more effec- political parties as well as NGOs con- lization of the UTO’s armed units and a tively on the new date. The announce- sider the decree illegal. The AMG also procedure for lifting the ban on opposition ment was made now in order to allow all continued monitoring of prisons as well political parties. These developments were political parties to plan their activities in as a number of court cases. a significant step foward in the process of an organized fashion for the spring elec- political reconciliation in Tajikistan. tion date. New dates were also announced Mission to Croatia Establishes for voter and political party registration. Website CiO Representative Monitors The upcoming general elections are still the Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh scheduled to take place in the fall of 2000. For information on the OSCE Mission to Croatia please visit the homepages of On 15 June Azerbaijani, Armenian and Update from Belarus the Mission at the OSCE Website Nagorno Karabakh (NK) authorities and www.org/missions/croatia. The site media reported that a shoot-out of ex- The OSCE Advisory and Monitoring includes information on the Mission’s traordinary proportions had taken place Group (AMG) in Belarus continued to mandate, structures, a “who’s who” sec- between the Azerbaijani and Nagorno pursue efforts to reach a dialogue tion as well as a description of the vari- Karabakh military forces. The parties between the Government and the oppo- ous activities of the Mission. called upon the Personal Representative sition. These efforts are continuining of the Chairman-in-Office on the Con- despite the Government’s decline to take OSCE Assists in Dialogue flict dealt with by the Minsk Conference, part in a meeting in Bucharest arranged between Government and Opposition Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, to in- by the Parliamentary Assembly of the in Tajikistan spect the site of the incident. The OSCE OSCE (see section on the Parliamentary teams confirmed the heavy shoot-out but Assembly). The OSCE ad hoc Working In May and June 1999 the implementation received contradicting reports as to what Group on Belarus, led by Mr. Adrian of the General Agreeement went through actually happened. The incident was not Severin (MP-Romania), will visit Minsk a critical period. A joint effort of the (at isolated, however the intensity and dura- again between 14 and 19 July. The goal that time) United Nations Special Repre- tion of this particular one was more severe

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 no. 6 11 than usual. The Personal Representative The Personal Representative was ap- ment on the cessation of the conflict. The intends to conduct a further monitoring pointed in 1995 with the aim of repre- Personal Representative is assisted by mission in July, in the proximity of the senting the Chairman-in-Office in issues five Field Assistants who conducts vis- area in which the latest incident took relate to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict its to different regions of the conflict place. and assisting him in achieving and agree- area.

REPORT 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]

Former Yugoslav Republic Croatia missioner, with the assistance of experts of Macedonia from the Council of Europe and the From 3 to 6 June, the High Commis- European Commission (EU), made a On 1 and 2 June the High Commissioner sioner visited Croatia. On 3 and 4 June, series of recommendations on accom- visited the former Yugoslav Republic of he visited the Danube area and met with modating the views of all parties while Macedonia in order to update his view of local OSCE representatives, members of keeping the law in line with international the situation in the country after having the Joint Council of Municipalities (an standards. issued an “early warning” in mid-May. organ set up under the Erdut Agreement He met with the Minister for Foreign to protect Serb interests in the region), At the meeting on 14 June, representa- Affairs, Aleksandar Dimitrov, leaders of the deputy prefect of Vukovar-Srijem tives of the High Commissioner's Office, the main political parties and represen- county, and the prefect of Osijek- the EC and the Council of Europe met tatives of the international community. Baranja. The High Commissioner noted with a Slovak Government delegation a hostile climate towards Serbs in East- led by Mr. Knazko, Minister of Culture, On 3 June, he briefed the Permanent ern Slavonia and a continued lack of eth- and Mr. Figel, State Secretary in the Council on the situation. He said that the nic integration. Prime Minister's Office. The representa- potential for an acute crisis remained. He tives of the three organizations com- again outlined the difficulties that the On 5 June, the High Commissioner mented on the law with a view to clari- Government of the former Yugoslav attended a seminar on “Linguistic and fying the rights of persons belonging to Republic of Macedonia was facing in Educational Rights of National Minori- national minorities to use their lan- coping with the refugee crisis and the ties”, organized at his request by the guages, and to increasing legal certainty danger of inter-ethnic tension as a result Foundation on Inter-Ethnic Relations about those entitlements, in accordance of the significant increase in the number (the Hague), in co-operation with the with the Slovak Constitution and rele- of ethnic in the country. He Croatian Law Centre and the OSCE Mis- vant international standards. The com- highlighted the humanitarian situation sion to Croatia. ments of the international experts were and repeated that the national economic regarded favourably by the Slovak dele- crisis caused by the conflict in south- Slovakia gation and incorporated into a new draft eastern Europe increased the risk of of the law to be discussed at the begin- social discontent and inter-ethnic ten- On 14 June, the High Commissioner ning of July. sion. He reiterated his early warning and hosted a meeting in the Hague to offer emphasized the need for the international comments on a draft law on minority lan- Estonia community to share the responsibilities guages, which had been a bone of con- associated with the refugee crisis. tention between the Hungarian Coalition On 10 and 11 June, the High Commis- Party and the other three parties within sioner visited Estonia. In meetings with the Slovak Government. The High Com- Prime Minister Laar and Foreign Minis-

NEWSLETTER 12 Vol. 6 no. 6 ter Ilves he discussed the question of the A draft law on minority education had On his visit to Romania, the High Com- Language Law. been debated in Parliament for several missioner also met with Foreign Minis- months. Related to this debate was the ter Andrei Plesu, the Minister of Educa- The recent unrest in north-eastern Esto- contentious issue of an independent tion, Mr. Andrei Marga, Minister and nia, mainly populated by Russians, was Hungarian university. Head of the Department for the Protec- also discussed. The tensions were char- tion of National Minorities, Mr. Eck- acterized as being social rather than The High Commissioner began his visit stein-Kovacs, and Roma representatives. inter-ethnic. The subject of the future of in Bucharest with a meeting with Bela On 17 and 18 June, the High Commis- the OSCE Mission was also raised. Marko, President of the Democratic sioner visited Cluj together with an Alliance of Hungarians in Romania expert on education and law, Professor One of the High Commissioner's pur- (UDMR), in order to discuss the Hun- Jan de Groof of the University of Ghent. poses for travelling to Tallinn was to garian minority's views on the draft law Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj has attend a one-day seminar on “Integra- on minority education. The High Com- been the focus of considerable debate in tion, Education and Language”. The con- missioner then met with the President of connection with minority education and ference was organized by the Foundation the Chamber of Deputies, Mr. Ion Dia- multiculturalism. At the university, the on Inter-Ethnic Relations together with conescu, to be informed on the position High Commissioner met with the rector, the OSCE Mission and the Office of the of the Government coalition on the draft vice-rectors and members of the faculty High Commissioner. law. Mr. Diaconescu said that agreement in order to assess the academic pro- on the law had been reached within the gramme and the impact that a law on Romania coalition. Indeed, the law was passed by minority education would have on the the Chamber of Deputies later that after- future of the university, particularly as From 15 to 18 June, the High Commis- noon. In a press briefing the next day, the regards Hungarian studies. sioner visited Romania. The main focus High Commissioner praised the Parlia- of his trip was the question of minority ment's decision and encouraged the Sen- education in Romania. ate to approve the law. This was done, with an amendment, on 30 June.

REPORT of 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]

Duve and Petritsch Proposal development of civil structures through- ■ A reorientation in the minds of citizens on the European Perspective out South-East Europe. The European of the region towards future tasks and Perspective had its cultural and civil away from the dangerous and fixed In early June, Freimut Duve, the OSCE dimensions and they should be devel- focus on the past. Representative on Freedom of the oped from the start. Freimut Duve and Media, and Wolfgang Petritsch, the Wolfgang Petritsch suggested that ■ A commitment to a State for all citi- European Union Representative, had human and financial resources for the zens irrespective of their ethnic origin. proposed to focus on the civil and cul- cultural dimension be provided at the tural dimensions of the Stability Pact for outset of the Stability Pact. The cultural ■ A willingness to work peacefully South-East Europe. In the view of dimension could help to direct the gaze together in a spirit of political, eco- Freimut Duve and Wolfgang Petritsch, of citizens and politicians to the future nomic and cultural neighbourliness. the Stability Pact must become the start- and at the same time stimulate initiative. ing point for peaceful neighbourly rela- Freimut Duve and Wolfgang Petritsch Freimut Duve and Wolfgang Petritsch tions in the future and for the continuing established three major targets: believed that this cultural dimension, as

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 no. 6 13 part of the Stability Pact, would rapidly ‘sign of protection’ for journalists, just was an initiative by a number of Serbian bear fruit and contribute to peaceful as the red cross signifies to the military politicians to try to repeal this draconian prospects for the future members of the a medical facility. Duve urged the OSCE edict. He concluded his letter to the European Perspective. They stressed that member-states, together with national OSCE Foreign Ministers with his belief the European Perspective must also be and international journalists’ unions, to that a strong international consensus for opened up in the medium term to a demo- develop such an emblem that should be the repeal of this law would provide valu- cratic Yugoslavia. This included its accepted by all countries as a bona-fide able support to Serbian politicians striv- return to the OSCE as soon as the civil ‘sign of protection’ for all journalists. ing to bring their country into the com- and democratic requirements were met. munity of democracies in Europe. Repeal the Serbian Press Law A ‘Sign of Protection’ for Journalists Diversity in Journalism On 28 June, Freimut Duve called for a On 14 June, Freimut Duve issued a state- concerted effort from OSCE Foreign From 24 to 25 June 1999, Alexander ment on the deaths of three journalists in Ministers, Parliaments and non-govern- Ivanko, Adviser to the OSCE Represen- Kosovo. Over the last decade many jour- mental organisations to bring about tative on Freedom of the Media, took part nalists in former Yugoslavia had paid repeal of the Serbian Public Information in the Conference on Conflict Reporting with their lives for trying to do their job Law which had been enacted on October and the Media sponsored by the Interna- professionally. In 1998 fifty journalists 20, 1998. This law, he said, was a “dec- tional Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and were killed around the world, according laration of war” against the independent held in Ohrid, the Former Yugoslav to the International Press Institute/ Inter- journalists of . That media war Republic of Macedonia. Three main national Federation of Journalists. Nine must now be stopped. themes were discussed: diversity in jour- of these lived in countries that are mem- nalism, the coverage of the Kosovo cri- bers of the OSCE and one person lived In a letter to Foreign Ministers, Duve sis and the safety and security of jour- and worked in the Federal Republic of urged them to actively use their influence nalists in conflict zones. The conference Yugoslavia, a suspended member of the to demand the repeal of the Serbian Law was attended by journalists from the OSCE. Now more names had to be added through whatever means they deemed countries of the former Yugoslavia and to this tragic list, noted Duve. In his view, appropriate. He also called on non-gov- Europe, NGOs, EC and the OSCE. it was imperative for the international ernmental organisations and parliamen- community to try to ensure as much as tarians throughout Europe to lend their Interventions by Duve possible the safety and security of jour- voices demanding a repeal of this law as nalists in conflict areas. The OSCE, its a vital component in bringing about The OSCE Representative on Freedom member-states, could take the lead on democracy in Serbia. of the Media intervened during June on this matter. One of the ways to protect behalf of journalists in Turkey, Ukraine, journalists was by clearly identifying Duve noted that a small courageous Azerbaijan and Belarus. them as media professionals. A symbol group of Serbian Parliamentarians voted could be developed that would act as a last year against this law, and that there

NEWSLETTER 14 Vol. 6 no. 6 UPDATE from the ODIHR The OSCE’s 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 Armenian Parlia- Presidential Elections in Slovakia a discussion on the role and impact of the mentary Elections press during elections with a selection of A full report by the OSCE Election young local journalists. The OSCE Election Observation Mission to the 15/29 May Observation Mission to presidential elections in Slovakia was Election Law Comments the 30 May parliamen- published at the end of June and is avail- tary elections in Armenia issued on 31 able on the ODIHR’s website at The ODIHR provided comments to the May a preliminary statement with its www.osce.odihr.org. Governments of Kazakhstan, Uzbek- findings. It concluded that the elections istan and Turkmenistan on their election had represented a significant step towards Kazakhstan Voter Education laws in preparation for the upcoming full compliance with OSCE commit- elections in the region. The ODIHR’s ments and congratulated the Armenian A script competition was organized dur- comments will probably be discussed authorities on having respected the free- ing June by the ODIHR and the BBC with the Governments of Kazakhstan dom of association and assembly and on World Service as part of an ODIHR pro- and Uzbekistan during July. the fact that no cases of political repres- ject for using television to educate vot- sion had been reported to the Mission. ers. The project was launched in April DEMOCRATIZATION Previously banned political parties were 1999, pursuant to a Memorandum of readmitted to the political arena and, in Understanding between the ODIHR and Police Training in contrast to what had happened in Arme- the Government of Kazakhstan. Ten the Former Yugoslav nia in the past, the legal framework was short programmes produced by the BBC Republic of not used to prohibit electoral participa- World Service will focus on different Macedonia tion. aspects of the electoral process. There remained, however, a number of The ODIHR held in co-operation with the concerns which the ODIHR had raised Of the almost one hundred scripts sub- Constitutional and Legal Policy Institute prior to the elections and which proved mitted to the BBC, focusing on eight (COLPI) a second training workshop for during the pre-election period and on main groups of voters, eleven were police commanders of refugee camps and election day to be justified. They in- selected. The programmes will be pro- border stations at Mavrovo Lake on 22- cluded concerns about the accuracy of duced in Kazakh and Russian on the 23 June. The workshop, which followed the voter lists, the formation of election basis of these scripts. Production is due one held on 25-26 May, was conducted commissions, the presence of unautho- to start during July. by police trainers from Sweden, the Ger- rized persons in polling stations, numer- man border police and representatives ous technical and organizational short- Kazakhstan Election and Media from the UN High Commissioner for comings that prevented election com- Workshop Refugees and the UN High Commis- missions from meeting important dead- sioner for Human Rights. The training lines and carrying out their work, refugee The ODIHR sent a media expert from the focused on stress management, human registration and the late definition and Polish Press Freedom Monitoring Cen- rights and refugee protection, and it was poor implementation of military voting tre to participate in a workshop on “Elec- well received by the 18 police comman- procedures. tions and the Print Media” in Almaty on ders who attended. A follow-up mission 28-29 June and Karaganda on 1-2 July. is planned for the near future to assess the A full report by the Election Observation The purpose of the workshop, run by the need for further training of this kind. Mission will be published during July. United States Information Service and the Soros Foundation, was to provide for

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 no. 6 15 Azerbaijan Presidential Decree on ies more aware of the mandate and com- offices, a national and local press adver- Memorandum of Understanding petence of the Public Defender and will tising campaign on the issue of torture suggest ways for them to establish a good and impunity. An advertising agency, On 17 June, following a visit by repre- working relationship with the Office of Scholz and Friends (Warsaw), designed sentatives of the ODIHR to Azerbaijan the Public Defender. a hard-hitting public-awareness-raising to discuss the implementation of projects advertisement, which was placed by mis- covered by the Memorandum of Under- Uzbekistan NGO-Government sions in newspapers in Belarus, Bosnia standing between the ODIHR and the Meeting and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Kyr- Government of Azerbaijan, the President gyzstan, Tajikistan and Ukraine. In Taji- of Azerbaijan signed a decree appointing An NGO-Government meeting took kistan, there was almost blanket cover- a Co-ordinator for Implementation. The place in Kokand, Uzbekistan, on 25 June age of the Russian and Tajik press. With Co-ordinator, Mr. Ramiz Anvaroglu as part of an ODIHR civic diplomacy the assistance of the British Embassy in Mekhdiyev, will be supported by a work- project which has been under way in Moscow, the advertisement was also ing group which will assist with the Uzbekistan since 1997. The meeting, placed in Izvestia. implementation of ODIHR projects in organized by the OSCE Central Asia Azerbaijan. Liaison Office and the National Human The ODIHR ar- Rights Centre of Uzbekistan, was ranged for litera- Georgia Ombudsman Assistance attended by representatives of NGOs and ture relating to tor- local authorities. The topic of the meet- ture prevention to An ODIHR expert, Dr. Andrzej Mala- ing was NGO-Government communica- be translated into nowski, Director of the Group for Con- tions and relations. Russian and posted stitutional Rights and Civil Liberties of to OSCE missions Poland, was sent to Tbilisi in June to train Roma and Sinti for distribution to the staff of the Public Office of the the public. The lit- Torture prevention ad- Defender in handling and investigating In June, the ODIHR’s Adviser on Roma erature included vertisement in Russian human rights complaints. He will and Sinti Issues, Mr. Nicolae Gheorghe, the ODIHR report endeavour to help establish a good work- began a working tour of Central Euro- “Combating Torture and Other Cruel, ing relationship between the Office of the pean capitals in Bratislava, Slovakia, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Public Defender and the Constitutional where he attended seminars and other Punishment: The Role of the OSCE” and Court of Georgia and to help introduce meetings on Roma and Sinti issues. a publication of the Association for the mechanisms for regular consultations Roma women activists were encouraged Prevention of Torture entitled “Preven- between the Public Defender and the to attend the OSCE Supplementary tion of Torture in Europe”. In addition, Georgian Parliament on human rights Human Dimension Meeting on Gender the text of a one-page flier on torture pre- recommendations relevant to the law- Issues held in Vienna on 14 and 15 June. vention and impunity was sent to mis- making process. sions for distribution to the public. The Torture Prevention Campaign ODIHR made arrangements with the The expert will also assist with the intro- International Rehabilitation Council for duction of mechanisms for the investi- On 26 June, UN Day in Support of Vic- Torture Victims (IRCT) for the distribu- gation - through, inter alia, contacts with tims of Torture, the ODIHR, following tion of the latter’s materials to missions local administrations bodies – of human recommendations from the OSCE Expert and field offices. rights complaints reaching the Office of Panel for the Prevention of Torture, the Public Defender from regions of launched a number of initiatives directed The ODIHR sent an expert, Mr. Arno Georgia remote from the capital, Tbilisi. towards enhancing torture prevention in Adamsoo, Director of IRCT Estonia, to In addition, the expert will endeavour to the OSCE area. Tajikistan to participate in a series of make the Supreme Court, the General seminars and other meetings on torture Prosecutor and the Ministry of Internal The ODIHR organized, with extensive prevention arranged by the OSCE Mis- Affairs and other law enforcement bod- support from OSCE missions and field sion to Tajikistan.

NEWSLETTER 16 Vol. 6 no. 6 REPORT from the Parliamentary Assembly The Secretariat of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is located at Rådhusstræde 1, DK-1466 Copenhagen K, Denmark, tel.: (+45-33) 32 94 00, fax: (+45-33) 32 55 05, e-mail: [email protected]

Presidential Activities were already assisting the Organization ciated the High Commissioner’s reports in its efforts to resolve the crises in on his activities during its annual ses- President Degn addresses Belarus and Moldova sions in July and during the Standing the Parliamentary Assembly of Committee meetings in January and the Council of Europe, 21 June 1999 A further issue by Ms. Degn was what February. She also discussed plans for she called the “democratic deficit” in the the forthcoming elections and the planned On 21 June 1999, Helle Degn, President OSCE. Speaking of the important role of Antalya Seminar on minorities, to be held of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in between 27 September and 2 October. addressed the Parliamentary Assembly several areas, she drew attention to the of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. fact that the OSCE Parliamentary Assem- Other Activities Ms. Degn paid tribute to that Assembly, bly did not have any formal status in the which is now in its fiftieth year. She OSCE’s decision-making processes. OSCE Parliamentary Assembly spoke about the role of the OSCE in the That was decidedly a democratic deficit Democracy Team on Belarus new European security architecture and which needed to be corrected. the relative importance of that role due The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to the Organization’s broad geographi- President Helle Degn Visits Democracy Team on Belarus held a cal scope and comprehensive concept of the OSCE High Commissioner meeting from 11 to 13 June in Bucharest security, which combined responsibili- on National Minorities regarding forthcoming elections for ties for the maintenance of peace with members of Belarusian political parties, respect for human rights and economic On 28 June, President Helle Degn vis- non-governmental organizations and and environmental co-operation. ited the High Commissioner on National trade unions in conjunction with the Minorities (HCNM), Mr. Max van der OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group Ms. Degn welcomed the agreements and Stoel, in The Hague. Ms. Degn is the first (AMG) in Minsk. The meeting launched decisions that had brought an end to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Presi- a all political forces in Belarus could rec- military hostilities in Kosovo, but dent to visit the HCNM’s Office. The ognize and participate in. “We have stressed the challenges which lay ahead purpose of the visit was to receive a brief- started a discussion on common denom- for the OSCE in that province. She men- ing by the High Commissioner on the inators that could bring together a con- tioned the preparatory work that was functioning of his Office and to discuss sensus for political participation in already underway in the OSCE Parlia- the possibility of increased co-operation democratic elections,” said the former mentary Assembly to create and deploy between the Office and the OSCE Par- Foreign Minister of Romania, Mr. a “Democracy Team” for Kosovo. Such liamentary Assembly. During the meet- Adrian Severin (MP-Romania), who is a Team, she explained, would consist of ing, Ms. Degn expressed the Assembly’s the Head of the OSCE Parliamentary a group of Parliamentarians who would strong support for the High Commis- Assembly Democracy Team on Belarus. periodically visit Kosovo, meet with sioner’s work and his quiet preventive Representatives of official Belarusian leaders, parties and authorities and diplomacy in countries where conflict institutions were invited to attend the advise on matters concerning civil soci- appeared to be brewing. Bucharest meeting but declined to par- ety, democracy and the rule of law. It was ticipate at the last moment. her hope that this work would offer scope She stressed how important a regular for co-operation with the Parliamentary flow of information was for effective co- The Bucharest Meeting involved a three- Assembly of the Council of Europe. She operation and co- ordination between day series of talks designed to promote also reported that two Democracy Teams different OSCE Institutions, adding that coordinated efforts on the part of the of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Parliamentary Assembly greatly appre- OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and gov-

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 no. 6 17 ernment representatives bring the vari- particularly television. Another concern nizations. The Working Group and the ous Belarusian political factions together was the foaming of an election law which AMG are now trying to broaden the for discussions on free and fair elections would be consistant with OSCE com- “Bucharest Process” by enlisting the par- in the transitional Republic. Although mitments. ticipation of official Belarusian institu- the participants were divided on some tions. Working Group members plan to subjects, a number of areas of agreement The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly visit Minsk again shortly after the OSCE were noted. Foremost among the con- Democracy Team has already made a Parliamentary Assembly’s Annual Ses- cerns of all participants was the question number of visits to Minsk in order to sion in St. Petersburg. of gaining access to the State-run media, meet with various individuals and orga-

NEWSLETTER 18 Vol. 6 no. 6

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