OSCE Mission to Skopje

The work of the Mission is based on the original mandate and on Permanent Council decisions stemming from the Ohrid Framework Agreement (OFA). The original mandate called on the Mission to monitor developments along the borders with Serbia and in other areas which may be afflicted by a possible spillover of the conflict in former Yugoslavia. The goal was to promote respect for territorial integrity and to maintain peace, stability and security in the region.

The above objective is specified through the following tasks:

• continue dialogue with the authorities of the host government
• establish contacts with representatives of political parties, other organizations and with ordinary citizens
• conduct field trips to assess the level of stability and the risk of conflict
• in case of incidents, assist in establishing the facts.

Following a seven-month long conflict, the Ohrid Framework Agreement was signed on 13 August 2001. It outlines steps to be taken to ensure the functioning of democratic structures and the development of a civil society respecting ethnic identity. The implementation of this objective is largely clarified in the Agreement's three annexes focusing on constitutional, legislative and implementation/confidence building tasks.

According to the provisions in Annex C of the Framework Agreement, and based upon various Permanent Council Decisions (including Decision 457 of 21 December 2001), the Mission was called to assist in specific areas, which were added to the initial mandate. They included:

• redeployment of police to the former crisis areas
• assistance to the government in order to increase the representation of non-majority communities in public administration, military and public enterprises
• strengthening of the institutions of local self government
• projects in the area of rule of law
• projects in the area of media development
• continuing support for the engagement of the High Commissioner on National Minorities in the field of education.

The Mission’s current priority tasks include:

• Supporting the host country in implementing the OFA, with special attention to the key areas: education, anti-discrimination, equitable representation, decentralisation and the use of languages
• Promoting the improvement of inter-ethnic relations
• Early warning and overall security.