Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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~~== History ==~~

{{Infobox Geopolitical organization

The Organization has its roots in the [[1973]] '''Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe''' (CSCE). Talks had been mooted about a European security grouping since the [[1950s]] but the [[Cold War]] prevented any substantial progress until the talks at [[Dipoli]] in [[Espoo]] began in November [[1972]]. These talks were held at the suggestion of the [[Soviet Union]] which wished to use the talks to maintain its control over the [[Communism|communist]] countries in [[Eastern Europe]]. [[Western Europe]], however, saw these talks as a way to reduce the tension in the region, furthering economic cooperation and obtaining humanitarian improvements for the populations of the [[Eastern Bloc|Communist bloc]].

|name = Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

|linking_name = the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

|symbol_type = Logo

|image_symbol = OSCE logo.svg|symbol_width=200px

|image_map = OSCE_members_and_partners.png

|map_caption = <div style="text-align:left; padding-left:1em; font-size:110%;">{{legend|#007f00|OSCE participating States}} {{legend|#ff7f40|Partners for Co-operation}}</div>

|image_map2 =

|membership = 56 participating States<br/>11 Partners for Co-operation

|admin_center_type = Secretariat

|admin_center = [[Vienna]], [[Austria]]

|leader_title1 = Secretary General

|leader_name1 = <span style="white-space:nowrap">{{flagicon|France}} [[Marc Perrin de Brichambaut|M. P. de Brichambaut]]</span>

|leader_title2 = Chairman-in-Office

|leader_name2 = {{flagicon|Finland}} {{nowrap|[[Ilkka Kanerva]]}}

|leader_title3 = [[OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media|Representative on Freedom of the Media]]

|leader_name3 = <br/>{{flagicon|Hungary}} {{nowrap|[[Miklós Haraszti]]}}

|established_event1 = as the CSCE{{smallsup|1}}

|established_date1 = July 1973

|established_event2 = [[Helsinki Accords]]

|established_date2 = {{nowrap|Jul 30 – Aug 1}}, [[1975]]

|established_event3 = [[Paris Charter]]

|established_date3 = [[November 21]] [[1990]]

|established_event4 = renamed as the OSCE

|established_date4 = [[January 1]] [[1995]]

|official_website = http://www.osce.org/

|footnote1 = Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

}}

The '''Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe''' (OSCE) is an [[international organization]] which serves as a forum for political dialogue. Its stated aim is to secure stability in the region, based on democratic practices and improved governance. Most of its 3,500+ staff are engaged in field operations, with only around 10% in its headquarters.

The recommendations of the talks, "The Blue Book", gave the practical foundations for a three-stage conference, the Helsinki process. The CSCE opened in Helsinki on [[July 3]], [[1973]] with 35 states sending representatives. Stage I only took five days to agree to follow the Blue Book. Stage II was the main working phase and was conducted in [[Geneva]] from [[September 18]], [[1973]] until [[July 21]], [[1975]]. The result of Stage II was the [[Helsinki Accords|Helsinki Final Act]] which was signed by the 35 participating States during Stage III, which took place in [[Finlandia Hall]] from [[July 30]] to [[August 1]], [[1975]]. It was opened by [[Holy See]]s diplomat [[Agostino Cardinal Casaroli]] who was chairman of the conference.

The representatives who signed the Final Act where: [[Chancellor of Germany|Chancellor of Federal Republic of Germany]] [[Helmut Schmidt]], [[Leaders of East Germany|Chairman of the Council of State of the DDR]] [[Erich Honecker]], [[U.S. president ]] [[Gerald Ford]],[[Chancellor of Austria]] [[Bruno Kreisky]], [[Prime minister of Belgium|Belgian prime minister]] [[Leo Tindemans]],[[List of Presidents of Bulgaria|Secretary of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party]] [[Todor Zhivkov]], [[Canadian prime minister]] [[Pierre Elliott Trudeau]], [[President of Cyprus ]] [[Makarios III]], [[Prime minister of Denmark]] [[Anker Jørgensen]], [[Prime minister of Spain]][[ Carlos Arias Navarro]], [[President of Finland ]] [[Urho Kekkonen]], [[French president]] [[Valéry Giscard d’Estaing]], [[Prime minister of the United Kingdom]] [[Harold Wilson]], [[Greek prime minister]] [[Constantine Karamanlis]],

The OSCE is an ''[[ad hoc]]'' organization under the [[United Nations]] Charter (Chap. VIII), and is concerned with early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation. Its 56 participating States are from [[Europe]], the [[Caucasus]], [[Central Asia]] and [[North America]] and cover most of the [[northern hemisphere]]. It was created during the [[Cold War]] era as an East-West forum.

~~[[President of Hungary|General Secretary of the Hungarian Communist Party]]~~

[[János Kádár]],[[Irish prime minister]] [[Liam Cosgrave]], [[Prime minister of Iceland ]] [[Geir Hallgrímsson]], [[Italian prime minister]] [[Aldo Moro]], [[Prime minister of Liechtenstein ]] [[Walter Kieber]], [[Prime minister of Luxemburg]] [[Gaston Thorn]],[[Prime minister of Malta]] [[Dom Mintoff]], [[Prime minister of Monaco]] [[André Saint-Mleux]], [[Norwegian prime minister]] [[Trygve Bratteli]],[[Prime Minister of the Netherlands ]] [[Joop den Uyl]], [[ First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party ]] [[Edward Gierek]], [[Portuguese president]] [[Francisco da Costa Gomes]], [[Romanian president]] [[Nicolae Ceausescu]],[[ Captains Regent of San Marino]] [[Gian Luigi Berti]], [[Cardinal Secretary of State of Holy See ]] [[Agostino Casaroli]], [[Prime minister of Sweden]] [[Olof Palme]], [[President of the Swiss Confederation ]] [[Pierre Graber]], [[President of Czechoslovakia ]] [[Gustav Husák]], [[Prime minister of Turkey ]] [[Süleyman Demirel]], [[General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] [[Leonid Brezhnev]], [[President of Yugoslavia ]] [[Josip Broz Tito]].

== Structure and institutions ==

Political direction to the Organization is given by heads of state or government during summits. OSCE's summits are not regular or scheduled but held as needed. The last summit took place in Istanbul in 1999. The high-level decision-making body of the Organization is the Ministerial Council, which meets at the end of every year. At ambassadorial level the Permanent Council convenes weekly in Vienna and serves as the regular negotiating and decision-making body. The post of Chairman-in-Office is held by the minister for foreign affairs of the participating State which holds the chairmanship. The chairperson of the Permanent Council is the ambassador to Austria of the participating State which holds the chairmanship. From 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008 the Chairman-in-Office (CiO) is [[Finland]]'s Minister for Foreign Affairs [[Ilkka Kanerva]]. Kanerva succeeded [[Spain|Spanish]] Minister for Foreign Affairs and Co-operation [[Miguel Angel Moratinos]] who held the office during 2007.

In addition to the Ministerial Council and Permanent Council, the Forum for Security Co-operation is also an OSCE decision-making body. It deals predominantly with matters of military co-operation, such as modalities for inspections according to the 1999 [[Vienna Document]], and serves as a forum for dialogue about military matters.

The OSCE's Secretariat (headquarters) is located in [[Vienna]], [[Austria]]. The current Secretary General is [[Marc Perrin de Brichambaut]] of France, who took over from [[Ján Kubiš]] of Slovakia. The Organization also has offices in [[Copenhagen]], [[Geneva]], [[The Hague]], [[Prague]] and [[Warsaw, Poland|Warsaw]].

[[Image:OSCE-Permanent Council.JPG|thumb|A meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in the Hofburg in Vienna (photo by [[Mikhail Evstafiev]]).]]

The OSCE employs close to 440 persons in its various institutions. In the field, the Organization has about 750 international and 2,370 local staff.

The [[Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] issues resolutions, including a controversial measure in 2005 endorsing full representation of the [[Washington, D.C.|District of Columbia]] residents in the [[United States Congress]] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/05/AR2005070501943.html].

The oldest OSCE institution is the [[Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights]], established in 1990. It is based in Warsaw, Poland, and is active throughout the OSCE area in the fields of [[election observer|election observation]], democratic development, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination, and rule of law. To prevent [[election fraud]] the ODIHR has observed over 150 elections and referendums since 1995, sending more than 15,000 observers. It has operated outside its own area twice, sending a team that offered technical support to the [[October 9]], [[2004]] presidential elections in [[Afghanistan]], an OSCE Partner for Co-operation, and an election support team to assist with parliamentary and provincial council elections scheduled on [[18 September]] [[2005]].

The Office of the [[OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media]], established in December 1997, acts as a watchdog to provide early warning on violations of [[freedom of expression]] in OSCE participating States. The Representative also assists participating States by advocating and promoting full compliance with OSCE norms, principles and commitments regarding freedom of expression and free media. The current Representative is former Hungarian parliamentarian [[Miklos Haraszti]] [http://www.osce.org/fom/].

== Chairmanship ==

The responsibilities of the [[Chairman-in-Office]] (CiO) include

;*co-ordination of the work of OSCE institutions;

;*representing the Organization;

;*supervising activities related to conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation.

The Chairmanship rotates annually, and the post of the Chairman-in-Office is held by the foreign minister of the participating State which holds the Chairmanship. The CiO is assisted by the previous and incoming Chairman-in-Office; the three of them together constitute the Troika. The origin of the institution lies with the Charter of Paris for a New Europe (1990), the Helsinki Document 1992 formally institutionalized this function.

== Politico-Military Dimension (First Dimension) ==

The OSCE takes a comprehensive approach to the [[politico-military]] dimension of security, which includes a number of commitments by participating States and mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution. The Organization also seeks to enhance military security by promoting greater openness, transparency and co-operation.

*Arms control

The end of the Cold War resulted in a huge amount of surplus weapons becoming available in what is known as the international grey market for weapons often illegal. The OSCE helps to stop the spread of such weapons and offers assistance with their destruction.

*Border management

The actions taken by the OSCE in border monitoring range from conflict prevention to post-conflict management, capacity building and institutional support.

*Combating terrorism

With its expertise in conflict prevention, crisis management and early warning, the OSCE contributes to world-wide efforts in combating terrorism.

*Conflict prevention

The OSCE works to prevent conflicts from arising and to facilitate lasting comprehensive political settlements for existing conflicts. It also helps with the process of rehabilitation in post-conflict areas.

*Military reform

The OSCE's Forum for Security Co-operation provides a framework for political dialogue on military reform, while practical activities are conducted by field operations, as well as the Conflict Prevention Centre.

*Policing

OSCE police operations are an integral part of the Organization's efforts in conflict prevention and post-conflict rehabilitation.

The OSCE was a rather small organization until selection by the international community to provide electoral organization to post war Bosnia and Herzegovina in early 1996. Ambassador Frowick was the first OSCE representative to initiate national election in September of 1996, human rights issues and rule of law specifically designed to provide a foundation for judicial organization within Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The OSCE had regional offices and field offices, to include the office in Brcko in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina which remained in limbo until the Brcko Arbitration Agreement could be decided, finalized and implemented.

Brcko become a "special district" and remains so today.

The OSCE essentially took the place of the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in part because the Bosnian leadership felt deep contempt for the UN efforts to stop the war which began in 1991 and ended in 1995. During the time the United Nations were attempting a political solution, thousands of UN troops were posted in and around Bosnia and Herzegovina with special emphasis on Sarajevo. Between the inclusive dates of 1991 through 1995, over 200,000 Bosnians (now termed "Bosniacs") were killed and over one million displaced and another million as refugees. In Sarajevo alone, nearly 1,500 children under the age of 15 were killed by Serb army snipers.

The OSCE continues to have a presence and a number of initiatives to bring a sustained peace to the region.

==Economic and Environmental Dimension (Second Dimension)==

Activities in the economic and environmental dimension include the monitoring of developments related to economic and environmental security in OSCE participating States, with the aim of alerting them to any threat of conflict; assisting States in the creation of economic and environmental policies, legislation and institutions to promote security in the OSCE region.

*Economic activities

Among the economic activities of the OSCE feature initiatives aimed at promoting good governance, combating corruption, money laundering, human trafficking and terrorist financing, as well as activities related to migration management, transport and energy security in its participating States. All activities are implemented in close co-operation with partner organisations, such as UN agencies, the Council of Europe, the World Bank and the OECD.

*Environmental activities

The OSCE has developed a range of activities in the environmental sphere aimed at addressing ecologic threats to security in its participating States. Among the activities feature the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC, www.envsec.org), in close co-operation with UNDP, UNEP, UNECE, NATO and others. Other activities deal with hazardous waste, water management and access to information under the Aarhus Convention.

== Human Dimension (Third Dimension) ==

The commitments made by OSCE participating States in the human dimension aim to ensure full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; to abide by the rule of law; to promote the principles of democracy by building, strengthening and protecting democratic institutions; and to promote tolerance throughout the OSCE region.

*Anti-trafficking

In recent years, the fight against all forms of trafficking, whether of human beings, weapons or drugs, has been a top priority for the OSCE.

*Democratization

The OSCE promotes democracy and assists the participating States in building democratic institutions.

*Education

Education programmes are an integral part of the Organization's efforts in conflict prevention and post-conflict rehabilitation.

*Elections

As part of its democratization activities, the OSCE carries out election assistance projects in the run-up to, during, and following elections.

*Gender equality

The equality of men and women is an integral part of sustainable democracy. The OSCE aims to provide equal opportunities for men and women and to integrate gender equality in policies and practices

*Human rights

The OSCE's human rights activities focus on such priorities as freedom of movement and religion, preventing torture and trafficking in persons.

*Media freedom

The OSCE observes relevant media developments in its participating States with a view to addressing and providing early warning on violations of freedom of expression.

*Minority rights

Ethnic conflict is one of the main sources of large-scale violence in Europe today. The OSCE's approach is to identify and to seek early resolution of ethnic tensions, and to set standards for the rights of persons belonging to minority groups.

== Criticism ==

Following an unprecedented period of activity in the 1990s and early 2000s, the OSCE has in the past few years faced accusations from the [[CIS]] states (primarily [[Vladimir Putin]]'s [[Russia]]) of being a tool for the Western states to advance their own interests. For instance, the events in [[Ukraine]] in 2004 (the "Orange Revolution") led to allegations by Russia of OSCE involvement on behalf of the pro-Western Victor Yushchenko. At the 2007 [[Munich Conference on Security Policy]], [[Vladimir Putin]] made this position very clear:

::“They [unnamed Western States] are trying to transform the OSCE into a vulgar instrument designed to promote the foreign policy interests of one or a group of countries. And this task is also being accomplished by the OSCE's bureaucratic apparatus, which is absolutely not connected with the state founders in any way. Decision-making procedures and the involvement of so-called non-governmental organizations are tailored for this task. These organizations are formally independent but they are purposefully financed and therefore under control." [http://www.kommersant.com/p741749/r_527/Munich_Speech_Vladimir_Putin/][http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2005/04/d7ca7f94-db49-4c08-9091-877484741f26.html][http://www.brama.com/news/press/2004/07/040729csce.html][http://www.aspr.ac.at/osce_report06.pdf][http://www.basicint.org/pubs/Notes/2004OSCETurningPoint.htm]

In contrast, western countries allege that the Russian army's peacekeeping mandate

in Transdnistria, Abkhazia and [[South Ossetia]] is being used by the Russians to promote their own political interests in destabilizing [[Moldova]] and [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]].

Russia and its allies are advancing the concept of a comprehensive OSCE reform, which would make the Secretariat, institutions and field presences more centralized and accountable to collective consensus-based bodies and focus the work of the Organization on topical security issues (terrorism, non-proliferation, arms control, etc.), at the expense of the "Human Dimension", or human rights issues. The move to reduce the autonomy of the theoretically independent OSCE institutions, such as ODIHR, would effectively grant a Russian veto over any OSCE activity. Western participating States are opposing this process, which they see as an attempt to prevent the OSCE from carrying out its democratization agenda in post-Soviet countries.

== History ==

The Organization has its roots in the [[1973]] '''Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe''' (CSCE). Talks had been mooted about a European security grouping since the [[1950s]] but the [[Cold War]] prevented any substantial progress until the talks at [[Finlandia Hall]] in [[Helsinki]] began in November [[1972]]. These talks were held at the suggestion of the [[Soviet Union]] which wished to use the talks to maintain its control over the [[Communism|communist]] countries in [[Eastern Europe]]. [[Western Europe]], however, saw these talks as a way to reduce the tension in the region, furthering economic cooperation and obtaining humanitarian improvements for the populations of the [[Eastern Bloc|Communist bloc]].

The recommendations of the talks, "The Blue Book", gave the practical foundations for a three-stage conference, the Helsinki process. The CSCE opened in Helsinki on [[July 3]], [[1973]] with 35 states sending representatives. Stage I only took five days to agree to follow the Blue Book. Stage II was the main working phase and was conducted in [[Geneva]] from [[September 18]], [[1973]] until [[July 21]], [[1975]]. The result of Stage II was the [[Helsinki Accords|Helsinki Final Act]] which was signed by the 35 participating States during Stage III, which took place in Finlandia Hall from [[July 30]] to [[August 1]], [[1975]]. It was opened by [[Holy See]]s diplomat [[Agostino Cardinal Casaroli]] who was chairman of the conference.

The concepts of improving relations and implementing the Act were developed over a series of follow-up meeting, with major gatherings in [[Belgrade]] ([[October 4]], [[1977]] - [[March 8]], [[1978]]), [[Madrid]] ([[November 11]], [[1980]] - [[September 9]], [[1983]]), and [[Vienna]] ([[November 4]], [[1986]] - [[January 19]], [[1989]]).

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* 2004   {{flagcountry|Mongolia}}

}}

== References ==

== See also ==

{{columns

|col1width=190px

|col1 =

* [[Europe]]

* [[European Union]]

* [[Council of Europe]]

* [[NATO]]

* [[Western European Union]]

* [[Election observer]]

* [[Election fraud]]

|col2width=430px

|col2 =

* [[International organization]]

* [[OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media]]

* [[Silence procedure]]

* [[Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe]]

* [[Adapted Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty]]

* [[Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia]]

}}

==External links==

*[http://www.osce.org/ Official website of the OSCE]

*[http://www.osce.org/item/22286.html?ch=1002 OSCE Handbook] (full version with hyperlinks to key documents)

*[http://osce.usmission.gov/ OSCE] The U.S. Mission to the OSCE

*[http://www.oscebih.org/ OSCE] The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina

*[http://polis.osce.org/ OSCE POLIS] Policing OnLine Information System

*[http://dmoz.org/Society/Government/Multilateral/Regional/Organization_for_Security_and_Cooperation_in_Europe/ Open Directory Project - OSCE] directory category

*[http://react.usip.org/ [[United States Institute of Peace]] online training course for OSCE] required for U.S. citizens hired by the Organization. Provides a detailed outline of the OSCE, with additional modules on each major area that it is involved in. Website freely available, but tests only given to those who have submitted applications.

* [http://www.oscewatch.org OSCEWatch] a website run by the [[British Helsinki Human Rights Group]] (not an official [[Helsinki Committee]])

* [http://www.osce.org/odihr ODIHR] OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

* [http://www.osce.org/fom OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media]

* [http://elearning.security-research.at/flash/osce/index.htm OSCE eLearning unit] created by ISRG - University of Innsbruck

[[Category:International diplomatic organizations]]

[[Category:Organizations established in 1973]]

[[an:OSCE]]

[[ast:Organización pa la Seguridá y la Cooperación n'Europa]]

[[bg:Организация за сигурност и сътрудничество в Европа]]

[[ca:Organització per a la Seguretat i la Cooperació a Europa]]

[[cs:Organizace pro bezpečnost a spolupráci v Evropě]]

[[cy:Y Sefydliad ar gyfer Diogelwch a Chydweithrediad yn Ewrop]]

[[da:OSCE]]

[[de:Organisation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa]]

[[es:Organización para la Seguridad y la Cooperación en Europa]]

[[eo:Organizo por Sekureco kaj Kunlaboro en Eŭropo]]

[[eu:Europako Segurtasun eta Kooperazio Erakundea]]

[[fr:Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe]]

[[it:Organizzazione per la Sicurezza e la Cooperazione in Europa]]

[[kk:Еуропадағы қауіпсіздік және ынтымақтастық ұйымы]]

[[mk:Организација за безбедност и соработка на Европа]]

[[nl:Organisatie voor Veiligheid en Samenwerking in Europa]]

[[ja:欧州安全保障協力機構]]

[[no:Organisasjonen for sikkerhet og samarbeid i Europa]]

[[pms:OSCE]]

[[pl:Organizacja Bezpieczeństwa i Współpracy w Europie]]

[[pt:Organização para a Segurança e Cooperação na Europa]]

[[ro:Organizaţia pentru Securitate şi Cooperare în Europa]]

[[ru:ОБСЕ]]

[[simple:Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]]

[[sl:Organizacija za varnost in sodelovanje v Evropi]]

[[fi:Euroopan turvallisuus- ja yhteistyökonferenssi]]

[[sv:Organisationen för säkerhet och samarbete i Europa]]

[[tr:Avrupa Güvenlik ve İşbirliği Teşkilatı]]

[[uk:ОБСЄ]]

[[zh:歐洲安全與合作組織]]