OSCE Annual Report 1997

From Albania to Bosnia and Herzegovina, from the Baltic States to Croatia, during this year the OSCE has confirmed its ability to serve as a primary instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation in Europe, as called for at the Lisbon Summit in December 1996. Under the chairmanship of Denmark and the effective guidance of Foreign Minister Niels Helveg Petersen, the OSCE has also contributed significantly to the advancement of democracy and the promotion of human rights in the region, thus reinforcing security and stability. Those achievements came about thanks to the growing capability of the Organization to react to crises in a rapid, flexible, multi-faceted and innovative fashion. They were also the fruit of its capacity to interact with other international organizations.