The work of the Mission is based on the Mission's original mandate and on Permanent Council decisions stemming from the Ohrid Framework Agreement. The original mandate called on the Mission to monitor developments along the borders with Serbia and in other areas which may suffer from spillover of the conflict in former Yugoslavia, in order to promote respect for territorial integrity and the maintenance of peace, stability and security; and to help prevent possible conflict in the region.

The above objective is specified through the following tasks:

• continue dialogue with the Governmental Authorities of the Host Party;
• establish contacts with representatives of political parties and other organizations, and with ordinary citizens;
• conduct trips to assess the level of stability and the possibility of conflict and unrest;
• engage in other activities compatible with the OSCE goals of the Mission as defined above;
• maintain a high profile in the country;
• in case of incidents, assist in establishing the facts.

Following a seven month conflict, the Ohrid Framework Agreement was signed on 13 August 2001. It outlines steps to be taken to ensure the functioning of democratic structures, the advancement towards Euro-Atlantic institutions and the development of a civil society respecting ethnic identity. The implementation of this objective is clarified, largely, 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 PC Decisions (including Decision 457 of 21 December 2001), the Mission was called to assist in a number of specific areas, which were added to the initial mandate. They include:

• redeployment of police to the former crisis areas;
• assistance to the Government to increase 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.