OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan

1. Basic decisions

Establishment:

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan was established by Permanent Council Decision No. 734 of 30 June 2006.

2. Tasks

In its Decision of 30 June 2006 the Permanent Council recalled its Decisions Nos. 397 of 14 December 2000 and 714 of 22 December 2005; took into account the work carried out since the establishment of the OSCE Liaison Office in Central Asia in 1995, and subsequently the OSCE Centre in Tashkent in 2000, and welcomed the willingness of the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan to further improve links with the OSCE.

The Permanent Council decided:

• With a view to the further development and consolidation of project activities of the OSCE in Uzbekistan, to establish as a new form of co-operation between the OSCE and the Republic of Uzbekistan, starting 1 July 2006, an OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, for the period until 31 December 2006 with the possibility of subsequent extensions for one year periods;
• To determine for the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan the following tasks:
  - To assist the Government of Uzbekistan in its efforts to ensure security and stability, including fighting against terrorism, violent extremism, illegal drug trafficking and other transnational threats and challenges;
  -To support the efforts of the Government of Uzbekistan with regard to further socio-economic development and the protection of the environment in the Republic of Uzbekistan;
  - To assist the Government of Uzbekistan in the implementation of OSCE principles and of its commitments taken within the OSCE framework, including those related to the development of civil society, as well as in the development of co-operation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the OSCE.

3. Deployment

The OSCE Liaison Office in Central Asia started working in Tashkent in June 1995. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Secretary General of the OSCE and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the Establishment of an OSCE Central Asian Liaison Office in Tashkent was signed on 12 July 1995 in Tashkent.

According to PC Decision No. 397 of 14 December 2000, the formal basis for the operation of the Centre in Tashkent would, mutatis mutandis, be the Memorandum of Understanding of 12 July 1995 between the Secretary General of the OSCE and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the PC Decisions referred to above. The premises and assets of the CALO were carried over to the Centre in Tashkent. After the establishment of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan on 1 July 2006, a new Memorandum of Understanding was subsequently agreed upon between the Secretary General of the OSCE and Uzbekistan.

4. Duration

On 30 June 2006 the Permanent Council decided to establish the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan with a mandate to operate until 31 December 2006 with the possibility of subsequent extensions for one year periods.

5. Composition

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan is currently Ambassador Miroslav Jenca. The Project Co-ordinator is assisted by 2 international staff members and a number of local staff members.

6. Financial implications

The OSCE Unified Budget for 2006, adopted on 20 December 2005, PC.DEC/712, established the budget of the OSCE Centre in Tashkent/the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan at EUR 1,833,200.