OSCE Office in Yerevan

Background

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office in Yerevan was established by OSCE Permanent Council decision no. 314 on 22 July 1999. The Office started operations on 9 February 2000 following the ratification by the Armenian National Assembly of the Memorandum of Understanding between the OSCE and the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the status and activities of the Office.

Tasks

The mandate of the Office is broad, covering all aspects of OSCE activities in the politico-military, economic and environmental, as well as human dimensions. The Office works independently from the so-called "Minsk Group" which deals with the peaceful settlement of the armed conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Given this flexible mandate, the Office contributes to the development of democratic institutions in the country, strengthening civil society and promoting OSCE standards and principles.

Priority areas

• Legislative reform, such as elections, freedom of assembly, media, alternative service and so on
• Fight against corruption
• Training of the National Assembly expert staff
• Police assistance programme
• Counter-terrorism measures
• Armed forces reform
• Combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism
• Implementing international conventions on economic and environmental security
• Promoting economic development of Armenia's remote provinces
• Human rights awareness
• Enhancing the work of the Ombudsperson's institution
• Promoting freedom of the media
• Measures against trafficking
• Gender issues, including gender education
• Labour migration