The OSCE Mission to Latvia (Closed)

Basic Decisions

Establishment: 23rd CSO Meeting, 23 September 1993, Journal No. 3, Annex 3

Terms of Ref.: 31st Meeting of the CSO Vienna Group, 7 October 1993, Annex 1

Tasks

The mandate of the Mission, spelled out in the CSO Decision of September 1993 and reiterated in the Terms of Reference, consisted of the following elements:

  • address citizenship issues and other related matters and be at the disposal of the Latvian Government and authorities for advice on such issues;
  • provide information and advice to institutions, organizations and individuals with an interest in a dialogue on these issues;
  • gather information and report on developments relevant to the full realization of CSCE principles, norms and commitments.

Deployment

The Head of Mission and two Mission members started work in Riga on 19 November 1993. The MoU with the Government of Latvia was signed on 13 December 1993. The Mission was based in Riga.

Duration

According to the Terms of Reference, the Mission operated for a period of 6 months, subject to revision by the CSO or the CSO Vienna Group. Subsequent prolongations were decided at:

  • 18th Permanent Committee Meeting, 5 May 1994: until 31 December 1994;
  • 1st Permanent Council (PC), PC.DEC/2, 15 December 1994: until 30 June 1995;
  • 23rd PC Meeting, PC.DEC/46, 1 June 1995: until 31 December 1995;
  • 47th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/88, 23 November 1995: until 30 June 1996;
  • 76th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/132, 27 June 1996: until 31 December 1996;
  • 94th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/147, 12 December 1996: until 30 June 1997;
  • 121st PC Meeting, PC.DEC/177, 26 June 1997: until 31 December 1997;
  • 142nd PC Meeting, PC.DEC/201, 4 December 1997: until 30 June 1998;
  • 172nd PC Meeting, PC.DEC/229, 11 June 1998: until 31 December 1998;
  • 200th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/274, 26 November 1998: until 30 June 1999;
  • 235th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/298, 17 June 1999: until 31 December 1999;
  • 260th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/321, 2 December 1999: until 30 June 2000;
  • 287th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/357, 15 June 2000: until 31 December 2000;
  • 313th PC Meeting, PC.DEC/391, 7 December 2000: until 30 June 2001;
  • 342nd PC Meeting, PC.DEC/416, 21 June 2001: until 31 December 2001.

The mandate of the Mission to Latvia expired on 31 December 2001.

Composition

The initial size authorized in the Terms of Reference was 4 members, with an option to increase the number of Mission members to a total of 6. At the 3rd Meeting of the Permanent Committee on 21 December 1993, the number of Mission members was increased by two. At the 29th Meeting of the Permanent Committee on 21 July 1994, the authorized size of the Mission was increased by one additional member to a total of 7.

The last Head of Mission was Ambassador Peter Semneby of Sweden.