OSCE Mission to Georgia

1. Basic decisions

Establishment:

• 17th CSO Meeting, 6 November 1992, Journal No. 2, Annex 2

Modalities:

• 14th Permanent Committee Meeting, 29 March 1994, Journal 14/Revised, Annex 1
• Permanent Council Decision No. 115, 24 April 1996 (PC.DEC/115)
• Permanent Council Decision No. 334, 15 December 1999 (PC.DEC/334)
• Permanent Council Decision No. 450, 13 December 2001 (PC.DEC/450)
• Permanent Council Decision No. 523, 19 December 2002 (PC.DEC/523)
• Permanent Council Decision No. 668, 14 April 2005 (PC.DEC/668)

2. Tasks

According to the original Modalities and Financial Implications approved at the 18th CSO Meeting on 13 December 1992 , the objective of the Mission was to promote negotiations between the conflicting parties in Georgia which are aimed at reaching a peaceful political settlement.

At the 14th Meeting of the Permanent Committee on 29 March 1994, new Modalities were decided for an expanded CSCE Mission to Georgia, based on recommendations submitted by the Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office in accordance with the Decisions of the Rome Council, which provided for a strengthening of the Mission. The original objective was complemented by a series of new objectives, namely to promote respect for human rights and assist in democratic institution building throughout the country; to monitor and promote free media principles; to facilitate co-operation with and among the parties concerned and, with their consent, to monitor the joint peacekeeping forces established under the Sochi Agreement of 24 June 1992, in order to assess whether their activities are carried out in conformity with CSCE principles, in particular those mentioned in chapter II, 3 of the Decisions of the Rome Council Meeting.

The above objectives for the expanded Mission are specified in a mandate consisting of the following points:

1) In relation to the Georgian-Ossetian conflict:

• facilitate the creation of a broader political framework, in which a lasting political settlement (...) can be achieved on the basis of CSCE principles and commitments;
• intensify discussions with all parties to the conflict, including through the organisation of round tables, in order to identify and seek to eliminate sources of tension and extend political reconciliation throughout the area of conflict.
  Make recommendations regarding the early convening of an international conference under CSCE auspices and with the participation of the United Nations, aimed at the resolution of the conflict, including the definition of the political status of Southern Ossetia;
• in pursuit of the monitoring role concerning the joint peacekeeping forces, establish appropriate forms of contact with the military commanders of the forces within the overall context of the CSCE negotiating efforts, gather information on the military situation, investigate violations of the existing cease-fire and call local commanders' attention to possible political implications of specific military actions;
• be actively involved in the reconvened Joint Control Commission in order to facilitate co-operation with and among the parties concerned;
• establish contact with local authorities and representatives of the population and maintain a visible CSCE presence throughout the area.

2) In relation to the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict:

• ensure liaison with the United Nations operations in Abkhazia, in order to follow events closely and report regularly to the CSCE, inter alia with a view to facilitating the participation of the representative of the Chairman-in-Office, at the invitation of the United Nations, to the negotiations carried out under United Nations auspices.

3) In relation to Georgia as a whole:

• promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and assist in the development of legal and democratic institutions and processes, including providing advice on the elaboration of a new constitution, the implementation of a legislation on citizenship and the establishment of an independent judiciary as well as monitoring elections;
• co-ordinate these activities with the CSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and the ODIHR and co-operate with the Council of Europe, keeping also in touch with other international organizations active in Georgia in this field.

In addition, at the 550th Plenary Meeting on 14 April 2005, the OSCE Permanent Council tasked the OSCE Mission to Georgia to implement the Training Assistance Programme (TAP) (PC.DEL/108/05/Rev.6) "in order to support the Georgian border guards in strengthening their border-management capacities and capabilities".

Also, at the 642nd Plenary Meeting on 29 June 2006, the OSCE Permanent Council tasked the OSCE Mission to Georgia to implement the Capacity Building Programme (CBP) (PC.DEC/731) in order to support the Georgian Border Police in the strengthening of their border management capabilities.

3. Deployment

The Mission started to work on 3 December 1992. The MoU with the Government of Georgia was signed on 23 January 1993, and the MoU with the Leadership of the Republic of South Ossetia was agreed by an exchange of letters on 1 March 1993.

The Mission operates throughout Georgia from the Headquarters established in Tbilisi. The Modalities of 29 March 1994 provide for a branch office in Tskhinvali, which became operational on 22 April 1997.

In 1997, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the OSCE and the UN Human Rights Office in Abkhazia, Georgia where one (at times two) OSCE officer has been working since. The MoU enables the OSCE Mission to Georgia to implement the relevant parts of its mandate relating to the monitoring of the human rights situation in Abkhazia, while supporting the activities of the UN Human Rights Office in the region.

From 15 December 1999 until 31 December 2004 the Mission was also mandated to observe and report on movement across parts of the border between Georgia and the Russian Federation. While the area of operation of the Border Monitoring Mission (BMO) first only covered the border between Georgia and the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation, it was extended in subsequent years also to the Ingush and Dagestan segments of the Georgian-Russian border. The BMO then operated from its Head Office in Tbilisi, a Forward Supply Point in Telavi, eight Patrol Bases in Sno, Shatili, Girevi, Omalo, Napareuli, Kvareli, Akhalsopeli and Kabali as well as one Permanent Patrol in Assa.

From 18 April 2005 until 30 June 2006, the Mission carried out a Training Assistance Programme providing training for the Georgian Border Guards at four OSCE training centres in Lilo, Kazbegi, Lagodekhi and Omalo.

In the framework of the Capacity Building Programme, since 1 July 2006, the Mission is carrying out training for the Georgian Border Police.

Within the framework of the Capacity Building Programme, the Mission began carrying out training for the Georgian Border Police on 1 July 2006. The Capacity Building Programme was successfully completed on 30 June 2007.

4. Duration

The original Modalities provided for an initial operating period of 3 months. Subsequent prolongations of the Modalities were decided at:

• 19th CSO Meeting, 4 February 1993: until 23 August 1993;
• 22nd CSO Meeting, 30 June 1993: until 23 February 1994;
• 10th Permanent Committee Meeting, 24 February 1994: until 4 March 1994;
• 25th CSO Meeting, 3 March 1994: until 30 June 1994.

The new Modalities, decided at the 14th Permanent Committee Meeting on 29 March 1994, were valid until 30 September 1994. Further prolongations were agreed at:

• 34th Permanent Committee Meeting, 22 September 1994: until 31 March 1995;
• 9th Permanent Council (PC), PC.DEC/18, 23 February 1995: until 30 September 1995;
• 35th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/70, 14 September 1995: until 30 June 1996;
• 70th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/122, 23 May 1996: until 31 March 1997;
• 104th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/156, 6 March 1997: until 31 December 1997;
• 141st PC Meeting, PC.DEC/199, 27 November 1997: until 30 June 1998;
• 173rd PC Meeting, PC.DEC/234, 17 June 1998: until 31 December 1998;
• 198th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/267, 13 November 1998: until 30 June 1999;
• 235th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/299, 17 June 1999: until 31 December 1999;
• 260th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/320, 2 December 1999 until 30 June 2000;
• 286th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/355, 8 June 2000: until 31 December 2000;
• 313th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/393, 7 December 2000: until 31 December 2001;
• 375th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/456 of 21 December 2001: until 31 December 2002;
• 427th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/522 of 19 December 2002: until 31 December 2003;
• 487th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/575 of 11 December 2003: until 31 December 2004;
• 538th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/650 of 16 December 2004: until 31 December 2005;
• 580th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/700 of 17 November 2005: until 31 December 2006.
• 642nd PC Meeting, PC.DEC/766 of 14 December 2006: until 31 December 2007.
• 693rd PC Meeting, PC.DEC/831 of 21 December 2007: until 31 December 2008.

The modalities established for the Border Monitoring Operation were decided at:

• 262nd PC Meeting, PC.DEC/334, 15 December 1999: until 30 April 2000.

Subsequent prolongations of these modalities were decided at:

• 279th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/346Corr1, 13 April 2000: until 15 November 2000;
• 300th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/372, 21 September 2000: until 15 April 2001;
• 329th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/406, 29 March 2001: until 15 November 2001;
• 365th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/442/Corr.1, 2 November 2001: until 31 December 2001;
• 427th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/523, 19 December 2002: until 30 June 2003;
• 456th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/546, 17 June 2003: until 31 December 2003.
• 488th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/586, 18 December 2003: until 30 June 2004;
• 538th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/650 of 16 December 2004: until 31 December 2005;
• 580th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/700, 17 November 2005: until 31 December 2006.

The modalities established for the Training Assistance Programme for Georgian Border Guards were decided at:

• 550th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/668, 14 April 2005: until 31 December 2005;
• 586th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/713, 22 December 2005: until 30 June 2006.

The modalities established for the Capacity Building Programme for the Georgian Border Police were decided at:

• 616th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/731, 29 June 2006: until 30 June 2007.

5. Composition

Originally, the authorized strength of the Mission was 8 members (including the Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office). Subsequent increases of the number of international staff were authorized by the 19th Meeting of the CSO (4 February 1993), the 25th Meeting of the CSO (3 March 1994), the 14th Plenary Meeting of the Permanent Council (29 March 1994), the 18th Plenary Meeting of the Permanent Council (27 April 1995), the 387th Plenary Meeting of the Permanent Council (12 April 2002) and the 522nd Plenary Meeting of the Permanent Council (6 August 2004).

The decision of the Permanent Council in December 1999 to establish the Border Monitoring Operation and its subsequent decisions to enhance the operational efficiency and the area of operation of the BMO led to a phased increase of the number of international personnel to 148 persons at the peak of the operation, all of whom left following the closure of the BMO.

The Mission had 30 international staff working under the Training Assistance Programme during 2005/2006.

After the establishment of the Capacity Building Programme in June 2006 and until its closure in June 2007 the Mission had up to 64 international staff, 26 of whom were working under the CBP.

As of 1 February 2008, the Mission had a total of 142 staff, of whom 106 were national staff, 7 contracted international staff and 29 seconded international staff.

The Head of Mission is Ambassador Terhi Hakala of Finland, who took up her duties in October 2007.

6. Financial implications

The OSCE revised budget for 2007 established the budget of the Mission to Georgia at EUR 9,217,200.