1. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe:
osce.org
OSCE Secretary General
Marc Perrin de Brichambaut
The Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe:
Why it matters to the Asia-Pacific
Starting Points:
Broad Membership
Comprehensive Approach to Security
A Comprehensive Toolbox for Conflict Prevention
Well-established Tradition of Open Dialogue and Consensus Building
Large Operational Network of Field Missions
Well-developed Pattern of Co-operation with Other International Organizations

2. The world’s largest regional security organization
Some basic facts:
56 participating States from Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and North America, covering most of the northern hemisphere. “From Vancouver to Vladivostok”
The OSCE is the only regional security organization to unite the Euro-Atlantic and the Euro-Asian communities.
The Organization also has offices in Copenhagen, The Hague, Prague and Warsaw, in addition to headquarters in Vienna.
Most of its 3,500-plus staff are engaged in field operations, with only around 10% in its headquarters: (The OSCE employs close to 440 persons in its various institutions. In the field, the Organization has about 750 international and 2,370 local staff.)
56 Participating States

3. Our mission:
To work for stability, prosperity and democracy in 56 States through political dialogue about shared values and through practical work that makes a lasting difference.
The OSCE is “A Forum for Dialogue, A Platform for Action”
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Values/Goals include:
Build a Europe that is “whole and free”
Advance peace, freedom, prosperity and security
Prevent violent conflict
Promote co-operation between States and build healthy societies
Assist implementation of common commitments

4. The OSCE is A regional security arrangement The key instrument for:
(Recognized Under Chapter VIII of the UN Charter)
The key instrument for:
Early warning
Conflict prevention
Crisis management
Post-conflict rehabilitation
OSCE-regional arrangement in the sense of Chapter VIII of the UN Charter
OSCE has been granted observer status in the UN General Assembly.
Regular interaction between the two organisations.
The Chairman-in-Office provides briefings to the UN Security Council.
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OSCE field activities are flexible instruments designed to address all the phases of the conflict on the conflict area.
(Point to the example of the OSCE Spillover Mission to Skopje as it adjusted and changed to respond to the situation in FYROM)
1) preventive diplomacy/long term conflict prevention
Ex .Facilitate political settlement of disputes/ border monitoring activities
Mission to Skopje adapted its mandate/size/structure to respond to changing circumstances/needs in the host country
2) Never deployed troops of peace-keepers/peace enforcers but active in the diplomatic/political mediation: the Ohrid agreement, the “5+2” in Moldova, the Geneva Discussions in South Ossetia, and the Minsk Group in Nagorno-Karabakh.
3) Post conflict rehabilitation
- assist the host state to recover from the conflict through institution building, monitor human rights (Kosovo), and provide for police training etc

5. A forum for dialogue
In addition to the Ministerial Council and Permanent Council, the Forum for Security Co-operation is also an OSCE decision-making body, providing a forum for further debate on current security issues. (It deals predominantly with matters of military co-operation, such as modalities for inspections according to the 1999 Vienna Document.)
These bodies are important as:
decision-making bodies regarding spheres of cooperation and field missions;
Information exchange between the pS on developments on the ground;
Building consensus for joint action despite sharp divergences

6. A platform for action 19 Field Operations in 17 Countries
The OSCE Field Operations are flexible instruments designed to address all the phases of the conflict cycle
Early warning
Conflict prevention
Crisis management
Post-conflict rehabilitation
Field operations are designed to address specific problems in the host country. Therefore, the size and activities of Field Operations may vary greatly between countries, and a field operation will also typically adapt to changes in the host country.

7. OSCE’s key features and principles
Inclusiveness
Equality among participating States
Consensus-based decision-making
Co-operative approach to security
Comprehensive concept of security (three dimensions)
With 56 participating States from Europe, Central Asia and North America, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) forms the largest regional security organization in the world.
All 56 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.
The Organization deals with three dimensions of security - the politico-military, the economic and environmental, and the human dimension. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities.

8. A comprehensive body of common political commitments
The OSCE’s three dimensions:
Politico-military aspects
Economic and environmental activities
Human dimension
1) politico-military: includes commitments related to conflict prevention and resolution, and commitments to enhance military security by promoting greater openness, transparency and co-operation.
2) Economic/environmental: includes commitments related to economic and environmental security in participating States; assisting States in fostering healthy economic and environmental governance, legislation and institutions.
3) Human dimension: includes commitments to ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; to abide by the rule of law; to promote the principles of democracy by building, strengthening and protecting democratic institutions; and to promote tolerance throughout the OSCE region. 8 10

9. How it began: Helsinki Final Act
1 August 1975
Over 2400 meetings in Geneva
4,660 proposals
A unique aspect of the OSCE is the non-binding status of its provisions. Rather than being a formal treaty, the OSCE “Final Act” represents a political commitment by all signatories to build security and cooperation in Europe on the basis of its provisions.
This allows the OSCE to remain a flexible process for the evolution of improved cooperation which avoids disputes and/or sanctions over implementation.  Providing a long-term commitment strategy to our mission statement.
In agreeing to these commitments, signatories for the first time accepted that treatment of citizens within their borders were also a matter of legitimate international concern.
This open process of the OSCE helped set the ground for the end of the Cold War -- by providing a framework of values/agreements and a forum for their discussion/implementation that helped to manage peacefully the end of the Cold War.

10. Helsinki Decalogue Sovereign equality of States
Refraining from the threat or use of force
Inviolability of frontiers
Territorial integrity of States
Peaceful Settlement of Disputes
Non-intervention in internal affairs
Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief
Equal rights and self-determination of peoples
Co-operation among States
Fulfillment in good faith of obligations under international law
The document was seen both as a significant step toward reducing Cold War tensions by setting rules for the interaction of States.
In these rules, the HFA enshrined the notion of human rights – based on the concept of promoting the ‘inherent dignity of the individual’
The HFA also saw a balance of interests with the Soviet Union at the time -- with clauses on the inviolability of national borders and respect for territorial integrity (seen by some to consolidate the USSR's territorial gains in Eastern Europe following the Second World War).
Considering objections from some western states, the Final Act stated that borders in Europe should be stable, but could be changed by peaceful means.
U.S. President Gerald Ford reaffirmed that US non-recognition policy of the Baltic states' (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) forced incorporation into the Soviet Union had not changed. Leaders of other NATO member states made similar statements.

11. CSCE The dynamics of European security
Building bridges during the Cold War,
Foundation: the Helsinki Final Act (Helsinki Decalogue)
Providing for East-West dialogue, transparency and confidence-building
Pioneering a comprehensive idea of security
Promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms
Born in difficult times, the CSCE process was important:
In setting rules for the interaction of States;
In defining basic standards for fundamental freedoms and human rights;
In providing a framework for an inclusive discussion on security and a review process;
In inspiring groups and individuals throughout the eastern bloc to promote rights and freedoms.

12. CSCE/OSCE The dynamics of European security
Building a Europe “whole and free”
Charter of Paris for a New Europe, 1990
Assisting democratic transition
Shared values and common commitments
Crisis management and conflict resolution
Strengthening CSBMs and military transparency
The creation of the OSCE in Budapest 1994
The Charter of Paris:
established an office for free elections, the conflict prevention centre, and a secretariat.
enshrined democracy and market economy as foundations for legitimate states and pan-European security.
opened an era of seeming consensus between major actors on the nature and foundations of pan-European security
OSCE in Budapest: December 5 & 6, 1994: Crowned the process of institutionalising the CSCE ---the Heads of State or Government of the States decided to change the name of the CSCE to the ‘Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe' (OSCE).
This period saw the deployment of OSCE field operations throughout the former Soviet Union, Eastern European and the Western Balkans – with extensive field presences, and ambitious mandates of monitoring, capacity-building and crisis management.

13. …The 1999 Istanbul Summit An Adapted CFE Treaty
The Vienna CSBM Document 1999
The Charter on European Security
+ The Platform for Co-operative Security
…the last great pan-European moment?
Key agreements signed by heads of state at the 1999 Istanbul Summit of the OSCE:
An Adapted CFE agreement
The Vienna Document 1999 for deepening information exchanges and and transparency
The Charter on European Security strengthened central OSCE tasks: monitoring human rights, conflict prevention and mediation, and post war reconstruction. It agreed to build cooperation with other international organizations; to create Rapid Expert Assistance and Cooperation teams made up of civilian experts in crisis and emergency management, and to expand OSCE-managed police activities.
Istanbul saw a last great moment of pan-European consensus, closing the decade, and opening a new era of rising differences on shared values and divergent interests.

14. OSCE The dynamics of European security
Targeted co-operation against new threats, 2001-
9/11 and countering terrorism
Policing and fighting organized crime & cyber crime
Combating trafficking in human beings
Border management
Destroying stockpiles of ammunition
Combating intolerance and all forms of discrimination
A shift in focus and attention since 2001 to address:
Issues left over from the Cold War, in terms of military stockpiles (mélange), political-military transparency;
Challenges that arose in the 1990s: ‘frozen conflicts’, embedding stability in the Western Balkans, engaging Russia and integrating the former Soviet Union
Addressing new threats and risks: organized crime, international terrorism, trafficking in human beings
On these issues, the OSCE has emerged as an important niche actor -- especially in building networks for innovative international cooperation on complex issues (ie, the Alliance against Trafficking)

15. A sense of a new crisis
Return of armed conflict (August 2008, Georgia)
Crisis of arms control regime (future of CFE Treaty)
Energy insecurity
Eroding consensus and rising differences over shared values
Challenges to democratic transition
Different perceptions of security/insecurity
Impact of the financial and economic crisis
The OSCE area and the participating States faces new challenges today – in energy security, in preventing inter-state and intra-state conflict, in responding collectively to the shock of economic crisis, in integrating diversity in healthy societies.
The agenda ahead for the OSCE:
Towards a renewed European Security Dialogue
(President Medvedev initiative)
Building security and stability in Georgia (OSCE mission closing on June 30, the future of the Geneva Discussions, and building stability on the cease-fire line…)
Kazakh 2010 Chairmanship: a new centre of gravity for the OSCE (deepening engagement in Central Asia, Border security and management and customs projects…)
Linked to challenges from outside: Afghanistan (elections, border security…)

16. Partnership for Co-operation
Mediterranean Partnership since 1975
Asian Partnership since 1992
Japan (1992)
RoK (1994)
Thailand (2000)
Afghanistan (2003)
Mongolia (2004)
Madrid Declaration on the Partners for Co-operation, 2007
Mediterranean Partnership:
Through dialogue and joint activities with the Mediterranean Partners, the OSCE shares its values, its practical experience and expertise and provides insight into current developments.
The OSCE maintains partnership relations with six Mediterranean countries: Algeria, Egypt , Israel, Jordan, Morocco , Tunisia
Asian Partnership:
In the early 1990s, the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) — and subsequently the OSCE — started developing a dialogue with Asia.
This process was inspired by the idea embedded in the Helsinki Process that the security of Europe is dependent on that of adjacent regions and linked to the broader context of world security.
Two principles underlie the relationship with the five Asian Partners: First, the desire to share experience and the Partners’ wish to benefit from this; Second, the aim to expand the mutual benefits to be gained from the Asian Partners’ contribution to OSCE goals.
Most importantly, all five fully support OSCE values and commitments and have taken significant steps towards their voluntary implementation.
Madrid Declaration on Partners: to strengthen cooperation with the Partners, deepen interaction and joint activities, and create a Partnership Fund

17. Partnership for Co-operation
What does the OSCE offer?
Participate in all important OSCE meetings
Hold annual international conferences with the OSCE
Insight into European security issues
Draw on OSCE experience from within
Provide an Asian perspective to security dialogue
Participate in expert networks and in some OSCE activities
Support to voluntary implementation of OSCE standards
The OSCE dialogue with the Asian Partners is maintained mainly through an informal Asian Contact Group and an OSCE conference held annually in Asia.
Countries are regularly invited to attend meetings of the Permanent Council and the Forum for Security Co-operation. They participate in annual Ministerial Council Meetings, in regular implementation and review gatherings, in the Economic Forum, and in major meetings of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
Over the years, the OSCE has been able to share its experience with the Asian Partners for Co-operation on a number of topics, including: 
New security threats and a new security paradigm 
Search for conflict prevention in the new security circumstances 
Applicability of OSCE Confidence- and Security-Building Measures in Northeast Asia 
Human dimension of security 
Comprehensive security in Central Asia 
Anti-trafficking

18. OSCE’s relevance to Asia?
… sharing experience in:
How to engage dialogue despite differences
How to provide political-military transparency
How to ensure fundamental freedoms
How to cooperate in economic and
environmental security
How to build stable regions
The Asian dialogue has become an integral part of the OSCE’s work and a complement to the long-standing OSCE-Mediterranean relationship.
These ties have included expert/policy explorations of the applicability of OSCE confidence- and security-building measures (CSBMs) in North-East Asia, a potential flashpoint bordering on the OSCE area.
Summing up the relationship of the OSCE and its Asian Partners:
“One way or another, the security concerns of our Asian Partners and those of the OSCE participating States converge, especially in those regions where our borders meet.”

19. www.osce.org and follow us This is the old website- created in 2005.
Website is currently under re-design and is preparing for a re-launch by the end of the year.
The new website will include:
more dynamic structure for interaction with patrons
more apparent links to Employment and Tenders
Events for each division will be highlighted and separate from the press releases relative to each division
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