Work of the CSCE on the eve of the 3rd Summit (Helsinki, 9-11 July (1992)
Recommendation 1184
(1992)
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 6 May 1992 (4th and 5th Sittings) (see Doc. 6607, report of the Political Affairs Committee, Rapporteur : Mr Schieder). Text adopted by the Assembly on 6 May 1992 (5th Sitting).
- Thesaurus
1. Since the holding of the CSCE Paris Summit in November 1990, CSCE membership has increased from thirty-four countries to fifty-two. States participating in the fourth CSCE follow-up meeting, which began in Helsinki in March 1992, are facing two major challenges : to ensure the functioning of the CSCE with an enlarged membership, and to develop and strengthen CSCE institutions and structures.
2. The CSCE must find ways to cope effectively with the current conflicts confronting the continent such as those in the former Yugoslavia -witness the dramatic situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina -and in Nagorno-Karabakh. To achieve this, it is essential that the structures of the CSCE be adapted to the increasing role in conflict prevention and peace-keeping which that institution should assume.
3. The proposal being discussed in Helsinki to set up a court of conciliation and arbitration aimed at resolving any dispute which has not been settled by diplomatic means in a reasonable period of time is a positive step towards peace in Europe. However, its achievement may be confronted with many difficulties. In this respect, the Assembly recalls that before investing energies in the creation of new mechanisms it is necessary to make full use of existing ones.
4. Participants in the Helsinki follow-up meeting are also considering a proposal for the establishment of a high commissioner for minorities aimed at providing the CSCE with a conflict-prevention mechanism on issues relating to minorities.
5. As regards co-operation between the CSCE and the Council of Europe, until now no specific forms have been defined even if during the CSCE Paris Summit the CSCE formally welcomed the Council of Europe's willingness to share its experience with the CSCE. Nevertheless, the Council of Europe made contributions to almost all CSCE experts' meetings held in 1991 and the representative of the Council of Europe at the Helsinki follow-up meeting formulated specific proposals for the future development of such co-operation. It is the Assembly's wish that the fields of co-operation be clearly marked out, and in particular that those areas where the Council of Europe has specific competence be recognised and respected as such.
6. The Assembly considers that the human dimension of the CSCE could greatly benefit from the expertise of the Council of Europe in this field as demonstrated by the longstanding success and recognition of its human rights protection machinery. Therefore, the CSCE Warsaw Office for democratic institutions and human rights should work closely with the Council of Europe.
7. Co-operation between the CSCE and Councilof Europe should also develop in fields relating to culture and education, promotion of a multicultural society and rights of minorities.
8. Where the parliamentary dimension of the CSCE is concerned, the Assembly reiterates its willingness to make available its experience to the emerging CSCE Assembly which will hold its first meeting in Budapest in July 1992. Modalities of co-operation must be laid down in a formal agreement to avoid duplication. Willingness to co-operate with the CSCE Assembly has also been expressed by the North Atlantic Assembly and the Assembly of Western European Union.
9. The Assembly believes that the presence of certain of its members in the respective national delegations to the CSCE Assembly could contribute to a better co-ordination of the work of both assemblies.
10. The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers :
10.1 develop in the near future a close co-operation with the CSCE institutions and structures ;
10.2 negotiate with the CSCE competent bodies the modalities of such co-operation in fields where the Council of Europe plays a leading role, in particular those relating to the human dimension ;
10.3 improve the knowledge of CSCE participating states about Council of Europe activities in order to avoid duplications, waste of resources and possible conflicts ;
10.4 define the modalities of associating CSCE participating states not members of the Council of Europe with specific Council of Europe projects ;
10.5 ensure that the CSCE makes full use of existing structures in order to prevent conflicts in our continent more effectively ;
10.6 promote the implementation of a charter between the Council of Europe and the CSCE, establishing the principles and modalities on which their indispensable Europe-wide co-operation is based.
