OSCE agrees to expand its mission in former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

VIENNA, 6 September 2001 (OSCE) - The Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), has agreed today to an expansion of its Mission in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

In response to a request from the host State, the Organization has agreed to almost double the number of international personnel it has deployed in the country. The decision will raise the total by 25, from 26 to 51.

The monitors will base their role on the existing mandate. They will monitor and report regularly on the security situation in the host State. The increased presence of the OSCE will positively affect the overall security situation as well as the process of confidence - and security-building - an area in which the OSCE has considerable experience and mechanisms at its disposal.

OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, welcomed the decision as a valuable contribution of the OSCE to the overall efforts of the international community to assist in finding a peaceful solution to the crisis in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. "At the request of the host State, in due time, OSCE will develop a program to further assist the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in the field foreseen under Annex C of the Framework Agreement signed on 13 August" he said.

The OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje, which has been in the country since 1992, is the OSCE's longest continuous field activity. A Canadian, Craig Jenness, is the newly appointed Head of Mission. He took up his duties on 20 August.

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For further information, please contact Josué Anselmo, OSCE Spokesperson, mobile (+43) 664 325 3698, or the Press and Public Information Section of the OSCE Secretariat, tel.: (+ 43-1) 514 36 180, or e-mail: info@osce.org