First CSCE field operations deployed

The OSCE Missions of Long Duration in Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina began their work on 8 September 1992, making them the first of the Organization's numerous field operations to be deployed.

These three Missions of Long Duration were established by a decision of the 15th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials, held in Prague on 14 August 1992.

According to the CSO decision, the missions would:

• Promote dialogues between the authorities concerned and representatives of the populations and communities in the three regions;
• Collect information on all aspects relevant to violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms and promote solutions to such problems;
• Establish contact points for solving problems that might be identified;
• Assist in providing information on relevant legislation on human rights, protection of minorities, free media and democratic elections.

The Mission to Kosovo was based in Pristina with offices in Pec and Prizren; the Mission to Sandjak in Novi Pazar with a permanent presence in Priepolje; and the Mission to Vojvodina in Subotica. All three Missions shared an integrated office in Belgrade.

The mandate of the three Missions of Long Duration was originally for a relatively short period of time and was not renewed after it expired at the end of June 1993.

This was due to the fact that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which had been suspended from the CSCE in 1992, announced that it would co-operate only if it were given equal status with the other participating States.

However, despite the fact that the mandate of the three Missions was not renewed, their work in the above fields was of a pioneering nature and set a precedent for subsequent CSCE/OSCE field activities.

During the rest of the 1990s, the Organization set up numerous field operations that have played a vital role in helping to bring security and stability to many regions. There are currently 17 such field operations, which are as follows:

South Caucasus
OSCE Office in Baku
OSCE Office in Yerevan
Personal Representative of the Chairman-in-Office on the Conflict Dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference

Central Asia
OSCE Centre in Ashgabat
OSCE Centre in Astana
OSCE Centre in Bishkek
OSCE Office in Tajikistan
OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan

Eastern Europe
OSCE Mission to Moldova
OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine

South-Eastern Europe
OSCE Presence in Albania
OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina
OSCE Mission to Croatia
OSCE Mission to Montenegro
OSCE Mission to Serbia
OSCE Mission in Kosovo
OSCE Mission to Skopje