the organisation for security and co-operation in europe ir 2001 international organisations in...

The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe

IR 2001 International Organisations in Europe

OSCE: Questions

• Under what conditions was the CSCE created?• What were the objectives of the CSCE?• How did the CSCE encapsulate the changing

nature of security?• What is the role of the OSCE following the end of

the Cold War?• Does it have a part to play in the so-called ‘War

on Terror’?

OSCE Sources

• OSCE Fact Book

• Galbreath 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007

• OSCE web sources• Field Missions• Institutions• Budgets, etc. . .

OSCE and European Security

• The mandate for regional security institutions is established in the UN Charter, Chapter VIII.

OSCE and European Security

• The OSCE begins with a non-traditional approach to the concept of security.• Common Security• Comprehensive Security

OSCE and European Security

• The rationale behind the OSCE: ‘Participating states have a common stake in the security of Europe and should therefore co-operate to prevent crises getting worse. The underlying assumption is that co-operation can bring benefits to all participating States, while insecurity in one state can affect the well-being of all.’

OSCE and European Security

• Decisions by the OSCE are not legally binding, that is they do not enter into international law.

• However, OSCE decisions are politically important.

OSCE and European Security

• Contributions to European Security Architecture• Epistemic input• Quiet diplomacy• Focus on national minorities• Presence in the field

OSCE and European Security

• OSCE/CSCE: What is the difference?

• History

OSCE and European Security

• ‘Final Recommendations of the Helsinki Consultations’

• The ‘Helsinki Process’

OSCE and European Security

• The CSCE Final Act

• Decalogue

• Basket I• Basket II• Basket II

OSCE and European Security

• Helsinki Decalogue

1) Sovereign equality, respect for the rights inherent in sovereignty

2) Refraining from the threat or use of force

3) Inviolability of frontiers

4) Territorial integrity of states

OSCE and European Security

5) Peaceful settlement of disputes

6) Non-intervention in internal affairs

7) Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms including the freedom of thought , conscience, religion or belief.

8) Equal rights and self-determination of peoples

9) Co-operation among States

10) Fulfilment of obligations under international law

OSCE and European Security

• The CSCE Final Act• Basket I: politico-military aspects of security,

military confidence-building measures, and guiding relationships between states (Helsinki Decalogue)

OSCE and European Security

• The CSCE Final Act• Basket II: the co-ordination between member-

states concerning such areas as economics, science and technology as well as the environment

OSCE and European Security

• The CSCE Final Act• Basket III: Co-operation in humanitarian and

other fields• Human Rights and Security

CSCE: A Unique Institution?

• Was the CSCE a ‘unique and innovative’ institution?• Wide-membership representing both blocs• Comprehensive approach to security• Consensual decision-making• Decisions were (are) politically binding rather

than legally• No institutional structure

From CSCE to OSCE

• The Collapse of Communism and end of Cold War• Paris Charter for a New Europe (1990)• Berlin 1991 and Prague 1992• Helsinki 1992• Budapest Conference 1994

From CSCE to OSCE

• Paris Charter for a New Europe (1990)• Addressed the end of the Cold War• Regular meetings of Heads of States and

Foreign Ministers• Permanent administrative infrastructure

• Director, Secretariat, Conflict Prevention Centre and an Office for Free Elections

• Decentralised bureaucracy: Prague, Vienna, Warsaw

From CSCE to OSCE

• First Council Meeting Berlin 1991• Berlin Mechanism: emergency consultation

• Second Council Meeting Prague 1992• Committee of Senior Officials• ‘Consensus minus one’

From CSCE to OSCE

• Helsinki Follow-up Meeting 1992• Institutionalisation of the CSCE

• Forum for Security Co-operation

• High Commissioner on National Minorities

• Economic Forum

• Financial Committee of Experts

From CSCE to OSCE

• Budapest Summit 1994• From ‘Conference on…’ (CSCE)

• To ‘Organization for…’ (OSCE)

High Commissioner on National Minorities

(The Hague)

Representative on Freedom of the Media

(Vienna)

Office for Democratic Institutions and Human

Rights(Warsaw)

OSCE Field Activities(Various states)

Ministerial Councils and Summits

OSCE Secretariat

(Vienna)

Permanent Council(Vienna)

Chairman-in-OfficeTroika(Vienna)

Secretary GeneralAction against Terrorism Unit (ATU)Anti-Trafficking Assistance UnitConflict Prevention Centre (CPC)External Co-operation

Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental ActivitiesGender mainstreamingStrategic Police Matters Unit (SPMU)Training Section

Forum for Security Co-operation

(Vienna)

Operational Structures and Institutions Decision-Making Bodies

Main OSCE Institutions

Source: ‘OSCE About – Institutions’ (http://www.osce.org/about/13509.html)

Economic Forum(Vienna)

Parliamentary Assembly

(Copenhagen)

The OSCE in the Post-Cold War

• The basic priorities of the OSCE:• Democratisation• Conflict prevention/resolution• Common and comprehensive security

OSCE Instruments

• Fact-finding and rapporteur missions• Missions and other field activities• Personal representatives of the Chairman-

in-Office• Ad hoc steering groups• Mechanisms for peaceful settlement of

disputes• Peacekeeping operations

OSCE Field Activities

• Front-line of the OSCE

• Most visible part of the OSCE

• From policy to implementation

• Areas: early warning, preventive diplomacy, conflict management, and post-conflict rehabilitation.

Case study: Kosovo

• July 1999• Objectives

• Police training

• Judicial and civil admin

• Civil society

• Media development

• Elections

• Human rights

Case study: Latvia

• November 1993• Objectives

• Naturalisation

• Language

• Education

• Employment

• Integration

Case study: Georgia

• December 1992• Objectives

• Negotiations between parties

• Human rights

• Focus• South Ossetia

• Abkhazia

• Chechnya

Case study: Chechnya

• April 1995-• Objectives

• Conflict-resolution

• Post-Conflict Rehabilitation

• Pulled out December 1998

Case study: Tajikistan

• December 1993• Objectives

• Political reconciliation

• Confidence-building

• Democratisation

• Human rights

OSCE and European Security

• Contributions to European Security Architecture• Epistemic input• Quiet diplomacy• Focus on national minorities• Presence in the field

Conclusion

• Under what conditions was the CSCE created?• What were the objectives of the CSCE?• How did the CSCE encapsulate the changing

nature of security?• What is the role of the OSCE following the end of

the Cold War?• Does it have a part to play in the so-called ‘War

on Terror’?