OSCE Mission to Serbia

 1. Basic Decisions

Establishment:
The Mission was established as the OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by Permanent Council Decision No. 401 of 11 January 2001. It was renamed to OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro by Permanent Council Decision No. 533 of 13 February 2003 and to the OSCE Mission to Serbia by Permanent Council Decision No. 733 of 29 June 2006. 

 2. Tasks

As stipulated in its mandate, the Mission, acting in close co-operation with the host Government, will provide assistance and expertise to the authorities at all levels, as well as to interested individuals, groups and organizations, in the fields of democratization and the protection of human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. In this context, and in order to promote democratization, tolerance, the rule of law and conformity with OSCE principles, standards and commitments, the Mission will also:

- assist and advise on the full implementation of legislation in areas covered by the mandate;
- monitor the proper functioning and development of democratic institutions, processes and mechanisms;
- assist in the restructuring and training of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary;
- provide assistance and advice in the field of the media;
- in close co-operation with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for

Refugees, provide advice and support in order to facilitate the return of refugees to and from neighbouring countries and from other countries of residence as well as of internally displaced persons to their homes within the territory of Serbia.

In carrying out its tasks, the Mission will co-operate with and use the expertise of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the Representative on Freedom of the Media and the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities. The OSCE Secretariat's Conflict Prevention Centre will assist, inter alia, by organizing training workshops and seminars in the field of confidence and security building measures and other issues in the politico-military field.

The Mission will closely co-operate with the representation of the Council of Europe in Serbia in order to co-ordinate programmes and to efficiently plan joint projects. It will also co-ordinate with representatives of other international organizations and institutions in the host country, notably the European Commission, United Nations agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non governmental organizations consistent with the Platform for Co-operative Security.

3. Deployment

The Mission has its headquarters in Belgrade. It has an office in Bujanovac in southern Serbia, Training Facility in Novi Pazar in south-western Serbia, Advanced Police Training Centre in Zemun and Police Training Outlet in Sremska Kamenica in Vojvodina operated in close co-operation with the Serbian authorities.

4. Duration

The Mission's mandate has been extended annually and on 24 November 2009 the Permanent Council adopted PC.DEC/912 further prolonging its mandate until 31 December 2010.

5. Composition

The Head of Mission since October 2009 is Ambassador Dimitrios Kypreos of Greece. The current Mission consists of 46 internationals and 127.5 nationals totaling 175.5 staff members.

6. Financial implications

The OSCE Unified Budget for 2010, adopted on 22 December 2009 (PC.DEC/923), established the budget of the Mission to Serbia at EUR 7,932,100.