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OSCE establishes Mission to Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
VIENNA 11 January 2001
VIENNA, 11 January 2001 - A new OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will be established to provide assistance and expertise in the fields of democratization protection of human rights and minorities, and media development. This decision was reached today by the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe during its weekly meeting in Vienna.
The new Mission, which initially will comprise up to 30 international mission members, is being established following the invitation extended to OSCE by the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In November 2000, Yugoslavia was admitted as the 55th participating State for the regional security organization.
The OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will work in close co-operation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in order to facilitate the return of refugees to and from neighbouring countries and other countries, as well as internally displaced persons to their homes within the country. The Mission will also co-operate with the Council of Europe and other international organizations and institutions, as well as other OSCE field operations in the South-Eastern Europe region.
In carrying out its mandate, the Mission also will employ expertise from the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, and the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities. The OSCE Secretariat Conflict Prevention Centre will organize workshops and seminars in the field of confidence- and security-building measures and other issues in the politico-military field.
The OSCE already has field activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Albania, Kosovo and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. With the establishment of this new Mission, the Missions of Long Duration in Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina are considered formally closed.
Further information on the OSCE and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is available on the OSCE website at /news
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is a regional security organization whose 55 participating States cover Europe, Central Asia and North America. The OSCE is recognized as a primary instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations.
The new Mission, which initially will comprise up to 30 international mission members, is being established following the invitation extended to OSCE by the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In November 2000, Yugoslavia was admitted as the 55th participating State for the regional security organization.
The OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will work in close co-operation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in order to facilitate the return of refugees to and from neighbouring countries and other countries, as well as internally displaced persons to their homes within the country. The Mission will also co-operate with the Council of Europe and other international organizations and institutions, as well as other OSCE field operations in the South-Eastern Europe region.
In carrying out its mandate, the Mission also will employ expertise from the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, and the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities. The OSCE Secretariat Conflict Prevention Centre will organize workshops and seminars in the field of confidence- and security-building measures and other issues in the politico-military field.
The OSCE already has field activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Albania, Kosovo and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. With the establishment of this new Mission, the Missions of Long Duration in Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina are considered formally closed.
Further information on the OSCE and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is available on the OSCE website at /news
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is a regional security organization whose 55 participating States cover Europe, Central Asia and North America. The OSCE is recognized as a primary instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations.