OSCE extends mandate of Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina

VIENNA, 21 November 1996 - The OSCE Permanent Council agreed today to extend the mandate of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina until December 1997. The decision was taken in accordance with the document, "Guiding Principles for Civilian Consolidation of the Peace Process," adopted at the 14 November Paris Meeting of the Ministerial Steering Board and of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Permanent Council decision calls on the OSCE to "continue providing assistance for the preparation and conduct of municipal elections in 1997 and, when appropriate, to provide assistance for the establishment of a permanent election commission with respect to the elections scheduled to close the consolidation period." The decision notes that the precise modalities of this assistance will have to be further determined.

According to the decision, the Mission will "assist in democracy building and be active in human rights promotion and monitoring, in particular in support of the Ombudspersons throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina."

The Permanent Council also calls on the Mission to continue assisting in the implementation of regional stabilization measures, refering to the Agreements on Confidence and Security Building Measures (Article II, Annex 1B) and the Agreement on Sub-regional Arms Control (Article 1V, Annex 1B).