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Permanent Council establishes OSCE Transitional Task Force for Kosovo
VIENNA 9 June 1999
VIENNA, 9 June 1999 - In a special session yesterday evening, the OSCE Permanent Council decided to establish a Transitional Task Force for Kosovo to focus on preparation for a new Mission in Kosovo. The Task Force will replace the Kosovo Verification Mission, which, since its evacuation from Kosovo on 20 March, has been playing a key role in the relief efforts in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and in Albania.
According to the Permanent Council decision, the OSCE Task Force will have the following mandate:
To prepare for the deployment to Kosovo of available and relevant OSCE assets as soon as this may be required;
To assist in planning and preparing for new tasks in Kosovo in order to facilitate the entry of a future OSCE Mission to Kosovo as soon as conditions allow;
To carry out preparatory visits and activities in Kosovo in order to facilitate the entry of a future OSCE Mission as soon as conditions allow;
To cooperate, as required, with the UN and other international organizations in on-going activities relevant to possible future OSCE tasks in Kosovo, in particular registration and documentation of refugees;
To continue assessing the human rights situation in Kosovo.
The OSCE expects the UN Security Council to adopt a Resolution very soon that will enable the international community to begin its work in re-establishing peace and rebuilding the society in Kosovo. Intensive planning has been ongoing at the OSCE in preparing itself for an important role in a civilian implementation mission.
The Norwegian Chairmanship of the OSCE thanks the Head of the Kosovo Verification Mission, Ambassador William Walker, and the Mission staff, for their invaluable contributions to the work of the OSCE. The Chairmanship has appointed Ambassador Tore Bögh to head the transitional Task Force.
According to the Permanent Council decision, the OSCE Task Force will have the following mandate:
To prepare for the deployment to Kosovo of available and relevant OSCE assets as soon as this may be required;
To assist in planning and preparing for new tasks in Kosovo in order to facilitate the entry of a future OSCE Mission to Kosovo as soon as conditions allow;
To carry out preparatory visits and activities in Kosovo in order to facilitate the entry of a future OSCE Mission as soon as conditions allow;
To cooperate, as required, with the UN and other international organizations in on-going activities relevant to possible future OSCE tasks in Kosovo, in particular registration and documentation of refugees;
To continue assessing the human rights situation in Kosovo.
The OSCE expects the UN Security Council to adopt a Resolution very soon that will enable the international community to begin its work in re-establishing peace and rebuilding the society in Kosovo. Intensive planning has been ongoing at the OSCE in preparing itself for an important role in a civilian implementation mission.
The Norwegian Chairmanship of the OSCE thanks the Head of the Kosovo Verification Mission, Ambassador William Walker, and the Mission staff, for their invaluable contributions to the work of the OSCE. The Chairmanship has appointed Ambassador Tore Bögh to head the transitional Task Force.