OSCE

Question 1

Origins and establishment

Answer 1

• idea of Soviet Union to discuss pressing security issues in Europe
• Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe
• 35 countries adopted an agreement in the first meeting in Helsinki in 1975
• Charter of Paris 1990 states end of Cold War
• institutionalisation of CSCE starts
• 1995: CSCE -> OSCE
• by now 57 participating states

Question 2

Identified areas to contribute to peace and security (“three baskets”)

Answer 2

• political and military dimension
• cooperation in economic and environmental dimension
• human dimension (humanitarian and human rights matters)

Question 3

Aims of the OSCE

Answer 3

• prevent military conflicts in Europe
• promote security in Europe
• promote fundamental values such as democracy and human rights

Question 4

Structure of the OSCE

Answer 4

• based in Vienna
• decision-making organs: Summits, Ministerial Council, Permanent Council
• institutions: Secretariate, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)

Question 5

Decision-making procedure

Answer 5

Unanimity rule

Question 6

Other institutional aspects

Answer 6

• financing: compulsory contributions
• no privileges/immunities
• OSCE to be regarded as Regional Organisation (Chapter VIII UN Charter)

Question 7

Is OSCE an international organisation?

Answer 7

No constitution -> not acting under international law

Reason: everyone has to agree, US and Russia have different opinions on possible constitution

-> No real international organisation

Question 8

Basic principles of OSCE

Answer 8

-> Preamble of Helsinki Final Act

Question 9

Three periods of OSCE

Answer 9

1975-1990: during Cold War: shared security, no shared values [platform of communication]

1990-2000: end of Cold War: shared security and shared values [“second chance”]
-> regarded as most successful period

from 2000: turning period [tension period] -> NATO expanded further in Eastern Europe; 2008 military intervention in Georgia by Russia; Crimea annexation

Question 10

OSCE field operations

Answer 10

• purely civilian operations
• tailor-made mandates, unanimous decision for deployment, consensual with host state
• contribute to early warning and conflict prevention
• monitor and report on developments on the ground
• assistance in putting OSCE commitments in practice
• e.g. former Yugoslavia, Usbekistan, Georgia, Bosnia

Question 11

Role of OSCE in Crimea conflict

Answer 11

• only organisation to play a role in containment of the conflict
• most important form of intervention/mediation
• > deployment of monitoring mission (Minsk II Agreements, SMM mission); INTENDED: full ceasefire, creation of ‘Security Zone’, local elections in East Ukraine

Question 12

Future of OSCE

Answer 12

• Con(fron)tainment: limited importance of OSCE due to undermining of third dimension by Russia
• Congagement: compromise between values and security matters (if Minsk II implemented: Eastern Ukraine gets special status & autonomy, Crimea will be status quo, no further expansion of NATO)
• Co-opted security: security first, human rights second (acceptance of buffer zones of Russia in Eastern Europe)

Question 13

Strengths of OSCE

Answer 13

• successful mediation track record
• perceived as impartial actor
• unanimity of decisions increases acceptance

Question 14

Weaknesses of OSCE

Answer 14

• OSCE not fully subject to international law
• consent of host state for operations required
• no military power -> credibility and enforcement options at stake
• unanimity decision-making preventing effective acting
• principle of recognition of territorial borders does not seem to be effective