Vienna - The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission
in Kosovo will take the lead role in matters relating to institution- and
democracybuilding and human rights, the OSCE Permanent Council announced following a
July 1 meeting to finalize the Mission's mandate.
Among the tasks of the Mission -- which will number some 700 personnel -- will be
human resources capacity-building, such as police and judicial training; democratization
and governance, including the development of a civil society; organization and supervision
of elections; and monitoring, protection and promotion of human rights.
The Permanent Council also decided on July 1 that it would place the Stability
Pact for South Eastern Europe under the OSCE's auspices.
The OSCE expects to achieve the objectives set out in the Stability Pact by
working closely with other international organizations and the countries of South Eastern
Europe, and hosting meetings of the Stability Pact Working Tables in Vienna.
In addition, the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Knut Vollebaek, asked Ambassador
Robert Barry, head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, to prepare a
comprehensive report to be presented at the November 1999 Istanbul Summit Meeting of Heads
of State. This report would recommend concrete measures to strengthen the OSCE's regional
capabilities in South Eastern Europe.
ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION IN EUROPE
The Secretariat
Vienna, Austria
Press Release
July 1, 1999
OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL DECIDES ON MANDATE FOR KOSOVO MISSION; COUNCIL PLACES
STABILITY PACT FOR SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE UNDER OSCE AUSPICES
Vienna, 1 July 1999 - The Permanent Council of the OSCE today decided on the
mandate for the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, which will constitute a
distinct component within the overall framework of the United Nations Interim
Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). As from today, the new Mission will replace the
transitional Task Force for Kosovo, which has been working on the ground to set up an
infrastructure for the OSCE operation. The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is expected to number up
to 700 international personnel.
According to the decision, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo will take the lead role in
matters relating to institution- and democracybuilding and human rights. It will
cooperate closely with other relevant organizations in the planning and implementation
of its tasks. The OSCE Mission in Kosovo will concentrate its work in the following
interrelated areas:
1. Human resources capacity-building, including the training of a new Kosovo police
service within a Kosovo Police School which it will establish and operate, the training of
judicial personnel and the training of civil administrators at various levels, in
cooperation, inter alia, with the Council of Europe;
2. Democratization and governance, including the development of a civil society,
nongovernmental organizations, political parties and local media;
3. Organization and supervision of elections;
4. Monitoring, protection and promotion of human rights, including, inter alia, the
establishment of an Ombudsman institution, in co-operation, inter alia, with the UNHCHR;
5. Such tasks which may be requested by the SecretaryGeneral of the United
Nations or his Special Representative, which are consistent with the UNSC Resolution 1244
and approved by the Permanent Council.
"The OSCE Mission in Kosovo will in its work be guided by the importance of
bringing about mutual respect and reconciliation among all ethnic groups in Kosovo and of
establishing a viable multi-ethnic society where the rights of each citizen are fully and
equally respected," the decision said.
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo will be established for an initial period until 10 June
2000, with the possibility of prolongations as decided by the Permanent Council.
The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Daan Everts, was
designated Head of Mission by the Chairman-in-Office last week and will
officially take up his duties today.
Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe Placed under OSCE Auspices
The Permanent Council also decided today to place the Stability Pact for South Eastern
Europe under the auspices of the OSCE. In doing so, the Council expressed its
determination to "make a significant contribution to the efforts undertaken through
the Stability Pact," and " to make use of OSCE institutions and instruments and
their expertise to contribute to the proceedings of the South Eastern Europe Regional
Table and of the Working Tables."
The OSCE will work closely with the EU, the Council of Europe, the UN, NATO, the OECD,
the WEU, the IFIs, the regional initiatives as well as the countries of South Eastern
Europe to achieve the objectives set out in the Stability Pact.
The decision said that the OSCE stands ready to host meetings of the
Working Tables of the Stability Pact at the venue of its Permanent Council. The
Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact will provide periodic
progress reports to the OSCE according to its procedures, on behalf of the South
Eastern Europe Regional Table.
Chairman-in-Office Appoints Ambassador Robert Barry to Coordinate OSCE Efforts in South
Eastern Europe
To promote further the development of the regional dimension of the OSCE's efforts in
South Eastern Europe, the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE,
Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek, today asked the Head of the OSCE
Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Robert Barry, to explore ways to strengthen
the OSCE's regional capabilities in Southeastern Europe. The Chairman-in-Office has asked
Amb. Barry to prepare a comprehensive report, recommending concrete measures, in time for
the November 1999 Istanbul Summit Meeting of Heads of State or Government.
For further information contact Melissa Fleming, Spokesperson
Tel (+43-1-) 514 36 150, Mobile (+43 - 664) 325 3698
Document compiled by Dr S D Stein