OSCE Centre in Ashgabad

1. Basic decisions

Establishment:

• Permanent Council, 23 July 1998, Journal No. 179, Agenda item 4 (PC.DEC/244).

2. Tasks

In its Decision of 23 July 1998 the Permanent Council, recalling its Decision No. 231 of 11 June 1998 and welcoming the willingness of the Government of Turkmenistan to intensify OSCE activities in that country, decided that the OSCE Centre in Ashgabad will perform the following tasks:

• Given the OSCE role as primary instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, promote the implementation of OSCE principles and commitments as well as the co-operation of Turkmenistan within the OSCE framework. with special emphasis on the regional context, in all OSCE dimensions, including the economic, environmental, human and political aspects of security and stability;
• Facilitate contacts and promote information exchange with the Chairman-in-Office, other OSCE institutions and the OSCE participating States in Central Asia as well as co-operation with international organizations and institutions;
• Establish and maintain contacts with local authorities, universities, research institutions and NGOs;
• Assist in arranging OSCE regional events, inter alia, regional seminars and visits to the area by OSCE delegations, as well as other events with OSCE participation;
• Perform other tasks deemed appropriate by the Chairman-in-Office or other OSCE institutions and agreed on between Turkmenistan and the OSCE.

3. Deployment

The Centre started working in Ashgabad in January 1999.

4. Duration

The Centre's mandate is open-ended. The Permanent Council decided to hold annual reviews of the implementation of the mandate and the activities of the Centre.

5. Composition

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabad is led by a Head of Centre assisted by a team of four seconded experts and one contracted Chief of Fund Administration from OSCE participating States.

The Head of Centre (since 27th January 2005) is Ambassador Ibrahim Djikic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

6. Financial implications

The OSCE Unified Budget for 2006, adopted on 20 December 2005, PC.DEC/712, established the budget of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabad at EUR 1,231,600.