Survey of OSCE Long-Term Missions and Other
OSCE Field Activities
1. Basic Decisions
Establishment:
- 108th Permanent Council, 27 March 1997, Decision No. 160
Adjustment of the Mandate:
- 107th Permanent Council, PC.DEC/158, 20 March 1997
- 108th Permanent Council, PC.DEC/160, 27 March 1997
- 137th Permanent Council, PC.DEC/193, 5 November 1997
- 143rd Permanent Council, PC.DEC/206, 11 December 1997
- 156th Permanent Council, PC.DEC/218, 11 March 1998
2. Tasks
On the basis of the reports by the Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office, Dr. Franz Vranitzky, on his visits to Albania on 8 and 14 March 1997, and following the Decision No. 158 (107th Plenary meeting of 20 March 1997), the Permanent Council in its Decision No. 160 (108th Plenary meeting of 27 March 1997) decided to establish an OSCE presence in Albania in co-operation with the Albanian authorities and to provide the co-ordinating framework within which other international organizations can play their part in their respective areas of competence, in support of a coherent international strategy, and in facilitating improvements in the protection of human rights and basic elements of civil society.
1. In co-operation with other international organizations, such as the Council of Europe, the OSCE will provide advice and assistance, in particular in the following fields:
- Democratization, the media and human rights;
- Election preparation and monitoring.
Furthermore, the OSCE will explore other possibilities, including monitoring the collection of weapons.
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The overall co-ordination of the efforts of the international community will be ensured by Dr. Vranitzky as Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office. He will report to the Permanent Council on progress achieved.
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2.The Permanent Council
- Has taken note of the official appeal made by the Albanian authorities to a group of countries for assistance in resolving the security situation in Albania;
- Expects any assistance to be given in accordance with the United Nations Charter and OSCE principles and in accordance with appropriate action by the United Nations Security Council;
- Expects to be informed on any further steps to be taken in this context.
In Decision No. 206 of 11 December 1997 the Permanent Council made the following adjustments to its Decision No. 160 of 27 March 1997:
The Permanent Council decides that:
- In co-operation with other international organizations, such as the Council of Europe, the OSCE will provide advice and assistance, in particular in the field of democratization, media and human rights;
- The flexible co-ordination of the efforts of the international community will be ensured by the OSCE Presence in Albania acting as a clearing-house for information on the international efforts in Albania.
Recalling Permanent Council Decisions Nos. 158, 160, 168, and 178, and taking into account the conclusions of the Rome and Brussels Conferences on Albania, the Permanent Council further decides:
- To continue to provide a flexible co-ordinating framework in concert with the Albanian Government within which other international organizations can play their part in their respective areas of competence, in support of a coherent international strategy;
- That there will be semi-annual reviews of the implementation of this mandate and of the work of the OSCE in Albania.
In Decision No. 218, taken in a special session on the Kosovo crisis on 11 March 1998, the Permanent Council decided to temporarily enhance the monitoring capabilities of the OSCE Presence in Albania in order to allow for adequate observation of the borders with Kosovo, FRY, and prevention of possible crisis spillover effects. The Head of Presence will report regularly on his observations. However, since the International Settlement in Kosovo, this task has been much reduced.
3. Deployment
The Presence started working in Tirana on 3 April 1997.
4. Duration
As specified by the Decision No. 206 of the Permanent Council, there will be semi-annual reviews of the implementation of the mandate and of the work of the OSCE in Albania.
5. Composition
The Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania is Geert-Hinrich Ahrens of Germany (since July 1999).
The total number of international staff is presently 39, with a core team of 16 international staff at HQ in Tirana, and at 7 Field Offices in Shkodra, Gjirokastra, Vlora, Korce, Peshkopi, Kukes and Durres.
6. Financial Implications
The OSCE Budget for 2000 was adopted at the 262nd meeting of the Permanent Council on 15 December 1999, PC.DEC/331, Presence in Albania: EUR 3,221,000.
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