Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe placed under OSCE auspices

VIENNA, 1 July 1999 - The Permanent Council also decided today to place the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe under the auspices of the OSCE. In doing so, the Council expressed its determination to "make a significant contribution to the efforts undertaken through the Stability Pact," and " to make use of OSCE institutions and instruments and their expertise to contribute to the proceedings of the South Eastern Europe Regional Table and of the Working Tables."

The OSCE will work closely with the EU, the Council of Europe, the UN, NATO, the OECD, the WEU, the IFIs, the regional initiatives as well as the countries of South Eastern Europe to achieve the objectives set out in the Stability Pact.

The decision said that the OSCE stands ready to host meetings of the Working Tables of the Stability Pact at the venue of its Permanent Council. The Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact will provide periodic progress reports to the OSCE according to its procedures, on behalf of the South Eastern Europe Regional Table.

Chairman-in-Office Appoints Ambassador Robert Barry to Co-ordinate OSCE Efforts in South Eastern Europe

To promote further the development of the regional dimension of the OSCE's efforts in South Eastern Europe, the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebæk, today asked the Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador Robert Barry, to explore ways to strengthen the OSCE's regional capabilities in Southeastern Europe. The Chairman-in-Office has asked Amb. Barry to prepare a comprehensive report, recommending concrete measures, in time for the November 1999 Istanbul Summit Meeting of Heads of State or Government.