Central asia | 111 4.3 Mission Notes Central Asia he 2008-2009 economic and financial crises T hit Central Asia hard. Although the negative effect on national GDPs was less than expected, the crises – when combined with rising food and energy prices – exacerbated strains on livelihoods, increased inequalities and contributed to regional insecurity. In early April 2010, the Kyrgyz government was overthrown in the bloodiest unrest the region has seen in the past five years. The continuation of violence in Kyrgyzstan, even after the installment of an interim government, has raised fears of possible spillover into the broader region. Meanwhile, regional security is jeopardized by the precarious situation in neighboring Afghanistan. UN Photo The United Nations Regional Centre for Ethnic Uzbeks fleeing violence in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, wait in the border village of Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia Suratash, hoping to enter Uzbekistan, 15 June 2010. (UNRCCA) was established at the initiative of the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to address peacemaking efforts and initiatives; providing a regional security threats such as terrorism, drug political framework and leadership for the preven- trafficking, organized crime and environmental tive activities of the UN country teams and resident degradation.1 The UN was not the first organi- coordinators across the region; and maintaining zation to set up a political mission in the region. close contact with the United Nations Assistance The OSCE has maintained a network of offices Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). in regional capitals, in some cases for more than a decade, and there is an EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Central Asia (see box). Key developMentS Inaugurated on 10 December 2007 at its headquarters in Ashgabad, Turkmenistan, In order to put its broad mandate to best use, UNRCCA’s mandate includes liaising with the UNRCCA together with its member states has governments of the region and, with their concur- identified three top priorities for the region. These rence, with other parties concerned on issues relevant are cross-border threats from illicit activities: to preventive diplomacy; maintaining relationships terrorism, organized crime and drug traffick- with regional organizations and encouraging their ing; environmental degradation and management 112 | Mission notes CENTRAL ASIA Perm' RUSSIAN FEDERATION POLITICAL MISSIONS 0 200 400 600 800 km Kazan' 2009-2010 0 100 200Novosibirsk300 400 500 mi Dates below the mission names represent authorization dates Chelyabinsk Omsk (UN missions) and starting dates (non-UN missions). Petropavl Samara Qostanay Köshetau OSCE Centre in Astana HQ 07/1998 Oral Astana MONGOLIA UKRAINE Öskemen Volgograd Aqtöbe Temirtau Qaraghandy Zaysan Zhezqazghan Lake Balqash KAZAKHSTAN Taldyqorghan Aral Sea Qyzylorda OSCE Centre in Bishkek GEORGIA HQ 01/1999 Tbilisi Caspian Bishkek ARMENIA Sea Nukus Shymkent Ysyk Köl KYRGYZSTAN Yerevan AZERBAIJAN Baku Dashhowuz Urganch Tashkent Namangan Türkmenbashi UZBEKISTAN Osh OSCE Centre in Ashgabat HQ 07/1998 Bukhoro Samarqand OSCE Office in Tajikistan HQ 02/1994 UNRCCA HQ Chärjew TAJIKISTAN 05/2007 Qarshi CHINA TURKMENISTAN Dushanbe Ashgabat Mary Tehran The boundaries and names shown and ISLAMIC REPUBLIC the designations used on this map do not AFGHANISTAN imply official endorsement or acceptance OF IRAN by the United Nations. Kabul Map No. 4408 UNITED NATIONS Department of Field Support June 2010 Cartographic Section of common resources such as water and energy; the regional governments in technical discussions and the implications from the precarious situation and developing initiatives with, for example, the of Afghanistan. International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea. UNRCCA has had some successes in its work. In order to handle its third priority – addressing The SRSG has emerged as a credible partner by implications from the precarious situation of Afghan- gaining the confidence of the senior political lead- istan – UNRCCA hosts a UNAMA liaison officer at ership of the respective Central Asian states. This its headquarters and regularly exchanges information alone is significant, given the degree of disparate with UNAMA. The two UN missions are considering interests in the region. In practice, the mission is a joint initiative to facilitate the positive contribution utilized as a conduit for dialogue between the gov- of Central Asia in the stabilization and economic ernments that do not have a long history of bilateral recovery of Afghanistan. However, as of August 2010, discussions on common issues. As such, UNRCCA this initiative had not yet been made operational. continues to serve as a facilitator assisting its mem- In April 2010, UN Secretary-General Ban ber states in the implementation of the UN Global Ki-moon used his visit to UNRCCA and its mem- Counter-Terrorism strategy. ber states to encourage increased efforts to find In regard to the member states’ second mutually acceptable solutions to shared problems in priority on water and energy resources, UNRCCA the region. He delivered a very firm human rights was able to draw on the expertise of the UN Depart- message as well, linking reforms in this area with ment of Political Affair’s (DPA) Mediation Support ensuring conditions for economic growth. Unit, which deployed an expert on water sharing Later the same month, civil unrest in to support the SRSG. UNRCCA also helped assist Kyrgyzstan was violently suppressed by police forces Central asia | 113 and precipitated the fall of President Bakiyev and the appointment of an interim administration. UN Regional Centre for Preventive Although this stabilized the country temporarily, in Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) June 2010, southern Kyrgyzstan saw the outbreak Authorization Date 7 May 2007 of inter-ethnic violence, which resulted in several (UNSC Letter S/2007/279) hundred fatalities, mass displacement as well as SRSG Miroslav Jenča (Slovakia) widespread destruction and threatened to spillover Deputy SRSG Fedor Klimtchouk (Russia) into neighboring Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Budget $3.3 million (1 January 2010- UNRCCA was not involved in mediation 31 December 2010) efforts prior to the crisis, reflecting its focus on Strength as of International Civilian: 7 early 2010 Local Civilian: 13 regional and trans-boundary challenges. However, in the aftermath of the crisis, UNRCCA has been For detailed mission information see p. 216 active in efforts to stabilize the country to prevent further conflict by coordinating the UN response, working with regional organizations and supporting OSCE Centre in Ashgabat efforts by the Kyrgyz authorities, such as the con- duct of parliamentary elections on 10 October 2010. Authorization Date 23 July 1998 (PC.DEC/244) Also in response to the crisis, the OSCE agreed to Start Date January 1999 Head of Mission Ambassador Arsim Zekolli deploying a small police mission to Kyrgyzstan. (former Yugoslav Republic Despite UNRCCA’s modest successes, the of Macedonia) challenges facing the Centre as a political mission, Budget $1.8 million (1 January 2010- with a mandate of conflict prevention are signifi- 31 December 2010) cant. Its mandate to liaise with the governments Strength as of International Staff: 5 1 August 2010 Local Staff: 18 of the region and seek political consensus on the political issues facing member states is a difficult For detailed mission information see p. 242 task, given their rivalries and “zero sum” approach to most issues. This reality is further compounded by a lack of resources for the mission that has to fund its OSCE Centre in Astana activities, such as convening meetings and the imple- mentation of projects, by extra-budgetary means. Authorization Date 23 July 1998 (PC.DEC/243) Conducting such activities depends on the extent to Start Date January 1999 which UNRCCA and the UN Secretariat carry out Head of Mission Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky (France) successful fundraising activities, somewhat limiting Budget $2.8 million (1 January 2010- the Centre’s ability to take the lead on initiatives. 31 December 2010) Strength as of International Staff: 6 1 August 2010 Local Staff: 20 reGional Model For detailed mission information see p. 246 As a UN model, the regional framework offers a number of obvious benefits. Institutionally, the the regional members, it allays common perceived regional approach makes missions more palatable tensions over issues of sovereignty and its SRSG in environments where member states may be oth- has enjoyed a relative ease of access to the region’s erwise disinclined to accept a UN mission. In the high-level officials. case of UNRCCA, the work plan of the Centre Notwithstanding these benefits, organizationally is developed in partnership with the five member the regional set-up also poses some challenges. countries, reflecting the shared “ownership” of the Given that the mission is addressing issues through mission. Moreover, the regional approach allows a regional lens, it must negotiate partnerships with DPA to develop practical policies through a collab- five UN Country Team (UNCT)2 structures, which orative approach with the member states. Finally, are country specific and not as involved in regional as the mission is as much an collaboration with issues. As the concept of integration, the guiding 114 | Mission notes The OSCE and EU The OSCE maintains Centres in Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), Astana (Kazakhstan), and Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) as well as an office in Tajikistan and