Organization Overview
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the world’s largest regional security organization including 57 participating states covering the whole Europe, Central Asia and North America (the United States and Canada). It offers a forum for political negotiations and decision-making in the fields of early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, and puts the political will of its participating States into practice through its unique network of field missions. The Organization has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses political-military, economic and environmental, and human aspects. 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. States participating to the OSCE committed themselves to these values and created an operational structure to facilitate and support their implementation. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.
The OSCE first established a presence in Tajikistan in early 1994 when it opened the Mission to Tajikistan. In October 2002 it was renamed to the Centre in Dushanbe and its mandate was revised, and its tasks were broadened to include work in all the three dimensions of the OSCE: Political-Military, Economic and Environmental, and Human Dimension. In June 2008, it became the Office in Tajikistan.
The Office’s refocused mandate offers wider opportunities to tackle existing challenges in the development of Tajikistan. The mandate includes promoting the implementation of OSCE principles and commitments; assisting in the development of a legal framework and democratic political institutions and processes; facilitating contacts and promoting information exchange with OSCE bodies and institutions and participating States in Central Asia; and establishing and maintaining contacts with local authorities, universities, research institutions and NGOs. The Office co-operates closely with the Government in implementing its mandate, on the basis of mutual understanding and common agreement. As well, the Office engages in consultations and co-ordination with the OSCE institutions, as well as other stakeholders including international organizations, civil society groups, academia and bilateral donors active in Tajikistan.
|
Mr. Jukka Tuononen a.i, Head of the OSCE programme office in Dushanbe
Tel: (+992 37) 226 50 14/15/16/17 |