OSCE Missions continue efforts in Central Asia, Caucasus and Baltics

VIENNA, 7 December 2000 - The OSCE Permanent Council today decided to extend the mandates of seven OSCE Missions in Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Baltics and Eastern Europe. The mandates of the OSCE Office in Yerevan, the OSCE Mission to Georgia and the OSCE Office in Baku have been extended for one year, to 31 December 2001. The mandates of the OSCE Missions to Moldova and Tajikistan have been extended for six months, to 30 June 2001, as were those of the OSCE Missions to Latvia and Estonia.

The OSCE Mission to Moldova was established in February 1993 to assist the parties to the conflict of the Trans-Dniester region in negotiations for a lasting political settlement. The Mission also works to consolidate the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova.



The OSCE Office in Yerevan, established in July 1999, has a mandate to promote the implementation of OSCE commitments and co-operation of the Republic of Armenia. Specific areas include human rights, and political, economic and environmental aspects of security and stability.

The OSCE Mission in Tajikistan, established in 1993, is tasked to support political reconciliation, democracy-building and respect for human rights in Tajikistan. It maintains contacts and supports dialogue between the various regional and political forces in the country, and promotes and monitors adherence to OSCE norms and principles.

The OSCE Mission to Estonia, established in 1992, promotes integration and better understanding between the various communities in Estonia. Contacts are maintained with competent authorities on both the national and the local level, particularly with those responsible for citizenship, migration, language questions, social services and employment.

The OSCE Mission to Latvia, established in 1993, addresses citizenship and related matters and provides advice to the Latvian Government, authorities, organizations and individuals with an interest in a dialogue on these issues.



The OSCE Office in Baku, established in 1999, promotes the implementation of the OSCE principles and commitments, as well as the co-operation of the Republic of Azerbaijan within the OSCE framework, in all OSCE dimensions, including human, political, economic and environmental aspects of security and stability.

The OSCE Mission to Georgia was established in December 1992 to promote negotiations aiming at the peaceful political settlement of the conflicts in South Ossetia/Tskhinvali Region and Abkhazia, Georgia. Since December 1999, the Mission also monitors the border between the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation and Georgia. By providing detailed information on the traffic and events around the border, the OSCE seeks to diffuse possible tensions.



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