Part I of the Vienna-Istanbul Review Conference
When
Where
The Vienna-Istanbul Conference was the seventh Review Conference (formerly called Follow-up Meeting) of the CSCE/OSCE. Its main purpose was to review the entire range of OSCE activities, in preparation for the OSCE Istanbul Summit on 18-19 November. The last review meeting took place in 1996 prior to the Lisbon Summit.
In Vienna and Istanbul, representatives of OSCE participating States, as well as international and non-governmental organizations, discussed the implementation of OSCE commitments, and examined possible ways of strengthening the Organization.
A working group reviewed the following topics:
- Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation and Partners for Co-operation
- co-operation with international organizations, institutions and entities
- the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
- the decision-making process
- the role and effectiveness of OSCE institutions and structures
- capacity building through training
- lessons learned from field activities
- administrative, financial and other technical aspects of the Organization
Review conferences precede and prepare for summits. The entire range of OSCE activities is examined, and steps that might be required to strengthen the OSCE are discussed. Review conferences also monitor the implementation of previously-adopted commitments and finalize the negotiation of documents, decisions and statements that are then adopted at the summits.