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OSCE Minsk Conference
THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND CO-OPERATION
IN EUROPE (OSCE)
ACTIVITIES REGARDING THE CONFLICT DEALT WITH BY THE MINSK CONFERENCE
Minsk Process
1. Basic Documents
The Helsinki Additional Meeting of the CSCE Council on 24 March
1992 requested the CiO to convene as soon as possible a conference on
Nagorno-Karabakh under the auspices of the CSCE to provide an ongoing
forum for negotiations towards a peaceful settlement of the crisis on
the basis of the principles, commitments and provisions of the CSCE.
The Conference is to take place in Minsk. Although it has not to this
date been possible to hold the conference, the so-called Minsk Group
spearheads the OSCE effort to find a political solution to this conflict.
On 6 of December 1994 the Budapest Summit decided
to establish a co-chairmanship for the process. Furthermore the Heads
of State or Government expressed their political will to deploy multinational
peacekeeping forces as an essential part of the overall settlement of
the conflict.
Implementing the Budapest decision, the Chairman-in-Office
issued on 23 March 1995 the mandate for the Co-Chairmen of the Minsk
Process (DOC. 525/95).
2. Tasks
On the basis of the above-mentioned documents the main objectives
of the Minsk Process could be summarized as follows:
Providing an appropriate frame-work for conflict resolution
in the way of assuring the negotiation process supported by the Minsk
Group;
Obtaining conclusion by the Parties of an agreement on the cessation
of the armed conflict in order to permit the convening of the Minsk
Conference;
Promoting the peace process by deploying OSCE multinational peacekeeping
forces.
3. Deployment
The Co-Chairmen of the Minsk Group (see composition) visit the region
to talk with the Parties to the Conflict. They also hold meetings with
the Chairman-in-Office and the members of the Minsk Group to brief them
on the process.
4. Duration
The Minsk Process can be considered to be successfully concluded
if the objectives referred to above are fully met.
5. Composition
The Minsk Process is supported by the Minsk Group that is headed
by the Co-Chairmanship consisting of France, the Russian Federation
and the United States. Furthermore, the Minsk Group also includes the
following participating States: Belarus, Germany, Italy, Portugal, the
Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Turkey as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The Co-chairmen of the Minsk Group are: Ambassador
Henri Jacolin of France, Ambassador Nikolai Gribkov of the Russian Federation
and Ambassador Rudolf Perina of the United States.
The Minsk Conference on Nagorno-Karabakh would be
attended by the same participating States that are members of the Minsk
Group. The Conference will be headed by the Co-Chairmen of the Minsk
Conference.
6. Financial Implications
The OSCE Unified Budget for 2003, adopted at the 429th Plenary Meeting
of the Permanent Council on 30 December 2002, PC.DEC/527 established
the budget of the Minsk Process at EUR 999,300.
www.osce.org/publications/survey/survey21.htm
The Personal Representative
of the Chairman-in-Office
on the Conflict Dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference
1. Basic Decisions
The Chairman-in-Office appointed as of 10 August 1995 a Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office on the Conflict Dealt
with by the OSCE Minsk Conference. The present Personal Representative
(PR), Ambassador. Andrzej Kasprzyk of Poland was appointed by the Chairman-in-Office
on 1 January 1997.
2. Tasks
The Personal Representative's mandate from the Chairman-in-Office
is to:
represent the OSCE Chairman-in-Office in issues related
to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, assist the CiO in achieving an agreement
on the cessation of the armed conflict and in creating conditions for
the deployment of an OSCE peace-keeping operation, in order to facilitate
a lasting comprehensive political settlement of the conflict in all
its aspects;
report on all aspects of his activities to the CiO of the OSCE, report
through the CiO to the Co-Chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Conference
and, as appropriate, to the Minsk Group, and receive instructions from
the CiO;
assist the Co-Chairmanship at its request;
assist the High Level Planning Group in planning an OSCE peace-keeping
operation in accordance with the Budapest Summit Decisions;
assist the parties in implementing and developing confidence-building,
humanitarian and other measures facilitating the peace process, in particular
by encouraging direct contacts;
co-operate, as appropriate, with representatives of the United Nations
and other international organizations operating in the area of conflict.
3. Deployment
According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Government
of Georgia, the PR established a separate office in Tbilisi as a basis
and headquarters. In order to be able to conduct the operational activities
defined in the mandate, the Field Assistants of the PR are present in
Baku, Yerevan and Stepanakert/Khankendi.
4. Duration
No limitations as to the duration of the Personal Representative's
mandate have been set.
5. Composition
The Personal Representative is assisted by 5 Field Assistants appointed
by the CiO. In fulfilling their mandates, the Personal Representative
and his Field Assistants should be given all necessary assistance to
ensure that they have free access and movement in all areas relevant
to carrying out their functions.
6. Financial Implications
The OSCE Unified Budget for 2003, adopted at the 429th Plenary Meeting
of the Permanent Council on 30 December 2002, PC.DEC/527 established
the budget for the Personal Representative and Field Assistants at EUR
1,000,800.
www.osce.org/publications/survey/survey22.htm
High Level Planning Group
1. Basic Decisions
The High-Level Planning Group (HLPG) was established in accordance
with the Decisions of the Budapest Summit of Heads of State or Government
of the participating States of the CSCE 1994, with the aim of intensifying
action in relation to the conflict dealt with by the Minsk Conference
("Nagorno-Karabakh conflict"). It superseded an earlier Initial
Operation Planning Group (IOPG), which was established in May 1993.
2. Tasks
In accordance with its mandate, adopted by the Chairman-in-Office
on 23 March 1995, the HLPG is tasked:
to make recommendations for the Chairman-in-Office
on developing as soon as possible a plan for the establishment, force
structure requirements and operation of a multinational OSCE peacekeeping
force;
to make recommendations on, inter alia, the size and characteristics
of the force, command and control, logistics, allocation of units and
resources, rules of engagement and arrangements with contributing States.
These tasks have been supplemented by Directives of the successive CiO.
3. Deployment
The HLPG is located in Vienna.
4. Duration
No limitations as to the duration of the HLPG's mandate have been
set.
5. Composition
The HLPG is currently composed of eight military staff, seconded
by OSCE participating States, and one non-military staff, employed by
the OSCE Secretariat. Colonel Cornelis H. Blok, seconded by the Netherlands,
is the present Head of the HLPG.
6. Financial Implications
The OSCE Unified Budget for 2003, adopted at the 429th Plenary Meeting
of the Permanent Council on 30 December 2002, PC.DEC/527 established
the budget for the High-Level Planning Group at EUR 211,900.
www.osce.org/publications/survey/survey23.htm
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