Permanent Council decides to strengthen OSCE Mission to Skopje

VIENNA, 22 March 2001 - The Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) today decided on a temporary strengthening of the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje.

Noting the reports of the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje indicating an upsurge of violent activity by ethnic Albanian extremist groups in the northern border regions of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Permanent Council decided to increase the size of the present Mission by eight international personnel for a period of six months.

This increase will double the international personnel strength of the OSCE Mission to Skopje from eight to 16. The additional staff members will work particularly in the border area, with a view to strengthening the capabilities of the Mission to monitor and report developments there. They will also perform other duties in accordance with the Mission's mandate.

The OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, is the longest-serving OSCE mission. It was established in September 1992 to help prevent the spillover of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia by monitoring the border between Serbia (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

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