The OSCE Missions of Long Duration in Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina

Basic Decisions

Establishment: 15th CSO Meeting, 14 August 1992, Journal No. 2, Annex 1

Modalities

• 16th CSO Meeting, 18 September 1992, Journal No. 3, Annex 1
• 17th CSO Meeting, 6 November 1992, Journal No. 2, Annex 3*
• 18th CSO Meeting, 13 December 1992, Journal No. 3 (decision 5k)
• Decisions of the Ministerial Council, Stockholm, 14 - 15 December 1992 (paragraph 8 of Section 1 "Former Yugoslavia")
• 19th CSO Meeting, 4 February 1993, Journal No. 3 (decision 5a)
• 315th Permanent Council Decision No. 401, 11 January 2001.

* As worked out and preliminarily agreed upon by the CSCE Ad Hoc Group.

Tasks

The mandate, as contained in the CSO decision of 14 August 1992 and reiterated in the MoU, consisted of four parts:

• promote dialogue between authorities concerned and representatives of the populations and communities in the three regions [Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina];
• collect information on all aspects relevant to violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms and promote solutions to such problems;
• establish contact points for solving problems that might be identified;
• assist in providing information on relevant legislation on human rights, protection of minorities, free media and democratic elections.
• The Modalities and Financial Implications, adopted by the CSO on 6 November 1992, gave a more detailed account of the tasks for each of the three regions.

Deployment

The Missions started their work on 8 September 1992; the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 28 October 1992 in Belgrade.

The Mission to Kosovo was based in Pristina (with permanent presence in Pec and Prizren), the Mission to Sandjak in Novi Pazar (with a permanent presence in Priepolje), and the Mission to Vojvodina in Subotica. The Missions had a common office in Belgrade.

The Missions were withdrawn in July 1993 after expiration of the MoU, since the FRY authorities refused the OSCE's (then the CSCE) request to prolong it.

In a special session on Kosovo on 11 March 1998, the Permanent Council decided (PC.DEC/218) to call on FRY authorities:

To accept without preconditions, an immediate return of the OSCE missions of long duration to Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina, noting the return of these missions as essential for future participation in the OSCE by the FRY.

In its decision No. 401 of 11 January 2001 the Permanent Council, taking into account United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and welcoming the invitation of the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for an OSCE Mission decided to establish an OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. With this decision, the OSCE Missions of Long Duration in Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina were formally closed.

Duration

According to the MoU the duration of the Missions was limited to an initial period of 6 months from the beginning of their activities; extension of this period was subject to mutual agreement by the Parties. In a Protocol signed by the Government of the FRY (Serbia and Montenegro) and the Head of Mission on 29 April 1993, the period was extended until 28 June 1993.

There was no further agreement on extension thereafter.

Composition

In the Modalities and Financial Implications, the size of the Missions was limited to 12 members, to be supplemented as required. An increase to 20 members was authorized at the 17th CSO Meeting in November 1992 and a doubling to 40 members was authorized by the CSO Vienna Group in January 1993. In reality however, the Missions never exceeded a total of 20 members.

The last appointed Head of Mission was Ambassador Tore Bøgh, Norway. Afterwards, the functions of the Head of Mission were carried out by the Chairman-in-Office.