OSCE Troika meet with representatives of international organizations on humanitarian questions

BUDAPEST, 17 February 1995 - Upon the invitation of the Hungarian Foreign Minister, the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, the Troika of the OSCE (Hungary, Italy, Switzerland), representatives of the Council of Europe, the United Nations Office in Geneva, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross met in Budapest today. The OSCE was also represented by the High Commissioner on National Minorities, the Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Director of the Conflict Prevention Centre, as representative of the OSCE Secretary General.

The meeting was dedicated to the problems of co-operation between these international organizations in the field of the human dimension and possible ways of its improvement both in general and in concrete terms.

It was emphasized that regular and sometimes more institutionalized contacts and co-ordination is needed between these international organizations, embracing the necessity of an effective and timely sharing of information. The comparative advantages of each organization should be better utilized when a common effort is to be organized of international level. Thus, the international appearance can be more effective and mutually reinforcing, while the individual character of every organization can be preserved.

It was pointed out that due to the different features of the international organizations, their activities should be harmonized not only in geographical sense, but an appropriate time-sequence of their interventions and contributions should be kept in mind as well. This invokes the necessity of an effective system for the appropriate allocation of responsibilities and duties among organizations in concrete cases. It was recognised that NGOs play an important role in re-building civic society. It was agreed therefore that there should be more effective co-operation with NGOs in the process of reconstruction. In a wider sense, the significance of the Social Summit of the United Nations was also raised.

The humanitarian aspects of the crisis in Chechnya were also discussed. All participants showed openness and readiness to contribute by their own means and instruments to those efforts which have been undertaken by relevant international organizations in close co-operation with the competent authorities. The importance of the involvement of international organizations in all phases of the crisis, including the post-conflict rehabilitation, was stressed.

An exchange of views took place in relation to the situation in the F.R. Yugoslavia, where the continuation and increase of co-ordinated efforts of the international community are also essential, both in the present stage and especially in the post conflict situation.

Participants expressed the view that the meeting was fruitful and agreed to hold regularly similar co-ordination meetings with the participation of international organizations in the field of human dimension. The next meeting will take place at the invitation of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The time of this meeting will be determined later.