ArmInfo. The OSCE Chairmanship continues to lead negotiations to reach consensus on extension of mandates of a number of OSCE field operations, the press service of the OSCE Office in Yerevan has told ArmInfo.
"Participating States have not yet reached consensus on extension of mandates of a number of OSCE field operations. The Chairmanship continues to lead negotiations on this with the aim of early agreement. Pending agreement on mandate extension by the participating States, the field operations remain open and will continue administrative, non-mandate-related work. Negotiations are ongoing and we cannot speculate about them," the source says.
Meanwhile, Armenian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tigran Balayan says that Armenia backs the OSCE Office in Yerevan and consistently provides assistance within the frames of OSCE corresponding decisions. He notes that since the OSCE Office in Baku was closed, the OSCE Office in Yerevan has been the only full representation of the Organization in the South Caucasus. Balayan states that the role of the OSCE Office in Armenia is valued by OSCE Chairmanship, OSCE Secretariat and other institutions of the Organization, as well as by the absolute majority of the Participating States, except for one. "The OSCE is known to operate based on consensus, and notwithstanding the wide support, it has been impossible to reach agreement so far on the extension of the OSCE Yerevan Office's mandate. Austria's OSCE chairmanship currently continues the negotiations on coordination of the draft decision, and Armenia also participates in the consultations as the host country," Balayan says, abstaining from any details.
The operation of the OSCE Office in Yerevan hangs in the air due to the lack of consensus on extension of its mandate. The OSCE Offices in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan face the same situation. The mandate for operation of the OSCE Offices is extended annually on the basis of the OSCE Participating States' consensus.
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