FM Alert, Vol. II, No. 3
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 98 17:11:12 -0500
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
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To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Subject: FM Alert, Vol. II, No. 3
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Allison Mindel <[email protected]>
FM Alert, Vol. II, No. 3
FM Alert, No. 3
20 January 1998
AMERICAN TO HEAD OSCE IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has appointed
retired American diplomat Robert L. Barry as the new head of its mission to
Bosnia and Herzegovina. At a January 7 meeting at the United States
Institute for Peace, Ambassador Barry asserted that one of his top
priorities will be to foster greater coordination with nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs). Prior to assuming the OSCE post, Barry served in
various US diplomat positions in Germany, the Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia.
In addition, from 1981-84 he was American ambassador to Bulgaria, and from
1992-95 he was the United States' chief envoy in Indonesia. Barry also
worked with Deputy Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger during the Bush
administration in setting up assistance programs for the formerly Communist
states of Central and Eastern Europe. The chief OSCE responsibilities in
Bosnia are election supervision and human rights monitoring. Barry succeeds
Ambassador Robert Frowick who headed the OSCE mission in Bosnia.
FMP URGES SWISS TO SUSPEND KOSOVO RETURNS
The Forced Migration Projects (FMP) have appealed to the Swiss government to
suspend forced returns of ethnic Albanians to the Serb province of Kosovo.
Albanians, who make up the overwhelming majority of Kosovo's population, are
denied many cultural and political rights by Serb authorities who rule the
province directly from Belgrade. Tension in the region has dramatically
escalated in recent months, amidst increased activity of the "Kosovo
Liberation Army," which is waging a campaign of terror to win greater rights
for the Albanian majority. In a January 13 letter to the incoming Swiss
President, Flavio Cotti, FMP Director Arthur C. Helton expressed concern
that forced returns could dangerously exacerbate tensions. "Any conflict in
Kosovo could quickly spread across borders, engaging the international
community," Helton warned. Forced returns from Switzerland, which recently
began under a Yugoslav-Swiss readmission agreement, undermine international
stabilization efforts by straining already scarce resources such as housing,
employment, and education. Returnees are frequently detained upon arrival
and harassed by the police. Switzerland plans to forcibly repatriate 15,000
ethnic Albanians over the protests of Swiss human rights observers. Human
rights monitoring is extremely difficult in Kosovo, as Serb authorities
routinely deny visas to outside observers. (For background, see FM Alerts of
September 26, September 5 and August 29).
OSI PARTICIPATING IN LOCAL NGO CAPACITY BUILDING IN AZERBAIJAN
The Open Society Institute (OSI) information office in Azerbaijan is
participating in a program, organized by the International Organization for
Migration (IOM), that will make small grants to local, migration-related
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The Migration Sector Development
Program (MSDP) calls for local NGOs to prepare proposals designed to enhance
conditions for migrants, such as human rights monitoring, increasing access
to counsel and policy advocacy. A review team that includes IOM, OSI and the
local office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
will then consider the projects. Selected proposals will then receive
funding from the MSDP's Small Projects Fund. The review panel held an
organizational meeting January 13. In its 1998 appeal, IOM requests $70,000
for MSDP activities. Overall, IOM is seeking almost $668,000 for its
programs in Azerbaijan in 1998. The IOM plans similar MSDP efforts in the
neighboring Transcaucasian republics of Armenia and Georgia. (For additional
information consult FM Alert of December 5, 1997).
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