VZCZCXRO7254
OO RUEHIK
DE RUEHC #4917/01 0492330
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 182326Z FEB 10
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE IMMEDIATE 7642
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 014917 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL OSCE
SUBJECT: OSCE DRAFT DECISION ON CONFLICT PREVENTION AND 
CRISIS MANAGEMENT 
 
STATE 00014917  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (U) Post is authorized to distribute the following draft 
decision on conflict prevention and crisis management to 
participating States in advance of the February 23, 2010 
Corfu Process discussion on this topic in Vienna.  In doing 
so post should make clear that issues containing an "x" would 
be subject to discussion and agreement among the 
participating states. 
 
Begin text: 
 
The Ministerial Council, 
 
(PP1) Concerned by the persistence of conflict in various 
regions in the OSCE area, which represents a challenge to the 
security of all participating States and threatens the 
fulfillment of OSCE principles and commitments, 
 
(PP2) Being aware that such conflicts, wherever they take 
place, may also pose a risk to neighbouring areas and may 
give rise to instability and a wide variety of threats to 
security, 
 
(PP3) Reiterating our commitment to prevent the outbreak of 
violent conflicts whenever possible, and to intensify efforts 
to seek the peaceful resolution of disputes, 
 
(PP4) Understanding that non-compliance with international 
law and with OSCE norms, principles and commitments can 
foster instability, tension and even conflict, 
 
(PP5) Recognizing that the cross-dimensional nature of the 
many causes of conflict requires a multifaceted, 
comprehensive response on the part of the OSCE, 
 
(PP6) Acknowledging the primary responsibility of the United 
Nations Security Council for the maintenance of international 
peace and security and its crucial role in contributing to 
security and stability in the OSCE area, and reaffirming the 
OSCE as a regional arrangement under Chapter VIII of the 
Charter of the United Nations, 
 
(PP7) Reaffirming our adherence to the Charter of the United 
Nations and core CSCE/OSCE documents and our respect for the 
principles relevant to conflict prevention and resolution set 
out in the Charter of the United Nations and the Helsinki 
Final Act of the CSCE, 
 
(PP8) Recalling  OSCE commitments in the field of crisis 
management, including those enshrined in the 1975 Helsinki 
Final Act, the 1990 Charter of Paris for a New Europe, the 
1992 Helsinki Document, and the 1999 Charter for European 
Security, 
 
(PP9) Recognizing that each crisis or conflict has its own 
specific characteristics, and that the OSCE's approach to 
conflict prevention and resolution, while based on common 
principles and commitments, must be tailored to a particular 
situation, 
 
(PP10) Reaffirming consensus as the basis for OSCE 
decision-making, including in the area of conflict prevention 
and crisis management, 
 
(PP11) Praising the significant contribution made to 
preventing conflict by the OSCE's Secretariat, Institutions 
and field operations, including through their focus on 
assisting participating States to create the democratic 
structures essential to security and stability, 
 
(PP12) Recalling that the ability to respond promptly to 
early warning signals, as well as to deploy rapidly civilian 
and police expertise, is essential to effective conflict 
prevention, crisis management and post-conflict 
rehabilitation, 
 
(PP13) Convinced of the necessity to enhance the OSCE's 
activities in early warning, conflict prevention and 
resolution, crisis management and post-conflict 
rehabilitation, in line with its role as a regional 
arrangement under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United 
Nations, 
 
(OP1) Decides to authorize the OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office to 
respond swiftly in the event of escalating tensions or 
conflict in the OSCE area, through the deployment of small 
teams, not to exceed X personnel, to areas of concern; 
 
STATE 00014917  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
(OP2) Authorizes these teams to assess, monitor and report to 
participating States on the situation on the ground; provide 
a liaison or advisory function; facilitate humanitarian 
relief; and recommend measures for confidence and security 
building mechanisms to support peace and stability. Such a 
team would initially deploy for a maximum period of X days; 
 
(OP3) Notes that OSCE Permanent Council may by consensus 
decision extend the duration of deployment or modify the 
tasks to be performed by the teams; 
 
(OP4) Agrees that the resources related to the deployment of 
the teams will be provided through extrabudgetary 
contributions; 
 
(OP5) Agrees that deployments of these teams are to be 
accepted by all participating States without preconditions, 
and that participating States will to the greatest possible 
extent provide security to team personnel and facilitate the 
team's freedom of movement and access to relevant authorities 
and representatives of the population; 
 
(OP6) Furthermore decides to strengthen their commitment to 
resolving disputes by peaceful means by enhancing the 
organization's 1991 Berlin Mechanism for Consultation and 
Co-Operation With Regard To Emergency Situations through 
addition of a provision for convening an extraordinary 
conference of all participating States in the event of armed 
conflict, to examine ways to deescalate tensions and/or halt 
further hostilities, in accordance with annex 1, 
 
(OP7) Tasks the Secretariat/CPC with further exploring how 
the OSCE can increase the effectiveness of its conflict 
prevention and resolution efforts, including through the 
development, within existing resources, of enhanced training 
and a rapid response capacity, a focus on confidence- and 
security building measures, and how to establish and maintain 
a political dialogue between the parties to a conflict, and 
to report back to the next Ministerial Council. 
 
(OP8) Requests the Secretariat/CPC to provide enhanced 
support to the mediation and good offices efforts of the OSCE 
Chairmanship and to develop ways to retain and use 
institutional memory, within existing resources. 
 
¶2. (U) Post is also authorized to distribute the following 
nonpaper setting forth suggested modifications to the Berlin 
Mechanism for Consultation and Co-Operation With Regard to 
Emergency Situations. 
 
Begin text: 
 
Modification to the Berlin Mechanism for Consultation and 
Co-Operation With Regard To Emergency Situations 
 
The following articles will be added to the Berlin Mechanism 
for Consultation and Co-Operation With Regard To Emergency 
Situations: 
 
x. In the event armed conflict breaks out on the territory of 
one or more participating States, the Chairperson of the 
Permanent Council will convene an extraordinary conference of 
the participating States to examine ways to deescalate 
tensions and/or halt further hostilities. 
 
x.1 The Chairperson will immediately notify all participating 
States of the date and time of the meeting, which will be 
held at the earliest 48 hours and at the latest three days 
after this notification. The notification will also include 
the reason for, and the agenda of, the meeting. 
 
x.2 The meeting will be held at the seat of the Secretariat 
and last no more than two days, unless otherwise agreed. 
 
x.3 Further modalities will be as stipulated in Articles 2.10 
through 2.14, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.  In 
cases of armed conflict involving participating States, those 
involved states may exercise any rights they otherwise have 
to participate in the conference, but they will not take part 
in any decision adopting recommendations or conclusions. 
 
END TEXT. 
CLINTON