OSCE Summit Reaches Accord in Istanbul ‘Last Great Meeting of the Century’ Ends with Meaningful Results

Vol. VI No. 11/12 NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER 1999

NEWSLETTER Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

IN THIS ISSUE

■ Vienna Document 1999 ...... 4

■ Adapted CFE Treaty ...... 5

■ Interview with Ambassador Eide ...... 6

■ AlbaniaÕs path to democracy ...... 8

■ ÔWay to EuropeÕ campaign in BiH ...... 11

■ Staffing OSCE field activities ...... 13

■ News from the field ...... 14

■ Press profile ...... 16

■ News from the Secretariat ...... 19

■ Update from the ODIHR ...... 19

■ Report from the PA ...... 24

■ Report from the HCNM ...... 27

■ Report from the RFOM ...... 28

■ Recent OSCE Publications ...... 30

The OSCE Istanbul Summit meets in Plenary Session. OSCE Summit reaches accord in Istanbul ‘Last great meeting of the century’ ends with meaningful results

eaders of the Organization for Summit was also addressed by the which will improve the operational capa- Security and Co-operation in United Nations Secretary-General, as bilities of the OSCE. This will strengthen LEurope, convening in Istanbul, well as the North Atlantic Treaty Orga- the Organization’s ability to prevent con- Turkey, for what was widely described nization Secretary General and the Sec- flicts as well as its capacity to settle con- as the last great Summit Meeting of the retary General of the Council of Europe. flicts and to rehabilitate societies rav- century, were able to achieve agreement The meeting, held from 18 to 19 aged by war and destruction. They com- on significant documents that will November in the Ciragan Place on the mit themselves, inter alia, to intensify co- strengthen security and stability in the banks of the Bosporus, ended in the operation with other international orga- OSCE region over the coming years. The emergence of three important documents: nizations through a new instrument, the sixth OSCE Summit Meeting brought the Charter for European Security, the Platform for Co-operative Security; to together Heads of State and Government Agreement on Adaptation of the Treaty develop the OSCE’s role in peacekeep- and Foreign Ministers from 54 of the par- on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe ing operations; to create Rapid Expert ticipating States, as well as representa- and the Istanbul Summit Declaration. Assistance and Co-operation Teams and tives from the Governments of the OSCE In the Charter for European Security, to expand OSCE police related activities. Partners for Co-operation and Mediter- the OSCE Heads of State and Govern- The Charter reaffirms the adherence of ranean Partners for Co-operation. The ment agree on a number of concrete steps the OSCE participating States to the

1 The Charter for European Security at a glance

The Charter for European without exception, apply equally to each prevention, crisis management and post- Security, signed on 19 Novem- participating State. Their implementa- conflict rehabilitation, including: ber in Istanbul by 54 OSCE tion in good faith is essential for relations Heads of State and Govern- between States, between governments 1 A Platform for Co-operative Security, ment, aims at strengthening the and their peoples, as well as between the in order to further strengthen co- Organization’s ability to pre- organizations of which they are mem- operation between the OSCE and vent conflicts, to settle them and bers. Participating States are account- other international organizations and to rehabilitate societies ravaged able to their citizens and responsible to institutions on the basis of equality by war and destruction. each other for their implementation of and in a spirit of partnership; their OSCE commitments. We regard “The last decade of the twentieth cen- these commitments as our common 2 Developing the OSCE’s role in peace- tury has brought great achievements in achievement and therefore consider them keeping operations; the OSCE area, co-operation has replaced to be matters of immediate and legitimate previous confrontation, but the danger of concern to all participating States. 3 Rapid Expert Assistance and Co- conflicts between States has not been operation Teams (REACT), enabling eliminated… We are determined to learn “We reaffirm the OSCE as a regional the OSCE to rapidly respond to from the dangers of confrontation and arrangement under Chapter VIII of the requests from participating States for division between States as well as from Charter of the United Nations and as a civilian and police expertise in con- tragedies of the last decade. Security and primary organization for the peaceful flict situations. This will give the peace must be enhanced through an settlement of disputes within its region OSCE the ability to address problems approach that combines two basic ele- and as a key instrument for early warn- before they become crises and to ments; we must build confidence among ing, conflict prevention, crisis manage- deploy quickly the civilian compo- people within States and strengthen co- ment and post-conflict rehabilitation. nent of a peacekeeping operation operation between States. Therefore, we The OSCE is the inclusive and compre- when needed; will strengthen existing instruments and hensive organization for consultation, develop new ones to provide assistance decision-making and co-operation in its 4 Expanding the OSCE’s ability to carry and advice... region.” out police related activities. This includes police monitoring, police train- “We reaffirm our full adherence to In the Charter the participating States ing and promoting respect for human the Charter of the United Nations, and recognize the common challenges they rights and fundamental freedoms in to the Helsinki Final Act, the Charter of face – including international terrorism, general; Paris and all other OSCE documents to violent extremism, organized crime and which we have agreed. These documents drug trafficking, economic problems and 5 An Operation Centre at the OSCE represent our common commitments and environmental degradation – and reaf- Secretariat in Vienna in order to facil- are the foundation for our work. They firm their commitment to OSCE princi- itate effective preparation and plan- have helped us to bring about an end to ples as the foundations for a common ning of rapid deployment of OSCE the old confrontation in Europe and to security space. field operations; foster a new era of democracy, peace and solidarity throughout the OSCE area. In order to address these challenges 6 Establishing a Preparatory Committee They established clear standards for and uphold OSCE commitments, the under the direction of the OSCE Per- participating States’ treatment of each Charter introduces specific measures to manent Council in order to strengthen other and of all individuals within their enhance the role of the OSCE as a key the consultation process within the territories. All OSCE commitments, instrument for early warning, conflict OSCE.

NEWSLETTER 2 Vol. 6 No. 11/12 Charter of the United Nations, the Helsinki Final Act, the Charter of Paris and all other OSCE documents that they have agreed to. These documents represent their common commitments and the foundation for their work. The agreement on adaptation of the CFE Treaty of 1990 adjusts this disarmament agreement to post-Cold War realities and at the same time reduces armaments in Europe by a further 10 per cent (see separate box). In the Istanbul Summit Declaration, the OSCE leaders commit themselves to intensify efforts to prevent conflicts in the OSCE area and to resolve existing conflicts peacefully: “We need the contribution of a strengthened OSCE to meet the risks and challenges facing the OSCE area, to improve human security and thereby to make a difference in the life of the individual, which is the aim of all our efforts,” it states (all Summit documents can be viewed on the OSCE website: www.osce.org). The leaders also reaffirmed the human dimension as one of the foremost areas of responsibility for the OSCE: respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law. This includes the protection and promotion of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, children’s rights and full equality between men and women. The leaders also committed themselves to ensure the freedom of media, as well as free and fair elections in accordance with OSCE principles and commitments. Finally, the Summit Declaration lists a number of issues of concern to the OSCE, including the situation in Kosovo, the democratic shortcomings in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Top: Presidents Bill Clinton of the USA, Suleyman Demirel of Turkey and Eduard search for a solution to the conflict in Shevardnaze of Georgia. Center: Presidents Jacques Chirac of France, Boris Yeltsin Abkhazia, Georgia, and the necessity of of Russia and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany, meeting during the Istan- removing the obstacles to a political dia- bul Summit. Bottom: Chairman in Office, Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek of Nor- logue in Belarus. In the Declaration, the way (centre) chairs a press conference.

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 No. 11/12 3 OSCE leaders also applaud the intensi- fied dialogue between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, which has cre- ated opportunities to dynamize the process of finding a lasting and comprehensive solution to the Nagorno-Kara- bakh conflict, and confirm that the OSCE Minsk Group stands ready to further advance the peace process. With regard to the conflict in North Caucasus, the Summit Declaration reaffirms the territorial integrity of the Russian Fed- eration and condemns terrorism in all its forms. It also underscores the need to respect OSCE norms, states that a political solution to the conflict is essential The Summit attracted intense media coverage. and welcomes the agreement of the Rus- sian Federation to a visit of the OSCE There was also a meeting between the the Government of Turkey in organizing Chairman-in-Office to the region. OSCE Chairman-in-Office and leaders a meeting on such a scale, only three The Istanbul Summit Meeting was of Opposition parties in the Federal months after a devastating earthquake. not without some striking highlights. The Republic of Yugoslavia, and one between Widespread coverage of the OSCE situation in Chechnya was prominently the members of the OSCE Parliamentary Summit was provided by a vast media mentioned in most of the statements of Assembly with representatives of the operation, which involved more than the Summit. The signing of the Security Government and Opposition of Belarus. 2,500 journalists from news agencies, Charter was postponed to the final day In their interventions at the Summit, newspapers, television and radio (see because of last-minute negotiations on Heads of State and Government from the Press Profile in this issue). the text of the documents, adding a sense OSCE region commended the efforts of of drama to the atmosphere. This proved that, indeed, the work of the OSCE is closely connected to the current political situation. Vienna Document 1999 increases Several other important meetings and military transparency events took place on the margins of the Istanbul Summit. These included a meet- eeting in Istanbul on 16 Novem- The Vienna Document 1999 contains ing on Regional Stability in South-East- M ber, the OSCE Forum for Security a significant number of changes and ern Europe, which involved more than adopted the Vienna Document 1999 on additions to the preceding document. 40 Foreign Ministers, the Stability Pact the Negotiations on Confidence- and Some of the confidence- and security- Special Co-ordinator as well as high rep- Security-Building Measures. This docu- building measures of the 1994 Document resentatives of international organiza- ment is an amended version of the have been improved upon and made tions. At another event, a distinguished Vienna Document 1994, and its adoption more applicable to the changing military panel of high officials, politicians, law- marks the successful completion of three and technological environment. A major makers and citizen activists discussed years of intense diplomatic negotiations. addition in the Vienna Document 1999 ways to combat the human rights scourge It is seen as an important step towards is the chapter on regional measures, of trafficking in women and children. increased transparency in military mat- which encourages the OSCE participat- Other events were organized by several ters among OSCE participating States. ing States to increase transparency and of the more than 100 non-governmental The three-year negotiating process was confidence in a bilateral, multilateral or organizations that were accredited to the itself an important review of OSCE con- regional context. Summit. fidence- and security-building measures.

NEWSLETTER 4 Vol. 6 No. 11/12 A guide to the adapted CFE Treaty

On the final day of the Istanbul step further. It opens up the Treaty for how many forces that country is allowed Summit, 30 OSCE participating accession by States that are not and have to deploy in the whole area covered by States signed the Agreement on not been members of either NATO or the the Treaty, and a ceiling on the territo- Adaptation of the Treaty on Con- Warsaw Pact. rial level, meaning how many forces will ventional Armed Forces in Europe At the same time, it discards the divi- be allowed on the territory of that State (a.k.a. the adapted CFE Treaty). sion of Europe into two blocs, by giving (including any foreign forces). This ceremony symbolized the end each State individual ceilings for arma- The new ceilings also constitute a of three years of negotiations on ments on a national and territorial basis, further step in disarmament in Europe. adjusting the original 1990 CFE instead of allocating ceilings on the basis Altogether 11,000 weapons systems – Treaty, in order to reflect the of group levels. In the original CFE battle tanks, artillery pieces and fighter changes brought about by the end Treaty, the two groups of States – NATO planes – will be dismantled. This will cut of the Cold War, especially the dis- and the Warsaw Pact – had collective the number of conventional weapons in integration of the Warsaw Treaty ceilings within their own group. Now, Europe by about 10 per cent. Implemen- Organization (Warsaw Pact). the adapted Treaty allows a certain tation of the adapted CFE Treaty will amount of armaments for a State Party at only begin after ratification by the par- Signature of the first CFE Treaty, the national level, meaning a ceiling on liaments of all the States concerned. between the member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the member States of the Warsaw Pact, was hailed as a landmark agreement, establishing a balance of conventional forces at dramatically lower levels than before. It was justly seen as being of considerable histori- cal significance. During the Cold War, Europe had been an area of intense confrontation with a high concentration of weapons. With the signing of the CFE Treaty, the countries of the two opposing military alliances in Europe embarked upon a hitherto unprecedented disarmament process. The Treaty resulted in the destruction of more than 50,000 pieces of military equipment and introduced a far-reaching exchange of information as well as verification on a regular basis. The adaptation of the CFE Treaty takes this process one

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 No. 11/12 5 Reflecting on a year of drama and progress

pproaching the end of the Nor- that?” And that was after about four or military institution nor a financial one. A wegian Chairmanship of the five months. We are a completely different kind of OSCE, Ambassador Kai Eide, Chair- It is obvious that we need to improve organization, and much of what we carry man of the Permanent Council and our ability to react quickly. I think that out does not make the daily headlines Head of Norway’s Permanent Delega- the Istanbul Summit took decisions in the newspapers. But we saw, for tion, takes the opportunity to review an which, hopefully, can help us to improve instance, that the very thorough report eventful year, in which dramatic our ability in that respect. I must stress it we issued recently on the human rights moments provided several highlights is of critical importance for our credibil- situation in Kosovo got global coverage. against a backdrop of steady progress ity and also in order to reduce the suf- I was in Amman, Jordan, at that time and in developing the role of the Organi- fering on the ground and to do the job we it was on most of the local news chan- zation. He gave this interview to the should. nels there. Newsletter on 9 December. NL: Do you feel that public percep- NL: How close is the link between Newsletter: Looking back to the start tion of the OSCE has changed a lot over raising the OSCE’s profile and bolster- of the period of Norwegian Chairman- the course of this year? ing support for the Organization among ship, what were the main aims you hoped participating States? to achieve? That is hard to judge. I don’t think public perception changes that quickly. There’s no doubt that the visibility of Ambassador Eide: Our primary aim What we did in Kosovo with the KVM the OSCE affects the financial contribu- was, of course, to strengthen the Orga- was seen as something positive among tions. Much is based on budgets, but vol- nization further. We knew that we had a the informed public of many participat- untary contributions are also important. strong set of field missions and they ing States. Unfortunately, we had to The more visibility we have the more worked well. We also knew there were withdraw, but I think what we are doing readiness there is among governments to certain shortcomings. One was the Sec- today in the Balkans is seen as being a provide the funds and voluntary contri- retariat, which obviously needs addi- very useful contribution. I do believe butions we need. Our visibility also tional resources. There is a good profes- also that our reputation in other areas is affects the degree to which we are seen sional staff in the Secretariat, but in my improving, not that it has been bad, but as attractive partners for other organiza- view it lacks resources in certain critical our profile is becoming higher. That is, tions. Some people have said, “Let’s not areas. So we wanted to strengthen that. for instance, the case in Central Asia. worry about visibility this year; let’s And then to increase the attractiveness of Overall, I think that we are a better focus on getting the job done.” But I the Secretariat compared to other inter- known Organization than we were a year don’t think you can separate the two as national organizations. I think we have ago. I wish I could say that this is because easily as that. taken some steps in that direction, but of the Norwegian Chairmanship, but that more remains to be done. is not the case. It is simply because we NL: Are there lessons learned from Also when Norway took over we have had to deal with a series of difficult this year in office that you will try to were building up the Kosovo Verifica- conflicts, problems and challenges. Most communicate to the next Chairmanship? tion Mission and one experience that I of them I would rather have been with- have, both from the OSCE and from the out, for the sake of the people affected. I am absolutely confident that the United Nations, is that it takes much too But I think that through our efforts at Austrian chairmanship is well prepared long to mobilize missions of the sort that meeting these challenges we have to take over and there is no need for me we wanted. I well remember sitting with become better known. However, I think either publicly or privately to do that at Milosevic, back in February, where he that we still lack visibility and there is a this stage. We have had regular consul- said with a certain smile: “I gave you the lack of general knowledge about what tations, as well as working together possibility of 2,000 members in the the OSCE is all about. That does not within the Troika. We have been dis- KVM. Now have you reached half of come as a surprise to me; we are not a cussing a number of subjects throughout

NEWSLETTER 6 Vol. 6 No. 11/12 the year and they have been closely Secretariat and Headquarters because involved, so I feel very confident in that these missions need to be given the right respect. guidance through the Permanent Coun- cil and Chairmanship. We cannot just NL: Do you think that the OSCE will give birth to these big missions and then have sufficient resources next year to leave them on their own, so to speak. We cover new tasks agreed at Istanbul, such must see to it that the Chairmanship and as the REACT concept of Rapid Expert the Permanent Council, with the assis- Assistance and Co-operation Teams? tance of the Secretariat, is able to provide constant guidance and support to them. Well of course we haven’t been We often talk about the flexibility of given resources yet but what will hap- this Organization. I don’t think every- pen now is that the Secretariat, in co- body knows what they mean when they operation with the new Chairmanship, use this word, which has become almost will work on both the REACT concept a sort of mantra. I would urge caution and the Operations Centre. One cannot when we praise the concept of flexibil- hide from the fact that it will require ity. I see certain limits to flexibility, and resources and say that we have to build I would like there to be more of a capa- only on existing resources. When you bility for the Headquarters here to pro- decide to do things then this has resource vide more guidance to all the missions Ambassador Kai Eide of Norway, Chair- implications and we have to face that. If man of the OSCE Permanent Council and to be more in touch with them. But we don’t accept that, then our Organiza- for that we need a stronger Secretariat. tion will suffer and we would lose cred- the Summit. There was always the uncer- Let me also say that I believe that we ibility. Now we can sharpen our tools, so tainty as to how this would be reflected, are a little bit too much into finger-point- to speak, be more efficient and we should and there was certainly a degree of ner- ing exercises, which I think creates a sit- grasp that opportunity. vousness there. And when you sleep for uation where some countries feel that One other element that I am pleased only an hour-and-a-half for three days in there is a stigma attached to having a mis- about from the Istanbul Summit is that a row, then you do get rather tense. As sion in their countries. I think that we we managed to create a new committee some of my colleagues also discovered... should become a little more mature and under the Permanent Council to prepare move slightly from the finger-pointing our work better and to be more transpar- NL: As the decade ends, is the OSCE and more towards working together. I ent, because transparency has been insuf- more relevant to the needs of the inter- think that would make us more popular. ficient. There is a need for deliberations national community than it was when it To have an OSCE Mission in your coun- to be more open than we see in the Coun- began its transformation at the Paris try or to call on the OSCE should be seen cil and I hope that this new body will Summit, almost 10 years ago? as something positive in the international enable us to have such discussions, and community, because it means that a coun- thereby draw many more countries into Oh yes, I have no doubt about it. I try is aware of a problem and is saying, the centre of our deliberations. have known the Organization since it “Please can we work together in order to was the CSCE in the late 1970s. It did a solve that problem”, instead of the situa- NL: Did you have any doubts during remarkable job at that time, but I always tion where some countries feel that it the course of the Summit, when to the out- used to say that 60 per cent of the bud- becomes something negative in the eyes side world it looked in some danger of get went to translators and interpreters. of the international community. I think collapse? Today, 85 per cent goes to the field oper- that here we have a long way to go, but ations, which shows the transformation we should try to make rapid progress. I always felt that we were moving in we’ve been going through. It takes time the right direction although, of course, to define a new role. For instance, we NL: What are the qualities you have there we had the conflict with regard to have moved very far in developing field seen that set the OSCE apart from other Chechnya, which did cast a shadow over operations. Now we must strengthen the organizations in its sphere of activity?

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 No. 11/12 7 If you think, for instance, of the what we call a “Platform for Co-opera- speaking to each other, because we were Council of Europe, then we have devel- tive Security”. It means an attempt to all on the phone to our respective capi- oped this large structure of field opera- develop these kind of partnerships and I tals. I was on the phone to our Foreign tions which is definitely a great strength think we should really forge ahead in that Minister when that crucial decision was for the OSCE and I think we have devel- direction. We have made tremendous taken. To me that was a sad occasion, but oped a partnership with the CoE such that progress over the last few years, working it was a necessary decision because the we can draw on its expertise. This com- more closely together but there is a long circumstances didn’t allow us to stay. bination of our experience and field way to go in using each other’s strengths But a moment I will remember with capacity with their expertise should be a to develop synergies which ultimately much more pleasure was the point when major asset to the international commu- benefit all of us. I think we should use the we were sitting in the negotiations in nity. What I should like to see in the years year 2000 to define this more clearly. Istanbul and we finally reached agree- to come is similar partnerships development over the Charter and the Declara- ing with other institutions, for instance, NL: To end on a personal note, what tion. In the weeks beforehand, we had all the EU, as well as financial institutions. was the most dramatic moment that you been asking ourselves. “Will there be a I do think that organizations which invest recall from this year? Charter or any outcome at all? What or lend money to countries would get would we achieve?”. more out of their money if, at the same That moment must be when the deci- So that will be my best memory of the time, we see to it that basic human rights sion came to withdraw the KVM. At that year, because I really felt then that through standards are applied in those countries. time I had a number of Ambassadors in these decisions we took some important So I think we can work together in a way my home for what was to have been a steps forward, and the Istanbul Summit that benefits all of these organizations. routine lunch and discussion. We ended ended in a result that went beyond what There again, in Istanbul we adopted up never sitting down and never really almost all of us had expected.

Albania’s path to democracy – new Law on Civil Service

By Giovanni Porta ever, was only the beginning of an ardu- recovery. Working therefore in close hen the first staff members from ous path. The very fabric of a civil soci- contact with the Council of Europe, the W the Organization for Security and ety had to be rebuilt in a country whose OSCE Presence assisted Albanian law- Co-operation in Europe were sent to people had not only been artificially iso- makers in the drafting of a new Consti- Albania in 1997, their task may have lated from the external world for decades, tution, a process that was not in itself appeared almost impossible at the time. but were also now profoundly disillu- without political complications. The country had just emerged from one sioned by their first taste of freedom. Once the Constitution had been ap- of Eastern Europe’s harshest dictator- Moreover, the latest crisis had left deep- proved by a national referendum at the ships and was immediately plunged into running scars within the national com- end of 1998, the next step was the a new political crisis, leading to the vir- munity, which was now divided between launching of a comprehensive package tual collapse of any remaining public two party camps, each unwilling to talk of reforms of the public administration, structure. The civil disturbances that fol- to the other. in order to de-politicize it so that it met lowed had levelled all local powers, and It became evident from an early stage European and international standards. the Central State had, for all practical that one of the keys to any process of This was the declared intention of the purposes, disappeared, leaving a dan- democratic transformation would be the new Albanian leadership, who had their gerous void in its wake. establishment of a functioning and im- sights firmly fixed on the goal of Euro- The international community then partial state structure. The achievement Atlantic integration but, again, needed intervened and, with the help of a multi- of this goal, together with an urgently foreign expertise to pursue their reforms, national military force, the situation was needed crackdown on crime and illegal and so turned to the international com- stabilized. New elections monitored by activities, were regarded by OSCE as a munity for help. the OSCE were called, and the people precondition to any further steps towards In order to respond to this call, the chose a new Government. This, how- effective democratization and economic ‘Friends of Albania’ (a grouping of

NEWSLETTER 8 Vol. 6 No. 11/12 vice to the public, career continuity, accountability and correctness in the ap- plication of binding legislation’. Al- though such principles may be largely taken for granted in many other countries, for Albania in 1999 they still represented a very major step forward. It is perhaps not surprising that such a major new development should have encountered initial obstacles and a degree of political resistance, although a clear majority of Albanian members of parliament were in favour of it from the outset. Again, in July this year, the OSCE and the ‘Friends of Albania’ stepped in. The Final Conclusions of the International Conference of the ‘Friends’, Ambassador Ahrens talking to some elderly inhabitants of Voskopoje village, during his recent visit to southern field offices of the Presence in Albania. held in Brussels, urged the Albanian Government: ‘to take all the necessary donor countries and international insti- was to establish a core of basic princi- steps to ensure the passage’ of the law. tutions, chaired in Tirana by the Head of ples, in the form of clear conditions and Over the succeeding two months, all the OSCE Presence) was tasked with procedures to guarantee rights and remaining obstacles were overcome, providing the Albanian Government and define the duties of civil servants. due in large part to the determination Parliament with the technical assistance As stated in Article 3 of the draft law shown by the new Government, led by they required. A number of European – prepared with the direct contribution Prime Minister Ilir Meta. In late Octo- Union and World Bank advisors were of the European Commission, the Coun- ber, the drafting of the Law on the Sta- called in to work in co-operation with cil of Europe, the World Bank and tus of the Civil Servant was finally com- the relevant parliamentary commissions OSCE experts – the Civil Service had to pleted. and the Government’s Department of be guided by ‘professionalism, indepen- This document indicated the criteria Public Administration. A series of work- dence and integrity, political neutrality for a clear classification of civil ser- ing meetings of the ‘Friends’, at local and transparency’. These principles were vants, dividing them into four cate- and international levels, provided the aimed at guaranteeing an efficient ‘ser- gories. Transparent requirements for political framework to facili- hiring, promotion and dis- tate the process. missal of personnel were One of the pillars of the also provided, and a proba- reform process identified by tion period established for foreign advisors was the need the 8,000 civil servants to draft a new Civil Service already employed at the time law, since the existing text, the law was being drafted. A approved in 1996, was inade- detailed list of duties and quate and had never been rights was also compiled. To implemented. Indeed most overview the whole process, Albanian civil servants, at all the document established a levels, were still politicized new Civil Service Commis- and many depended on party sion (CSC) as an independent or personal allegiances to body tasked with ‘supervi- keep their posts and secure A panel at the seminar on Rural Women organized by the NGO sory responsibility over the their careers. The first step Liaison Officer in the area of Vlora. management’ of the service,

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 No. 11/12 9 and serving as an ‘administrative resort the Assembly itself, and saluted by pub- ondary legislation, a demanding task of for appeals’. The creation of this new lic opinion as a major political achieve- high priority to be fulfilled by the Coun- body, more than any other provision of ment and a decisive turning point in the cil of Ministers and the Parliament. As the law, was considered by all the for- modernization of the country. The always, the OSCE and Albania’s many eign experts involved as a major break- approved text will be a conduit for fur- other international friends have made it through in the direction of the desired ther reforms, since the process towards clear that they stand ready to give fur- de-politicization of the State structure. a new Albania cannot be considered ther assistance, if needed. On 11 November, the Assembly of the concluded. The Law on the Status of the Republic (i.e. the Parliament) passed the Civil Service will now have to be fully Mr. Porta is Spokesperson law, an event greeted with applause in implemented with the issuing of sec- for the OSCE Presence in Albania.

Interview with Ambassador Ahrens Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, gave this interview to the Newsletter when he visited Vienna to make his first address to the Permanent Council.

Newsletter: What are your first impres- thing. I think the most important issue in sions of the Presence’s activities? Albania is to help the Albanians in creating good governance and democratic Ambassador Ahrens: The work of the structures. In this key area, the wish to Presence is very intense and our activi- co-operate with us is very well devel- ties are extremely wide-ranging. I am oped. Many people, from the highest still in a phase of assessing the Presence’s government officials down to the local activities. With such a wide mandate, police – people from all walks of life, – you have to concentrate your efforts and tell me that they are grateful for the pres- from time to time check whether your ence of the OSCE in their country and activities are really effective or whether that they would encourage us to play an you have to shift resources from one sec- active role. But an active role always tor to another. means that we have to be careful not to be perceived as being patronising. This NL:What specific priorities would you would not be the right approach. like to focus on? Ambassador Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, Head of The Albanians are a European nation the OSCE Presence in Albania. with a long history and many admirable AA: The priorities are defined by the oriented towards one of the political par- deeds in their past. The fact that, right mandate, but within the mandate one ties and is often partial regarding reported now, they need assistance does not mean could put the focus on one point or events. But this is nothing terrible, and in anyway that Albania is inferior to other another. I personally feel that until now can be found in many other countries. nations. This is something that I want to we have not focused enough on media make very clear. I have been dealing with development and one could do more in NL: Apart from addressing these imme- Albanians for quite a few years now. I this respect. My impression, after a few diate media issues, what are your medium- was at the Yugoslavia conference and I weeks, is that there is a lot of goodwill, or long-term goals? dealt with Albanians, both in Kosovo and but know-how and efficiency is some- Macedonia, and I have high respect for times lacking. At press conferences, for AA: When I talked about our mandate, I them. instance, it is often difficult to get the mentioned media development as one message across clearly to the audience area where we have probably not done NL: What are the strengths of the OSCE without being misunderstood. Further- enough so far. This does not mean that as opposed to other international actors/ more, the media in Albania is normally media development is the most important organizations in Albania?

NEWSLETTER 10 Vol. 6 No. 11/12 AA: One strong point is that we have field the context of the Yugoslav crisis for a wonderful job, and when you know that offices in almost all parts of the country. many years and I must say that Albanian the Presence has already worked well, We therefore have very good information foreign policy has been reasonable and you would be well advised to be cautious on what is going on in the country and measured – not this shrill nationalism that about changing things. On the other hand, good contacts to the local authorities appears elsewhere sometimes. Of course, the refugee crisis, which determined throughout. This makes it much easier to there are Albanians living in Kosovo, more or less the activities of the Pres- get a clear picture of any disturbance that there are Albanians living in Macedonia, ence until this summer, has put different might arise in the country. Even though in Montenegro and also in southern Ser- demands on the Presence than we have this was before my time, I was neverthe- bia, outside of Kosovo. These Albanians today. less told that during the Kosovo refugee have their interests, but I must say we We have to adapt to this new situa- crisis the OSCE had the most accurate have always had a degree of reason in tion, which is very much a return to nor- reports on border crossings by refugees. their policies. mal, and in this respect I think we are on Sometimes this means having people the right track.What we are trying to do working in rather difficult circumstances. NL: Any other issues relating to the Pres- is to expand the network of field offices, ence activities that you would like to because it is one of the strong points the NL: How would you see OSCE efforts in strengthen and develop? OSCE has in Albania. The Albanians Albania in the regional context? want this – not only the central govern- AA: I know that Ambassador Everts, for ment, but also local authorities. AA: I have been dealing with Albania in whom I have a great admiration, has done

‘Way to Europe’ theme of OSCE BiH Mission’s electoral law campaign

By Peter Clarey a comprehensive public information pro- ince March this year, the OSCE Mis- ject, the Election Law Information Cam- Ssion to Bosnia and Herzegovina paign (ELIC). This has been engaging (BiH) has been running a full-scale, the citizens of BiH in a national dialogue multi-media educational information about electoral systems and their coun- campaign for the citizens of the country try’s election law. Throughout the cam- on the fundamentals of responsible gov- paign, citizens of BiH have had a voice ernment and on the draft Election Law. in the process, an opportunity to shape

This is the most important law in the their country’s draft Election Law by Ms. Ane Jaksi\, Associate Director country after the constitution itself. One providing feedback to the Election Law General of Elections of the slogans featured prominently in Working Group (ELWG), a group of the campaign is Put u Europu or the Way international and national legal experts BiH until the adoption of an election law. to Europe. charged with drafting the Election Law. Subsequently, Ms. Jaksi\ was promoted Three months earlier, in December Ms. Ane Jaksi\, a member of the to Deputy Director General of Elections 1998, the Madrid Peace Implementation ELWG, has been closely involved in the and, upon returning to the PEC in 1999 Council had requested that the OSCE law’s drafting and the ELIC. Before the after a two-year hiatus, assumed the posi- ‘develop a public outreach programme to 1992-1995 war, Ms. Jaksi\ served as the tion of Associate General Director of introduce the permanent election law and Deputy Director of the Office for Public Elections. aid in its passage through the BiH Par- Administration of BiH, working in the “It is important to know that the liamentary Assembly’. Election Department. In 1996, Ms. ELWG national members had a lot of To meet these objectives – introduc- Jaksi\ joined the OSCE’s Provisional influence during the drafting of the Elec- ing the law and assisting in its passage – Election Commission (PEC), the body tion Law. The national members knew the OSCE Mission to BiH implemented tasked with administering elections in better than anybody that they had to

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 No. 11/12 11 make a law which would give the voters tions – at the state, entity and cantonal ever. As the BiH Parliamentary Assem- a chance to choose moderate representa- levels. So it was very difficult to make a bly considers the draft law, the ELIC tives, which will eventually lead to a final law that would fit all these constitutions continues to involve the BiH public in an peace in BiH”, Ms. Jaksi\ explained. without requiring major changes to any on-going debate about the law and its key “The ELIC started in March of this year, of them. As well, many people had provisions, through local roundtable dis- and helped a great deal in finding out vested interests in maintaining the cur- cussions, brochures, billboards and tele- what the people of Bosnia and Herze- rent system”, said Ms. Jaksi\. vision, radio and print advertising and govina wanted in their Election Law. Cit- informational programming. Many of izens wanted more accountability from these events feature members of the their elected representatives, and the “This Election Law ELWG. introduction of the Open List system and “Discussions that are being held on electoral units will ensure this.” has no preferences the draft Election Law by the ELIC are The Campaign’s educational activi- showing that there are huge differences ties across BiH have included commu- for anyone except in the thinking between BiH’s politicians nity meetings and other grassroots out- for the voter.” and its people – differences in interpret- reach activities, public opinion polling ing the Dayton Peace Accords, and dif- aimed at gauging the public mood on key ferences in the perception of what Bosnia electoral issues, and various other public “Fortunately, changes in the consti- and Herzegovina should be”, Ms. Jaksi\ activities geared towards generating tutions of cantons and entities were pos- added. “After the draft Election Law was awareness of, and public feedback on, sible, such as changing the number of done, neither the ruling parties nor the key issues related to the country’s Elec- elected representatives or the length of opposition parties were satisfied with it. tion Law. mandates, because the highest legal This Law has no preferences for anyone However, despite massive input from authority for elections in BiH resides except for the voter.” across BiH, the drafting of the Election with the Constitution of Bosnia and Law was far from simple. Herzegovina.” Mr. Clarey is a Public Information “The problem while drafting the With the public release of the draft Officer in the OSCE Mission to Bosnia Election Law was in the constitutional- Election Law, continued citizen partici- and Herzegovina. legal field. In BiH there are 13 constitu- pation in this process is as important as

One of the election law information campaign posters, reading ‘The road to Europe depends on you.’

NEWSLETTER 12 Vol. 6 No. 11/12 Staffing the OSCE field activities The OSCE Secretariat is the principal institution responsible for supporting the Organization’s operational activities. This includes providing the human resources for the more than 20 field activities, which the Organization has deployed. There are now over 1,000 international mission members in all OSCE field activities, and their number is constantly increasing.

The role of Mission Staffing The process of staffing a mission begins with a Permanent Council decision on a mandate for a field activity. Then a staffing table is drawn up, based on the requirements of mandate implementation, and the profiles of the candidates needed to cover specific positions are identified. The Secretariat issues vacancy notices and invites national Delegations to propose candidates with the appropriate qualifications to work in the Mission on the terms of secondment. Mission staffing officers screen the incoming cur- ricula vitae, with the aim of maintaining a high professional level while ensuring New Kosovo Mission members visiting the OSCE facilities in Vienna a national and gender balance among seconded mission members. ernment to the Secretariat in Vienna. The fessional environment of the OSCE, in- Once the mission staffing officers normal duration of an assignment is six cluding gender issues. Mission members have identified a candidate for a given months, with possible extensions for fur- of the three largest OSCE Missions – post, this candidate is proposed to the ther periods of six months. For a small Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Head of the relevant mission. The Head number of highly specialized adminis- Croatia – undergo further, mission-spe- of Mission reviews the candidacy and trative posts in the larger OSCE Mis- cific, training once deployed. Feedback approves those who fit the needs of the sions, the OSCE offers fixed contracts from Mission members is used to improve Mission at that moment. The future mis- for some administrative and finance aspects of the recruitment procedure and sion member is then scheduled to partic- positions, but those are the exception: 95 the induction programme. ipate in the Induction Course in Vienna, per cent of all OSCE Mission members before being deployed to the mission. are on secondment. Improving the Organization’s capabil- The candidates for which no position has After deployment, the Mission Staffing ity to respond – the REACT concept been identified are put on ‘stand by’ for Section will continue to assist all Mis- At the Istanbul Summit the partici- further position openings. In both cases, sion members in all administrative and pating States recognized the need to candidates receive notification through personal issues, such as insurance and reduce the response time in reacting to their Delegations. A particular challenge travel arrangements. potential or actual crises. Thus, they have has been the staffing of the Mission in agreed to create Rapid Expert Assistance Kosovo, where around 700 international Induction Course and Co-operation Teams (REACT). positions required to be filled. This for new Mission members REACT will allow OSCE bodies and meant adopting special procedures, and All new Mission members attend an institutions, acting in accordance with currently the OSCE has now over 450 induction programme before their deploy- their respective procedures, to offer international staff in position. ment to the field. The programme includes experts quickly to OSCE participating A Mission member is seconded by an overview of the Organization and its States to provide assistance, in compli- his or her nation. That means that s/he structures, background on the specific ance with OSCE norms, in conflict pre- has to be nominated by his or her gov- mission area, and issues regarding the pro- Continued on page 29

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 No. 11/12 13 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, an Advisory and Monitoring Group in Belarus, and a Project Co-ordinator for the Ukraine. The following are highlights from the work of some of the field operations during the past month.

Skrunda radar station – correction security in the region, particularly the zine, Povratak. The magazine addresses In the October issue of the OSCE question of water resources. the cause of refugees and displaced per- Newsletter, two factual mistakes found sons from Banja Luka. Both radio sta- their way into the article on the disman- OSCE hosts Tajik fine arts exhibition tions will broadcast programmes focus- tling of the Skrunda radar station in The OSCE Mission in Tajikistan ing on key social issues, including pri- Latvia. The total number of inspections opened on its premises the first of a series vatization, the election law, freedom of of the site amounted to 12 (not seven), of Tajik fine arts exhibitions. On 8 the media and refugee return. and the report on the completed switch- November, representatives of the Tajik ing off of the radar station was issued on political and cultural establishment, the First of several NGO centres 3 September, 1998 (not 1999). We regret diplomatic community in Tajikistan, celebrates opening in Kosovo any inconvenience that may have resulted media and the public attended the exhi- The OSCE Mission in Kosovo opened from these mistakes. bition at the OSCE Mission. The exhibi- its first NGO Centre in Peja/Pec on 19 tion is meant to draw attention to the cul- November. The event was celebrated Management of trans-boundary tural development in Tajikistan and in with a 10-kilometre Run For Democracy water resources discussed in Almaty Central Asia as a whole. The idea of a relay event, which attracted about 150 High-level officials from Kazakh- joint Central Asian arts exhibition, which people, including teams from local stan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan addressed would be displayed throughout the school classes, KFOR and the OSCE. the issue of trans-boundary water region, was also put forward. Known as “Democracy Café”, the resources in Central Asia, from 9 to 11 new centre provides local NGOs with November. The seminar, jointly orga- ‘Helpline’ for journalists set up access to office and training facilities and nized by the OSCE Centre in Almaty, in Bosnia and Herzegovina resources. The aim is to create a favor- Kazakhstan, and the Regional Office of On 11 November, the OSCE Mission able environment for NGO and civil the United States Agency for Interna- to Bosnia and Herzegovina announced society structures within Kosovo. By tional Development, focused on the issue the establishment of a ‘helpline’ to aid in establishing NGO centres throughout of access to water resources in the region. the protection of journalists’ rights. The Kosovo, the OSCE is contributing to the Delegates to the seminar examined help line will allow journalists who have goal of building democratic institutions the various international legal instru- been threatened, intimidated, harassed, for individuals and organizations. The ments that relate to the management of or deprived of their rights, to contact the Peja/Pec centre has two rooms for meet- trans-boundary water resources in the Mission directly by a telephone number ings and conferences. Facilities such as region and discussed their respective or an e-mail address established specifi- computers, copying machines, phones national positions regarding these instru- cally for this purpose. and faxes will be available. Space for a ments. reading room will be added soon. The management of water resources Fourth round of grants There is currently a significant level is one of the fundamental environmental to media distributed in BiH of civil society activity in Kosovo. Many issues in the region. The drying up of the In the fourth round of its Small Kosovo NGOs operated prior to the Aral Sea is one extreme example of water Grants Programme, dedicated to pro- international intervention in Kosovo. resources overuse and mismanagement moting independent and pluralistic The remnants of many of these organi- that could have regional security reper- media, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and zations continue to exist today but often cussions. The Central Asian Republics Herzegovina provided funding for two in a disjointed manner, without any office have called on the OSCE to assist in radio stations, Osvit from Zvornik and space or resources. Therefore, this is ful- addressing the environmental issues of Best from Sipovo, as well as one maga- filling an immediate identifiable need

NEWSLETTER 14 Vol. 6 No. 11/12 enforcement officials throughout South-Eastern Europe. The problem of organized crime in the region has continued to grow, undermining the rule of law and the development of democratic societies in the region. Given the international scale of the problem, an effective strategy needs to embrace all the affected countries in the region. The meeting aimed at laying the foundations for such a strategy. The results and conclusions of the meeting will be put forward to the governments in the region, with a view to gaining their active involvement. The conclusions of the meeting included developing working- level contacts between the national law A Run for Democracy celebrated the opening of the first NGO Centre in Kosovo. enforcement agencies, and establishing task forces to focus on specific issues, for local NGOs who have welcomed the The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has such as the trafficking in human beings. opening of the NGO centres. The Mis- directed $80,000 to provide immediate sion in Kosovo, which will also use the support to the Emergency Judicial Sys- 22 obstructionist public officials premises for carrying out training pro- tem in Kosovo. The money will be used removed from office in BiH grammes and to facilitate meetings, is in for purchasing computers, photocopying In a joint statement, the OSCE Mis- the process of setting up several other machines, typewriters and stationery for sion to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the NGO Centers in Kosovo in the coming the district courts and prosecutors offices Office of the High Representative (OHR) months. in the four main cities of Kosovo. Funds announced the removal of 22 elected will also be used to buy furniture and officials for pursuing an “anti-Dayton, OSCE provides legal training fund emergency repairs of the courts. anti-peace, anti-reconciliation and extra- for women leaders in Uzbekistan The project is carried out in co-ordi- legal agenda.” The officials will also be More than 100 women leaders work- nation with the United Nations Civil banned from running in the municipal ing in local government, NGOs, media Administration. The funds were provided election scheduled for 8 April 2000 and and political parties in Uzbekistan par- from a $1.1 million grant received from thereafter cannot apply to run for public ticipated in legal training organized by the United States. It was decided to give office without the approval of the High the OSCE Central Asia Liaison Office immediate material aid to the courts Representative. (CALO). The series of workshops, held because of a critical situation where The OSCE and OHR principals noted throughout the country from 2 to 12 courts do not have even basic stationery that they removed the officials with “con- November, concluded the ‘Civic and items, such as pencils and paper. siderable regret”, but were bound to do Legal Education for Women pro- so as the officials had “consistently gramme, which the CALO has been OSCE targets organized crime refused to take ownership of the laws of implementing since August. The leader- in South-Eastern Europe their own nation by refusing to obey the ship training focused on presentation The OSCE Mission in Croatia hosted letter or the spirit of the law, regulation skills, public speaking, ability to com- a meeting on organized crime in South- and court rulings.” municate with the media, lobbying and Eastern Europe, held from 23 to 24 Nov- Public reaction to the removals has networking tactics. ember in Zagreb. Participants discussed been very positive. Opposition leaders ways of countering the development of have supported the decisions, and the Aid worth $80,000 provided to organized crime in the region, initially reaction of the ruling parties has been Kosovo Emergency Judicial System by enhancing co-operation between law muted.

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 No. 11/12 15 Die Presse, 18 November function with which it had been entrusted. PRESS PROFILE ‘After nine years, four Balkan wars However, the OSCE is not useless. It has The following are and several bloody conflicts on the terri- missions in 20 countries, supervising exerpts from inter- tory of the former Soviet Union, disillu- elections or maintaining a semblance of national media on sionment about “the new Europe” has set monitoring fragile ceasefires, but without the OSCE and its in – in many respects, it has remained the ever having sufficient muscle to make activities over the old, quarrelling, divided Europe. The itself respected.’ preceding weeks. CSCE has evolved into the OSCE: a bustling organization, busy as a crisis fire Financial Times, 19 November brigade in many Central European and ‘Every crisis provides an awkward Istanbul Summit Central Asian conflict areas – but only if reality check for the Organization for the parties to the conflicts allow and if Security and Co-operation in Europe. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the missions have been given appropri- Yesterday at the Organization’s Istanbul 3 November ate mandates. What these OSCE mis- Summit, it faced the challenge of mea- ‘The Organization for Security and sions actually achieve in conflict man- suring the “virtual” security charter and Co-operation in Europe, which as a mat- agement is difficult to judge. In any case, arms control treaty, which diplomats have ter of fact covers the area between Van- definitely useful in conflict prevention is spent years preparing, against the reality couver and Vladivostok, seldom makes the OSCE High Commissioner on of Chechnya. And last night, it seemed itself heard in spite of its persistent National Minorities – it is only that his the only outcome would be a fudge.” efforts. The reason for this is that among results are based on discreet diplomacy, the more than 50 member states (sic) which means his successes will be hard Süddeutsche Zeitung, 19 November there are quite a few pulling the brakes. to sell to the public. The OSCE has also ‘The conflict in Chechnya shows When the leaders of these countries meet been helpful in building democratic clearly the limitations of the OSCE. In every fourth year, however, no-one wants structures in certain statesÉ Basically, times of serious crises, it is too weak to to be seen as breaking the rules. This is the same rule applies to the OSCE as to be able to enforce its principles. At the probably the explanation for the aston- all international institutions: it can only same time, it is the only instrument that ishing noises that are coming out of be as strong as its member states (sic) transcends the new demarcation lines of Minsk and Moscow these days, immedi- will allow it to be. The OSCE diplomats international security policy and exactly ately before one such Summit meeting, in Vienna can draw up as grandiose plans corresponds to the regions where the this time in Istanbul.’ for security, confidence building and trouble spots of today’s world are situ- conflict management in Europe as they ated. This is the dilemma facing the Reuters, 9 November wish, but if there are no possibilities for Heads of State and Heads of Govern- ‘The OSCE’s role changed in the 1990s. sanctions against violations, the issue ment: if you want to carry the issue to It has increasingly become involved in remains toothless.’ the extreme, you will destroy the OSCE. monitoring elections in former communist If you want to preserve a small spark of countries, promoting media freedom, set- Libération, 19 November hope and to continue using the well rec- ting standards and providing experts on ‘In the times of unlimited optimism ognized achievements of the organiza- minority rights and helping in conflict immediately after the end of the Cold tion, you need to find the right mix of prevention and civilian crisis management. War, it appeared possible to harmo- firmness and consideration.’ These unspectacular measures, along niously manage relations between ancient with the patient work of the OSCE High enemies on European soil. The OSCE La Stampa, 20 November Commissioner on National Minorities, was part of this new security architecture ‘The OSCE is an organization with Max van der Stoel, constitute the real that was designed not only to heal con- great ambitions but little power to act. It added value of the Organization. “Pro- flicts, but to “prevent” them. Ten years is supposed to supervise security in vided we don’t overload expectations, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, this beau- Europe, human rights, the identity of the OSCE can do a modest amount of tiful scheme is in a bad stateÉ The minorities and the right of populations to good in an imperfect world,” a British OSCE never had the slightest chance to make a democratic choice, but it lacks official said.’ fulfil the ambitious conflict prevention the instruments to implement these prin-

NEWSLETTER 16 Vol. 6 No. 11/12 ciples without the co-operation of the in the structure of the OrganizationÉ bad oneÉ Ten years after the fall of the states that are violating them.’ Such an institution cannot mobilize Berlin Wall and the end of the confronta- much striking power, and meetings of the tion between two military alliances in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, super-organization usually do not carry middle of Europe, the guiding principle 20 November much substance. But how could it be oth- of the CSCE process, which started ‘After tough negotiations with Rus- erwise in a community of states that tries almost 25 years ago in Helsinki, remains sia over recognizing a humanitarian and to bring countries as different as Uzbek- a beautiful vision: that democracy, rule of political role for the Organization for istan and Hungary, Georgia and Greece, law and freedom for the individual are the Security and Co-operation in Europe in France, Latvia, the United States and best guarantees for a peaceful coexistence the Chechen conflict, the organization’s Russia under the same roof. The inter- of nations, their common economic devel- Summit meeting that ended on Friday ests and positions of these countries are opment and the establishment of a stable turned out to be a moderate success.’ so different and sometimes so contradic- international order. ‘In any case, no strengthening of the tory that even the European Union, in The optimism that dominated the OSCE took place. It is true that in the comparison, looks like a firmly man- Summit meeting in Paris in 1990 long ago future, even more than is the case today, aged, monolithic institution with a clear gave way to disillusionment. The often criticism of unruly members will have a and coherent policy.’ violent and bloody conflicts of interest contractual basis; however, as before, the and nationality in the Balkans and in the mechanisms to implement this will be Izvestia, 20 November Caucasus have shown that security in lacking.’ ‘The OSCE meeting in Istanbul will Europe can be endangered not only go down in history as “the Chechnya Sum- through the power ambitions of individ- Süddeutsche Zeitung, 20 November mit”. That is not an exaggeration. Rus- ual states, but also through group antago- ‘Clearly to be seen at the Istanbul sia was at the centre of attention – Rus- nisms within individual states. This real- OSCE Summit was a reduction of poli- sia with the bleeding issue of Chechnya.’ ization is included as an important prin- tics, in absurdum, as a matter of fact ciple in the Charter for European Security degenerating into a poker game at the Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 20 November that was approved by the Heads of State highest level, with a dramaturgy that pro- ‘The failure of the OSCE in solving and Heads of Government in Istanbul. In vided for more than one adrenaline shot. specific conflicts and especially the practice, the OSCE has al-ready long ago So much agitation and so little sleep has NATO aggression against Yugoslavia in taken on these conflicts. It is active in seldom been experienced beforeÉ The 1999 has diminished the authority of the almost all new states that appeared in the OSCE negotiation circus trekked to the Organization in the worldÉ The OSCE Balkans and on the territory of the dis- conference site 10 days before the arrival Summit meeting in Istanbul became a solved Soviet Union.’ of the Heads of State and their Ministers. real test of the Organization’s efficiency.’ Not a few diplomats are comparing the Le Monde, 26 November gathering with a commercial fair, where Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, ‘Charged, as its name implies, with buyers and sellers are staying in neat 22 November promoting security in Europe, (the hotels and doing their business deals in ‘A “glorious” achievementÉ that is, OSCE) is showing a glaring lack of effi- informal and often chummy circles.’ indeed, not the right way to characterize cacy in the moment when the war bet- ‘It would be, of course, too cheap to the Istanbul Summit meeting of the ween Russians and Chechens is threat- portray the whole Summit meeting as Organization for Security and Co-oper- ening to destabilize the whole Cauca- one big failure. The two-day meeting at ation in Europe. These gatherings of sus... but there will be, one day, a price the Bosporus did achieve what it could Heads of State and Heads of Government to be paid (for this indifference).’ achieve – no more, but also no less. The from 54 member states (sic), nowadays arms reduction treaty especially deserves taking place every third year, have shown Der Standard, 27 November praise. It can offer a solid basis for less- that the OSCE, like life itself, all the time ‘It would really be too cheap to make ening tensions in the future. The OSCE has had to endure the tension between a laughing stock of the OSCE because of might have failed elsewhere, but this is principles and reality. Since decisions its obvious difficulties. Besides the tru- not the fault of the conference partici- can be taken only on a consensual basis, ism that organizations only have the pants in Istanbul. It is something in-built the result will be a compromise, often a power to do what their members want

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 No. 11/12 17 them to do, one has to admit that the helping Kosovars create their own insti- in which the OSCE Mission to Belarus, OSCE, in principle, gets attention only tutionsÉ The United Nations and the the new opposition leaders and some when it has failed. The tedious, unspec- OSCE seem intent on erecting bureau- members of the government of Belarus tacular work, for example, with NGOs in cratic structures for long-term interna- have played the main rolesÉ Govern- OSCE member states (sic), where demo- tional administration rather than on ment and opposition have recognized cracy and civil society must be laborious- encouraging eventual self-government.’ each other as negotiating partners and ly made to develop, is gratefully acknow- have agreed that the OSCE participates ledged by those involved who know that The Washington Post, 25 November as a mediator in the talks as well as pro- the people from the OSCE are the only ‘The UN administrators (of Kosovo) vides technical support for them.’ ones interested in their fateÉ It remains, have to do better at basic tasks of rebuild- however, a fact that the governments of ing and restoring water and electricity. Kazakhstan the member statesÉ as a rule do not lis- Other organizations, such as the Organi- ten to the OSCE. In the current case of zation for Security and Co-operation in Reuters, 5 November Russia and Chechnya, the OSCE is Europe, have to stop squabbling and ‘Kazakhstan’s President, Nursultan speaking with a very, very soft voice.’ competing for power.’ Nazarbayev, has blasted the Organiza- tion for Security and Co-operation in Kosovo Belarus Europe for criticizing national elections, saying its officials acted like communist- The New York Times, 24 November Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, era party instructorsÉ He said the ‘More than five months after the 3 November OSCE’s criticism amounted to interfer- withdrawal of Serbian forces, Kosovo ‘The government of BelarusÉ has ence in Kazakhstan’s internal affairs.’ still lacks basic water, electricity and suddenly declared itself to be ready for sanitation services. With police scarce a dialogue with the opposition, which Uzbekistan and courts non-existent, criminals con- should culminate in free parliamentary trol the streets while non-ethnic-Alba- elections next year. In addition, the oppo- Nezavisimaya Gazeta, 20 November nian residents, whether Serbs, Gypsies or sition would soon get access to state ‘On the eve of the Istanbul Summit, Bosnian Muslims, are being burned out mediaÉ The Head of the OSCE Mission the President of Uzbekistan, Islam Kari- of their homes. European donors have in Minsk, Wieck, has succeeded in get- mov, criticized the OSCE for paying too been slow in following through on their ting the government and the opposition much attention to legal questions and too pledges of financial help, and many to start a negotiating process.’ little to security problems. He believes countries have lagged in providing vol- that terrorism is the main threat to secu- unteers for the short-staffed international Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, rity todayÉ According to Islam Kari- police. Officials from the United Nations 5 November mov, the OSCE should play a more active and the Organization for Security and ‘The fact that the preconditions for a role in forming a system of regional secu- Co-operation in Europe spend too much roundtable dialogue between the gov- rity in the Central Asia region.’ time and money building up their rival ernment and the opposition now exist is bureaucratic empires and not enough the result of a tedious mediating process

Recent publications on the OSCE Packer, John, The Role of the High Commissioner on National Minorities in the Former Yugoslavia, ambridge Review of International Relations, Volume XII, No. 2 spring/summer 1999, pp. 169-184. Peace and Stability through Human and Minority Rights. Speeches by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities. Edited by Wolfgang Zellner and Falk Lange, Baden-Baden, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, 1999.

NEWSLETTER 18 Vol. 6 No. 11/12 from the OSCE Secretary General NEWS and the Secretariat The OSCE Secretary is located at Kärntner Ring 5-7, A-1010 Vienna, Austria, tel.: (+43-1) 514 36 96, e-mail: [email protected]

Working visits the Council of Europe and the East-West ing topics ranging from confidence- The OSCE Secretary General, Jan Kubis, Institute. Political parties, Montenegrin building to the security model. and the OSCE Co-ordinator of Environ- governmental authorities, non-governmental and Economic Activities, Tom mental organizations, local authorities Summit activities Price, attended the Central European Ini- and other organizations from Serbia and The month of November was espe- tiative (CEI) Summit held in Prague from Montenegro came together at the forum. cially marked by activities surrounding 3 to 6 November. The Stability Pact was the OSCE Istanbul Summit. Ambassador for South-Eastern Europe the main focus Annual Mediterranean Seminar Kubis addressed the Review Conference of the Forum and the Summit Meeting. Preparations continued during No- on 8-10 November, and participated in the Ambassador Kubis delivered a statement vember for this year’s Mediterranean Summit on 18-19 November. On the mar- to the CEI Summit in which he noted that Seminar, which was dueto be held in gins of the Summit he met several Heads the CEI and the OSCE were being Amman, Jordan, on 6-7 December. The of Delegations and Foreign Ministers. brought closer together by the Stability theme of this meeting was to be ‘Imple- OSCE Secretariat staff from Conference Pact. He also emphasized the degree to mentation of Human Dimension Com- Services, Language Services, Informa- which co-operation between the OSCE mitments.’ The Seminar will include ses- tion Technology and Press and Public and the CEI exists. Mr. Price contributed sions on risks and challenges of the Information were focusing efforts on to the CEI Summit Economic Forum, human dimension, experiences gained in ensuring a smooth and efficient Summit which was held parallel to the Summit. OSCE field operations, and the future of in Istanbul. A number of Secretariat staff The Head of the Mission Liaison Sec- the OSCE Mediterranean dialogue. members arrived in Istanbul in advance tion of the Conflict Prevention Center, International organizations and non- to co-ordinate with the host county’s Fredrik Schiller, attended the second governmental organizations were invited organizing team. The organization of the Open Forum on the future of the Federal to attend the Seminar with the OSCE Summit was considered a great success, Republic of Yugoslavia on 21-22 Nov- Delegations. Since 1995, four Mediter- and much appreciation was shown for the ember in Strasbourg, co-sponsored by ranean Seminars have been held, cover- efforts of the Secretariat staff.

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

ELECTIONS Parliamentary The mission found the election to be a Presidential election in the fYROM election in Georgia step towards compliance with OSCE An ODIHR election observation mis- An ODIHR election commitments, although during the sec- sion was established in the former Yugo- observation mission, ond round they were marred by irregu- slav Republic of Macedonia at the end of headed by Nikolai larities in some districts. The OSCE Par- September for the two rounds of the pres- Vulchanov, was estab- liamentary Assembly also participated in idential election that took place on 31 lished in Georgia on 23 September to observing the first round of the elections; October and 14 November. The mission observe the first round of the Georgian Mr. Bruce George was appointed as Spe- was headed by Mark Stevens, seconded parliamentary election on 31 October cial Representative of the OSCE Chair- by the United Kingdom Government. and the second round on 14 November. man-in-Office. Based on the overall findings from the

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 No. 11/12 19 ployed a limited assessment mission, headed by Ambas- sador Madelaine Stroje- Wilkens of Sweden, in mid- November.

Parliamentary election in Turkmenistan In November, the ODIHR decided not to observe the parliamentary election in Turk- menistan scheduled for 12 December. The decision was based on serious concerns that the election process under the existing legal framework and political atmosphere could not comply with any OSCE commitments. Counting the ballots at the second round of the elections in Ukraine. Parliamentary election two rounds, the ODIHR election obser- owned media comprehensively failed to in the Russian Federation vation mission concluded that the elec- live up to their legal obligation to pro- The ODIHR election observation toral process was generally carried out vide balanced and unbiased reporting on mission for the 19 December parliamen- satisfactorily, and in general accordance the candidates and the campaign in the tary elections in the Russian Federation, with OSCE commitments. However, the news coverage of both rounds. More sig- headed by Ambassador Edouard Brun- observation mission urged the authori- nificantly, the observation mission uncov- ner, was officially launched on 10 Novem- ties to investigate a high voter turnout in ered evidence that state institutions sys- ber. As of the end of November, the mis- some districts. Following the decision of tematically campaigned for the incum- sion had opened 11 regional offices the Supreme Court to cancel the results bent during the second round. across the Russian Federation to moni- in a number of polling stations, the tor the election campaign and process. ODIHR decided to send Mr. Stevens Presidential election in Tajikistan back to the country to co-ordinate the For the presidential election in Tajik- DEMOCRATIZATION observation of the repeat election, sched- istan on 6 November, one ODIHR expert uled for 5 December. was deployed in Dushanbe. The ODIHR ODIHR presents its declined to deploy an observation or action plan to combat Presidential election in Ukraine assessment mission for the presidential trafficking in human In Ukraine, the ODIHR established election as a result of the authorities’ fail- beings an election observation mission, headed ure to ensure a competitive election. On the margins of the by Simon Osborn, seconded by the UK OSCE Istanbul Summit on 18-19 Government, on 15 September. The mis- Parliamentary election in Uzbekistan November, the ODIHR presented an sion observed both rounds of the presi- The ODIHR decided not to undertake action plan to combat trafficking in dential election held on 31 October and a full observation of the 5 December par- human beings. A special side meeting 14 November. In post-election state- liamentary election in Uzbekistan. This devoted to this issue was moderated by ments, the ODIHR observation mission decision was based on concerns that the the OSCE Chairman, Norwegian For- concluded that the elections failed to broad electoral framework in Uzbekistan eign Minister Knut Vollebaek. It was meet a number of OSCE commitments. does not permit a truly pluralist, compet- addressed by a number of Heads of State In particular, the electronic and State- itive election. Instead, the ODIHR de- or Government and by the First Lady of

NEWSLETTER 20 Vol. 6 No. 11/12 the United States, Mrs. Hillary Rodham The programme includes informa- randum of Understanding signed with the Clinton. The ODIHR plan includes con- tion on Poland as an important country Government of Kazakhstan, which is to crete recommendations to the participat- of origin, transit and destination, taking be commended for its open approach to ing States and the OSCE Institutions at into account the various legal, social, discussing potentially sensitive issues. all levels, and proposes actions to en- economic, and human rights aspects con- The meetings took place in the Atyrau hance prevention, prosecution of traf- nected to trafficking. Participants are and Karaganda regions and each brought ficking perpetrators, and protection of also trained in dealing with the victims together about 50 participants, including the rights of trafficked persons. of trafficking. The UK has provided prison governors, NGO representatives Specific priorities are: financial support for this project. and officials from the Ministry of the ■ Strengthening the legal framework to Interior. Senior experts on prison reform better protect the rights of women and Advisory panel on prevention of and rehabilitation of torture victims, from girls and to punish the traffickers; torture convenes in Istanbul the UK and Estonia respectively, moder- ■ Increasing public awareness, including The third meeting of the ODIHR Advi- ated both meetings. The meetings were training officials on the human rights sory Panel for the Prevention of Torture divided into working groups, where the implications of trafficking; took place on the margins of the OSCE participants discussed the United Nations ■ Assisting governments and NGOs to Review Conference in Istanbul on 10 standard minimum rules for the treatment provide greater protection and assis- November. The panel members reviewed of prisoners, the establishment of a prison tance to victims of trafficking. the implementation of current ODIHR service training centre, and ideas for re- The plan builds on the preliminary rec- projects relating to the prevention of tor- organizing the prison system. ommendations contained in the ODIHR ture, and provided important guidance The fact that participants were for the background paper, ‘Trafficking in Human and advice to improve the effectiveness first time invited to discuss in working Beings: Implications for the OSCE’, of the ODIHR’s approach. The experts groups prompted a lively meeting with a which was prepared in conjunction with also discussed projects planned for the very high volume of questions addressed the 1999 OSCE Review Conference in year 2000. It was agreed that the panel to the international experts. The civil Vienna, in order to provide general back- should meet once every year. In future, society assistance programme is part of ground information on the problem of the meeting will be extended by half a the Joint ODIHR-European Commission trafficking and to begin exploring the day to give more time for the discussion Programme for Advancing Human role of the OSCE. Both documents are of strategic issues. Rights and Democratization in Central also available in the news section of the The meeting proved very valuable for Asia. It is also supported by a voluntary ODIHR website: the ODIHR in ensuring its activities do contribution from the UK. http://www.osce.org/odihr not duplicate the work of others and to verify and reflect its approach from dif- Review undertaken of Kazakh Workshops on human trafficking ferent perspectives. The Advisory Panel’s legislation against torture taking place in Poland activities are supported by voluntary Within the context of the Legislative In November, La Strada, a Polish contributions from the UK Government. Reform Assistance Project (which is part NGO, conducted the first of six ODIHR- of the same ODIHR-EC joint programme sponsored regional training workshops Meetings held in Kazakhstan mentioned above) the ODIHR expert, in the Szczecin region of Poland on the on prevention of torture Bill Bowring, has prepared a report on problem of trafficking in women. Addi- The ODIHR, in co-operation with the compliance of Kazakh domestic legisla- tional workshops will be taking place in OSCE Centre in Almaty, the Kazakh tion with the United Nations Convention various border regions of Poland until Ministry of the Interior and the Kazakh against Torture. The report is based on July 2000. The purpose of the project is Bureau for Human Rights and the Rule an analysis of the most pertinent Kazakh to raise awareness of the problem of traf- of Law, organized two meetings in legislation relating to the prevention of ficking in women among relevant groups November between Government offi- torture, inhuman and degrading treat- of professionals such as social workers, cials and representatives of NGOs to dis- ment and on information gathered by the policemen, border guards, prosecutors, cuss the prevention of torture. They were expert during the working group meet- teachers, local government representa- held under a civil society assistance pro- ings also mentioned above. The report tives and journalists. gramme that forms part of the Memo- was officially submitted to members of

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 No. 11/12 21 the working group, including the Secre- campaign managers. The participants As a next step the ODIHR expert will tary of the Human Rights Commission, learned lobbying, debating, campaigning provide written comments on the present Mr. Baikadamov, on 16 November. It and issue-identifying skills through draft law to the working group. The was also sent to the Ministry of Foreign active participation in group work and ODIHR stands ready to assist Kazakhstan Affairs. practical training. The training also with the further elaboration and public The report sets out a number of rec- included basic knowledge of CEDAW discussion of a draft law. This assistance ommendations on legislative reform in (the UN Convention on the Elimination to the establishment of an Ombudsman Kazakhstan. The expert concluded, inter of All Forms of Discrimination Against office forms part of the same ODIHR-EC alia, that the Kazakh criminal code does Women) and women’s human rights. joint programme and is co-funded by the not contain a definition of torture and The participants assessed the project Government of Denmark. inhuman and degrading treatment that as very useful; the first phase of the train- covers the full scope of the Convention. ing had already contributed significantly Roundtable on Azeri election law In addition, he pointed to inconsistencies to developing skills and building up con- held in Baku in the scope of the prohibition in differ- fidence among participants, which then High level representatives from the ent legal texts, such as the code of crim- enabled them to engage more actively in Government, the Office of the President, inal procedure, that should be rectified. public life and, in some cases, facilitated the Parliament, the Central Election The expert also addressed the lack of the decision to run for Parliament. Commission (CEC), opposition parties sufficient preventive safeguards under The training was co-organized with (Popular Front, Musavat and ANIP) and Kazakh law. His recommendations relate the OSCE Centre in Bishkek with assis- NGOs participated in a roundtable on the to the question of access to legal coun- tance from the office of the National CEC Law, organized by the ODIHR in sel at all stages and to the question of Democratic Institute. Training for the Baku on 16 November and co-chaired by judicial control of detention. first and final stages was conducted by Mr. Murtuz Aleskerov, Speaker of Par- the Active Learning Centre, based in the liament, and Ambassador Gérard Stoud- ODIHR helps NGOs at the UNDP UK. mann, the ODIHR Director. The purpose regional conference of the roundtable, an initiative by the The ODIHR supported and facili- Assistance given to establishing an ODIHR following the 1998 presidential tated the participation of NGOs at the Ombudsman office in Kazakhstan elections, was to re-establish a political UNDP Regional Conference on Ombuds- Following a two-day seminar on the dialogue on election issues among oppo- man and National Human Rights Insti- development of an Ombudsman office in sition and ruling parties following the tution, held in Almaty on 15-17 Novem- Kazakhstan in early September, the last elections. ber, and sent representatives from Azer- ODIHR and other organizations involved On the agenda was a discussion on baijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, – the United Nations High Commissioner the draft CEC Law, which was due to be Turkmenistan and Ukraine. The Confer- for Human Rights (UNHCHR) and UN presented for a second reading in late ence dealt with the question of estab- Development Programme (UNDP) – pro- November. The ODIHR presented com- lishing benchmarks to judge the success vided expert advice to the ad hoc work- ments to this law in early November, rec- of such institutions, their role in multi- ing group on Ombudsman legislation, ommending that the selection mecha- ethnic societies and their relationship which met on 12-15 November. nism for CEC members should guaran- with NGOs and the media. The ODIHR consultant, Dean Got- tee representation by the main political tehrer, and those of the other organiza- interests. Although no concrete proposal Women in Politics Project tions focused on the conceptual ques- for modifying the selection mechanism concludes in Kyrgyzstan tions of the independence of such an for CEC members reached consensus, The final phase of the ODIHR’s institution, the transparency of the the roundtable discussions again empha- ‘Women in Politics’ project took place appointment process and the question of sized the problem, and provided some in Kyrgyzstan on 22-26 November, pluralism in its composition. Following ideas for its resolution. All participants focusing on training for women candi- the discussions, the working group pre- evaluated the roundtable as an important dates. Twelve candidates for parliamen- sented a working draft to the UNDP Con- and constructive development in rela- tary elections in 2000 underwent a five- ference on Ombudsman in Almaty on 18 tions between the opposition and the day training course, together with their November. authorities.

NEWSLETTER 22 Vol. 6 No. 11/12 ODIHR advises on Ombudsman law tion Department of the Ministry of Inte- radio magazines on various human rights in Kyrgyzstan rior of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan’s Parlia- issues, to be broadcast on a weekly basis On 19-20 November, the ODIHR ment passed a Law on Registration from December, are being finalized in co- together with consultants from other which attempted to abolish many nega- operation with the BBC World Service. organizations (UNDP and UNHCHR) tive aspects of the propiska system in The Government of Norway provided provided expert advice to the consulta- 1996. However, some restrictions on financial support. tive group on Ombudsman legislation. choice of residence still exist in the pre- The two-day meeting addressed various sent law. One of the aspects that hampers Contact Point for Roma and Sinti issues including the transparency of the the practical work of registration offi- Issues launches website appointment process, the scope of the cials is the absence of by-laws and reg- Information on the ODIHR’s work mandate of an Ombudsman institution ulations on the implementation of the on the Roma and Sinti is now available and its composition. The ODIHR expert, Registration Law. online from a new website developed by Dean Gottehrer, will provide further Based on the discussions, the ODIHR the ODIHR Contact Point for Roma and written advice on the present draft law experts recommended, inter alia, review- Sinti Issues. The website, launched on 17 and stands ready to comment on following the Registration Law and the relevant November, provides information on the ing draft versions. The project is co- provisions of other laws with a view to Contact Point’s mandate as well as on funded by voluntary contributions from eliminating all restrictions on opportuni- ODIHR projects on the Roma and Sinti. the Danish Government and the Europeen ties to register and to establish mecha- It also contains a library of OSCE docu- Commission. nisms for inter-ministerial consultations ments relating to the Roma and Sinti and on registration issues, in order to raise a database of contact persons in other Workshop held on registration of awareness among the population of the international organizations and NGOs is permanent residents in Azerbaijan benefits of registration. in preparation. The Contact Point’s web- On 4-5 November, a workshop on the site can be found through a link from the registration of permanent residents in ODIHR projects to raise awareness main ODIHR internet site or directly Azerbaijan was organized by the ODIHR of human rights in the Caucasus under the address in close co-operation with the Human Three public awareness projects http://www.osce.org/odihr/cprsi Rights Institute of the Academy of Sci- under the Memoranda of Understanding ences of Azerbaijan and co-funded by the with Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan ODIHR appointed contact point for Governments of Norway and the United are now underway. The projects, which SE Europe Stability Pact States. The project is part of the Memo- aim at explaining basic human rights and The ODIHR strengthened its capac- randa of Understanding signed with the how these are protected by national leg- ity to contribute to the efforts of the Sta- Governments of Georgia, Armenia and islation in the respective countries, are bility Pact for South-Eastern Europe by Azerbaijan. designed in the form of radio or TV pro- creating a contact point for issues relat- During the workshop, which was grammes in the national languages. In ing to the OSCE Regional Strategy and attended by representatives of a number Armenia, the last of six TV programmes the Stability Pact. Since early November, of governmental agencies, international for 1999, on the rights of soldiers, is under Michael Meyer, who previously worked organizations and NGOs, ODIHR experts production and will be broadcast on State in the Rule of Law Unit, co-ordinates explained the incompatibility of the television. these issues in the office. He is also the Soviet-style propiska system with inter- In Georgia, the second radio pro- contact point for the projects of the national standards on freedom of move- gramme, devoted to the rights of refugees ODIHR Office in Montenegro and for ment and provided information on rele- and internally-displaced persons, was ODIHR activities in Kosovo. Among his vant reform efforts in other countries. produced and aired in November on two main tasks is exploring ways in which The current practices of registration of different radio stations, in both the Geor- the ODIHR can best contribute in its permanent residents were presented by gian and Russian languages. fields of experience to the efforts under the Head of the Passport and Registra- In Azerbaijan, the preparations for 16 the Stability Pact for SE Europe.

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 No. 11/12 23 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]

OSCE PA activities national reconciliation and support demo- tation on the role of parliamentarians and at the Istanbul Summit cratic institutions in transition countries. recalled that during its Eighth Annual In particular she mentioned the estab- Session last July in St. Petersburg, the President Helle Degn lished Democracy Teams on Kosovo, on OSCE Parliamentary Assembly unani- addresses Summit the Stability Pact for South-Eastern mously adopted a Resolution condemn- In her address to the OSCE Summit Europe, as well as the Democracy Team ing trafficking in women and children. on 18 November, Mrs. Helle Degn, Pres- on Moldova, whose mandate is to facil- “By adopting this Resolution,” she said, ident of the OSCE Parliamentary Assem- itate a solution of the Transdniestrian “the Parliamentary Assembly has con- bly, congratulated the Norwegian Chair- conflict. tributed to the visibility of this issue, manship and stated that the OSCE should Finally, Mrs. Degn drew attention to while in addition the Resolution can also seriously reconsider its decision-making the gender issue. While paying tribute to serve as a point of reference for discus- process, as advocated by the Parliamen- the efforts of the Norwegian Chairman- sion in parliaments and for NGOs tary Assembly since 1993. “It is hardly ship, she added: “The current gender throughout the OSCE area.” democratic when a single country can imbalance in the political concept and Mrs. Degn emphasized the special block the common will of 53 others and among the staff of the OSCE must not be role that parliamentarians have to play in can prevent essential and timely action allowed to continue. However, we should combating trafficking in human beings. when it is needed. We have consistently not limit our focus on international mat- Not only can they pass or even initiate advocated a modest change in the deci- ters of our Organization. We must strive the necessary legislative steps, but they sion-making process which would mean to promote equality for the women of all can also alert the public. Moreover, par- no single country vetoes”, said Mrs. Degn. our countries and, in particular, those liamentarians can work to establish spe- The President also reminded the struck by instability.” cial parliamentary committees that advise Summit that the OSCE Parliamentary legislative and administrative authori- Assembly still lacks formal status in the President Degn participates ties, control the implementation of mea- decision-making process of the Organi- in panel on combating trafficking sures against criminality and allocate zation. Many important decisions, such in human beings governmental funds for the combat of as the approval of the budget or appoint- On 18 November, President Helle organized international crime, including ment of senior officials are taken with- Degn participated in the panel on the role the trafficking in people. According to out any involvement or consultation of of the OSCE in Combating Trafficking President Degn the issue of trafficking in the Assembly, which represents “an obvi- in Human Beings. The panel, led by people needs more attention on both the ous democratic deficit in the OSCE”. Chairman-in-Office Knut Vollebaek, was national and international political scenes. According to Mrs. Degn, a Danish held on the margins of the Istanbul Sum- “I intend to follow up on the Resolu- MP, “democratically elected parliamen- mit and included presentations by Ms. tion adopted by the Parliamentary Assem- tarians have to stand up for the develop- Ruth Dreifuss, President of the Swiss bly this year by putting this item high on ment of democracy in their own interna- Confederation, Mr. Andris Skele, Prime the agenda of our next Annual Session tional organizations and should play a Minister of Latvia, Ms Tarja Halonen, in the year 2000. I also encourage all my crucial role as guardians of democracy, Foreign Minister of Finland, Ambassador colleagues to debate this issue in their transparency, accountability, the rule of Gérard Stoudmann, Director of ODIHR, national parliaments and to demand law and respect for human rights at the Ms. Stana Buchowska, representing the action”, said Mrs. Degn. national, regional and international level.” La Strada Foundation against Traffick- She emphasized the invaluable role ing in Women, and Mrs. Hillary Rodham The President’s bilateral meetings of parliamentary “democracy teams” in Clinton, First Lady of the United States. On the occasion of the OSCE Istan- helping to build democracy, promote President Degn focused her presen- bul Summit, Mrs. Helle Degn, met with

NEWSLETTER 24 Vol. 6 No. 11/12 OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Helle Degn addresses the Istanbul Summit.

President Eduard Shevardnadze of Geor- ister Matesa, and also mentioned her discussed a report of the Ad Hoc Com- gia, President Askar Akaev of Kyrgyzs- plans for a visit to the Caucasus in spring mittee on Election Monitoring. President tan, and President Heidar Aliev of Azer- 2000 to President Aliev and to Foreign Degn announced the appointment of the baijan, in order to discuss recent events Minister Oskanian. Democracy Teams on Kosovo, Moldova in their countries and the future plans of President Degn officially extended and the Stability Pact for South-Eastern the Parliamentary Assembly. President the condolences of the OSCE Parlia- Europe. The work of the Democracy Degn also met with Croatian Prime Min- mentary Assembly to the Armenian For- Team on Belarus was highly appreciated. ister Zlatko Matesa and Armenian For- eign Minister for the country’s losses The members ex-changed views regard- eign Minister Vardan Oskanian. from the October massacre in the Arme- ing a common theme for the next Annual While meeting with President She- nian Parliament. Session to be held in Bucharest next July. vardnadze, Mrs. Degn stressed her satis- Meeting of the Expanded Bureau Observation of the Russian elections and faction with the generally positive report The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly elections in Croatia was also high on the of the recent mission to the parliamen- held a meeting of the Expanded Bureau agenda of the meeting. tary elections in Georgia headed by on 17 November, in conjunction with the The next meeting of the Standing OSCE PA Vice President, Bruce George. OSCE Summit in Istanbul. The Expanded Committee of the OSCE PA takes place She also discussed ways that the Assem- Bureau, comprised of the Bureau Mem- on 13-14 January 2000 in Vienna. The bly hopes to follow up on the election bers and the Officers of the three Gen- next meeting of the Expanded Bureau observation, including a return visit by eral Committees, was addressed by the will be held in April 2000 in Antalya in some Delegation members in the near Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Mr. conjunction with the Parliamentary Sem- future. Yildirim Akbulut, and by Ambassador inar on ‘New Risks and Challenges: In her meetings with Presidents Kim Traavik, representing the Chair- Minorities in the 21st Century’. Cyprus Akaev and Aliev, along with discussing man-in-Office. will be the venue for the Expanded regional developments, President Degn The agenda of the meeting included Bureau Meeting in autumn 2000, in con- explained the role that the Parliamentary a review of the Annual Session held in junction with a Parliamentary Seminar, Assembly expects to play in the forth- St. Petersburg last July as well as con- the theme of which will be decided later. coming Kyrgyzstani and Azeribaijani sideration of the follow-up to the Decla- parliamentary elections in 2000. She dis- ration adopted by women parliamentar- Democracy Team in Belarus meets cussed plans for the Croatian parliamen- ians at the Copenhagen Annual Session with Government and Opposition tary elections with Croatian Prime Min- in 1998. The Expanded Bureau members After the Assembly’s Expanded

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 No. 11/12 25 Bureau Meeting and during the Istanbul Summit, members of the OSCE PA Working Group on Belarus met with the governmental and opposition team- members of the forthcoming roundtable talks on creating conditions for free, fair and recognizable elections in Belarus in 2000. Headed by the former Foreign Min- ister of Romania, Mr. Adrian Severin MP (Romania), the Assembly’s Democ- racy Team held extensive meetings with the team of three representatives from the Belarus Government, as well as with the ten-member Opposition team of political party leaders. They discussed issues which each side regards as necessary to resolve before talks on elections can be initiated. The Democracy Team also met with the Head of the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group in Minsk, Ambassador Hans-Georg Wieck. Bilateral meeting in Istanbul with President Eduard Shevardnadze of Georgia.

Meeting of the Ad hoc Committee monitored by the OSCE PA and ODIHR, liamentary Assembly and Chair of the on Election Monitoring a follow-up will be decided upon. In gen- Defence Committee of the House of The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s eral, the Head of the PA’s Delegation, Commons, was appointed Special Rep- Ad hoc Committee on Election Monitor- together with representatives of the resentative of the Chairman-in-Office to ing met in Istanbul on 17 November. The ODIHR and other appropriate persons, lead the OSCE Election Observation meeting was chaired by the President of will visit the country concerned and dis- Mission to the Parliamentary Elections the Parliamentary Assembly, Mrs. Helle cuss with the proper authorities the in Georgia on 31 October 1999 and to Degn. The Ad hoc Committee was estab- report, its findings, recommendations issue the preliminary election statement lished last spring and is composed of six and follow-up. The modalities of the fol- for the OSCE. senior parliamentarians. It has concen- low-up will be decided country by The OSCE Parliamentary Observer trated on developing a follow-up mech- counry. Other major international orga- Delegation consisted of 23 parliamentar- anism for the OSCE’s election monitor- nizations will be invited to join the fol- ians from OSCE countries, including ing reports. The meeting in Istanbul was low-up delegations in cases where they Armenia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, also attended by Ambassador Gérard have cooperated with the OSCE in mon- Estonia, Finland, Germany, Malta, the Stoudmann and other representatives of itoring those elections. The first country Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Swe- the ODIHR. where the new mechanism will be put den, Turkey, Ukraine and the United The Committee received short reports into practice will be Georgia. Kingdom. The team also included repre- from the recent elections in Kazakhstan sentatives from the North Atlantic Par- and Georgia and discussed the monitor- OSCE Parliamentarians liamentary Assembly and the US Con- ing of the forthcoming elections in Rus- monitor elections gressional Helsinki Commission. sia and Croatia. The main focus, how- While in Tblisi, Mr. Bruce George ever, was on the establishment of a fol- Georgia and his delegation met with high-level low-up mechanism. It was agreed that Bruce George MP (United King- Georgian officials. The delegation also after issuing the final report of elections, dom), Vice-President of the OSCE Par- held meetings with representatives of

NEWSLETTER 26 Vol. 6 No. 11/12 political parties, the mass media and Russian Federation Prior to election day, the parliamentari- NGOs. On election day, members of the President Helle Degn is the Special ans will attend an extensive briefing pro- Delegation visited numerous polling sta- Representative of the OSCE Chairman- gramme organized by the International tions and were present at the opening and in-Office with the task of leading the Secretariat in close co-operation with the closing of the vote. The day after polling, OSCE short-term election observation Russian State Duma and ODIHR. On Mr. George issued a preliminary state- mission to the parliamentary elections in election day, the OSCE PA will deploy ment in conjunction with Nikolai Vulcha- Russia on 19 December and to deliver observer teams to several areas includ- nov, Head of the ODIHR Long-term Elec- the post-election statement. The mission ing Moscow, St.Petersburg, Novosi- tion Observation Mission. to Russia comprises some hundred OSCE birsk, Krasnoyarsk, Murmansk, Nizhny According to the OSCE statement, parliamentarians representing Armenia, Novgorod and Yaroslavl. the conduct of the 1999 parliamentary Austria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Den- election represents a step towards Geor- mark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Croatia gia’s compliance with OSCE commit- Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, President Degn is also expected to be ments. “Despite some irregularities”, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Special Representative of the OSCE Mr. George said, “it appears that Geor- Sweden, Ukraine and United Kingdom. Chairman-in-Office for the OSCE short- gian voters were generally able to The team also includes representa- term election observation mission to the express their will. Regrettably, voting tives of other international parliaments parliamentary elections in Croatia on 3 could not take place in Abkhazia and including the Nordic Council and the January 1999 and to deliver the prelimi- parts of South Ossetia.” Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference. nary election statement.

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

High Commissioner pays visit Van der Stoel re-appointed as HCNM Commissioner visited Hungary, where to Croatia At the Istanbul Summit, Mr. Max van he met the Foreign Minister, Janos Mar- From 10 to 13 November the High der Stoel was reappointed as the OSCE’s toyni, and Secretary of State for Foreign Commissioner on National Minorities High Commissioner on National Minori- Affairs, Zsolt Nemeth. Among the sub- visited Croatia. He paid particular atten- ties. The decision of the OSCE Heads of jects discussed were Working Table 1 on tion to the situation of the Serb minority States or Government reads: “We Democratization and Human Rights of in the area of Eastern Slavonia. He joined express our gratitude to the High Com- the Stability Pact (of which Mr. van der a team of the Article 11 Commission, missioner on National Minorities, Mr. Stoel is the Chairman until 31 December that monitors compliance with the Erdut Max van der Stoel, for his willingness to 1999), as well as the situation of Hun- Agreement of 1995 which is designed to continue in his position until a new High garian minorities in Romania, Slovakia encourage the peaceful reintegration of Commissioner on National Minorities and Vojvodina in the Federal Republic Eastern Slavonia. has been appointed, at the latest, at the of Yugoslavia. The High Commissioner In separate meetings with senior gov- OSCE Ministerial Meeting in Vienna in also met the President of the Slovak self- ernment officials (including the Deputy November/December 2000.” Mr. van government in Hungary and the Presi- Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Min- der Stoel has held the post since its cre- dent of the Office of National and Eth- ister of Justice) he raised concerns about ation in 1992. nic Minorities in Hungary. He discussed the treatment of the Serb population and the right of minorities to be represented encouraged the revision of several laws HCNM discusses situation in the National Assembly and how this which he cited as discriminating against of Hungarian minorities could be implemented (pursuant to an act the Serbs. On 23 and 24 November, the High of 1993 on the Right of National and Eth-

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 No. 11/12 27 nic Minorities). In Budapest, Mr. van der developing the concept of multi-cultur- rector of Babes-Bolyai University), Stoel was awarded an honorary doctor- alism at the University. Based on their Andrei Marga. He also met the President ate in law by the Pazmany Peter Catholic observations from the visit, the High of the Hungarian Democratic Union of University. Commissioner and the experts will draft Romania (UDMR) to discuss the Babes- a series of recommendations that will be Bolyai project and the proposed devel- Multi-culturalism in Romania submitted to the University. The goal is opment of a private ecumenical Hun- From 28 November to 1 December to come up with a satisfactory solution garian language university in Romania. the High Commissioner visited Romania to what has often been a contentious The High Commissioner also met together with three education experts issue – the possibilities for tertiary edu- Foreign Minister Plesu and discussed a from Belgium, Canada and the United cation in Hungarian in Romania. number of minority related issues, in- Kingdom. The purpose of the visit was In Bucharest, the High Commis- cluding the Roma and the Romanian to work with Babes-Bolyai University in sioner discussed his observations with minority in Ukraine. Cluj-Napoca (Transylvania) on further the Minister of Education (and former

from the OSCE Representative REPORT 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]

European Security Charter logue between the Government and of journalists covering the war in Chech- on Free Media Opposition in Minsk, under the auspices nya in writing to the Russian Foreign Freimut Duve, the OSCE Represen- of the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Minister Ivanov. The Foreign Ministry tative on Freedom of the Media, took part Group. The dialogue had led, in early replied on 17 November, stressing that in the OSCE Summit in Istanbul on 18- November, to the renewal of licences all the cases dealt with “underground 19 November. On the first day, he held revoked earlier under the Press Law, as trips by journalists to the region”. Accord- a press conference in Istanbul on media well as to a promising first agreement on ing to Mr. Duve, this highlighted a and conflict prevention. Speaking at the the access of Opposition to state-con- dilemma: journalists would try to enter OSCE Permanent Council on 25 Novem- trolled media. However, the OSCE Rep- the area any way they could, eventually ber, Mr. Duve noted his satisfaction with resentative was concerned that this disregarding the formal requirements for the commitments in the Summit docu- agreement was again threatened by Pres- such visits. Given the present situation, ments. In particular, he referred to the ident Luka-shenko’s apparently negative he believed that formalities should not be positive commitment in the European attitude towards the opening of the state the first priority of the Russian authori- Security Charter on Free Media “to take media to the Opposition. The Opposi- ties, but rather the security of the jour- all necessary steps to ensure the basic tion, conversely viewed this agreement nalists. conditions for free and independent as a conciliatory ploy by the Government media and unimpeded transborder and prior to the Summit. M. Duve urged International mechanisms for intra-State flow of information.” those involved in the political dialogue Promoting Freedom of Expression and in particular the Government to pur- On 26 November, the OSCE Repre- Meeting with Belarus Government sue this issue in an open and public sentative on Freedom of the Media met and Opposition Members debate instead of hindering the process. for the first time with Abid Hussain, the In Istanbul, Freimut Duve met with a United Nations Special Rapporteur on number of participants, including the Media covering the conflict Freedom of Opinion and Expression, as Foreign Minister of Belarus and other in Chechnya well as with Santiago Canton, the Orga- government officials, as well as with rep- On 4 November, the OSCE Repre- nization of American States’ Special resentatives of the Opposition in Belarus. sentative on Freedom of the Media raised Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression. He welcomed the beginning of a dia- a number of alleged cases of harassment The meeting was held in London under

NEWSLETTER 28 Vol. 6 No. 11/12 the auspices of the NGO, Article 19. The fought in the south-east of the country. dependent newspaper Nezavisne Novine, participants signed a Joint Declaration It had been well received by the public. was seriously injured in a bomb attack and on International Mechanisms for Pro- However, the book was banned in June lost both legs. His newspaper recently moting Freedom of Expression, that upon request from the Turkish Armed published a series of articles on war stated, among other things: “Certain Forces. The editor, Nadire Mater, went crimes committed by Serbs against Bosni- states have continued to exert and allow on trial on 26 November for “insulting aks. In November, the Office of the High impermissible pressure on the media in the military”, according to Article 159 of Representative, supported by the OSCE their respective countries. The levels of the Turkish Penal Code, and faced one Representative on Freedom of the Media, harassment might be different but the to six years in prison. Mr. Duve believed organized Kopanja’s treatment in a reha- general aim is the same: to suppress plu- that this was not a right step in a process bilitation clinic.On 3 November, another ralism and open debate on issues of con- of reconciliation. journalist Mirko Srdic, was attacked by cern to citizens.” the Mayor of Doboj, Mirko Stojcinovic. ‘Traitor Syndrome’ danger in RS The attack followed the broadcast of a Editor prosecuted in Turkey The OSCE Representative on Free- report by Srdic on local corruption. Both Speaking at the OSCE Permanent dom of the Media continued to be con- journalists were de-scribed by some Council on 25 November, Freimut Duve cerned with attacks against journalists in politicians as “traitors”. Mr. Duve raised the case of the Turkish book enti- Bosnia and Herzegovina, specifically in believed that the “traitor syndrome” was tled Mehmedin Kitabi. The book con- the Republika Srpska (RS). On 22 Octo- the greatest danger to courageous and tained interviews with soldiers who ber, Zeljko Kopanja, the editor of the in- professional journalists.

Continuation from page 13 the ability to address problems before assist the OSCE with the rapid deploy- vention, crisis management and post- they become crises and to deploy quickly ment of large-scale or specialized opera- conflict rehabilitation. This rapidly the civilian component of a peacekeep- tions. At present a task force is being deployable capability will cover a wide ing operation when needed. These Teams established at the Secretariat to develop range of civilian expertise. It will provide could also be used as surge capacity to the REACT programme. How to become a member of an OSCE mission If you feel encouraged to apply for ment are very important qualities. In the procedures for nomination. Each sec- any of the more than 20 missions and many missions, members have to cope onding nation has its own requirements field activities of the OSCE and for many with the lack of reliable telephone or mail and procedures to nominate their candi- of which there are currently vacancies, services, and with difficult, even some- dates. The would-be Mission member is please read the information in this box. times dangerous living conditions. In requested to send a detailed CV, prefer- There is no ‘prototype’ of mission mem- addition, a mission member always needs ably using the OSCE guidelines dis- ber, but there are basic requirements that to be in possession of a valid car driver’s tributed to all Ministries of Foreign are common to all posts in our field activ- licence. Affairs. Those guidelines can also be ities. A working knowledge of the Age is not an obstacle. There are cur- found on the Organization’s website English language is essential, as it is the rently members from 24 to 74 years of (www.osce.org), together with other working language for all missions. This age in our missions. Ambassadors and useful information and links to some of enables our workforce of over 40 nation- former senior members of other interna- the missions and national Delegations, as alities to communicate not only in their tional organizations work alongside young well as vacancy notices. day-to-day work, but also in case of people who just graduated. Mission Applications cannot be accepted emergency. In addition, for some of the members serve on average between one unless they come from the national Del- missions, a working knowledge of the to two years, depending on the condi- egation to the OSCE of the candidate. As another OSCE working language, Rus- tions in the mission area. soon as the Mission Staffing Section sian, is essential too. Those interested in becoming mis- receives a nomination from the Delega- Good interpersonal skills and an apti- sion members must contact their Min- tion, it will go through the process ex- tude to work in a multicultural environ- istry of Foreign Affairs to enquire about plained above.

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 No. 11/12 29 LIST OF PUBLIC INFORMATION MATERIALS available upon request at the Prague or Vienna Office of the OSCE Secretariat (as of November 1999)

Publications Publisher/ Language(s) Editor

CD-ROM Compilation of documents 1973-1997 OSCE Secretariat, contains the documents Includes documents from Summit Meetings, Follow-up and Review Prague Office in all 6 OSCE work- Conferences, Ministerial Councils, Senior and Permanent Council, inglanguages* Forum for Security Co-operation, Expert Meetings, OSCE Newsletters, Secretary General Annual Reports, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and ODIHR publications, Seminars, public releases and speeches from the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and much more First Edition

OSCE Newsletter (monthly) OSCE Secretariat since 1. 1.1998 - Volume VI (1999), Volume V (1998), in all six OSCE - Volume IV (1997), Volume III (1996), workinglanguages* - Volume II (1995), Volume I (1994) 1994-97 in English and Russian

Fact Sheet(revised October 1999) OSCE Secretariat English versions ■What is the OSCE? available in November. ■The OSCE Secretary General and the Secretariat Translations into ■Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights all six OSCE working ■Representative on Freedom of the Media languages available ■High Commissioner on National Minorities shortly. ■OSCE Parliamentary Assembly ■Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina1 1 Also available in ■Mission to Croatia1 local languages. ■Mission in Kosovo1 ■Presence in Albania1

OSCE Handbook OSCE Secretariat English general information on OSCE, Third Edition (March 1999)

Survey of OSCE Long-Term Missions OSCE Secretariat/ English and other OSCE Field Activities Conflict Prevention Centre

NEWSLETTER 30 Vol. 6 No. 11/12 Publications Publisher/ Sprache(n) Editor

The Secretary General’s Annual Report on OSCE Secretariat In all six OSCE OSCE Activities workinglanguages (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 19992) 2 English only

ODIHR Semi-annual Reports ODIHR English and Russian

From CSCE to OSCE OSCE Secretariat English Statements and Speeches by Dr. Wilhelm Hšynck, Secretary General of the OSCE (1993-1996)

Bibliography on the OSCE High Commissioner on National Foundation on English Minorities: Documents, Speeches, Related Publications. Inter-Ethnic Relations Third Edition The Hague March 1997

The Role of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Foundation on Englisch Minorities in OSCE Conflict Prevention – An Introduction Inter-Ethnic Relations The Hague, June 1997

The Oslo Recommendations Regarding The Foundation on English and Russian the Linguistic Rights ofNational Minorities Inter-Ethnic Relations, and Explanatory Note The Hague February 1998

Chronological Review from 1973 to 1998 Prague Office Englisch of CSCE/OSCE official publications List of bound versions of documents issued at the conclusion of a review, follow-up and other major CSCE/OSCE events including the Negotiations on Confidence and Building Measures

Reference Manual – Decisions Compilation OSCE Secretariat Englisch 1993-94, 1995,1996,1997, and 1998

Summary of Meetings, Decisions, Missions and Documents Prague Office Englisch Volume V (1998), Volume IV (1997), Volume III (1996), Volume II (1995), Volume I (1990-1994)

NEWSLETTER Vol. 6 No. 11/12 31 NEWSLETTER

The OSCE NEWSLETTER is published monthly by the Secretariat of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

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