§ Mr. CasaleTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the OSCE has taken to ensure that it is able to respond rapidly in the event of a crisis. [133027]
§ Mr. VazOn 30 June, the OSCE adopted measures to improve its capability to respond more quickly and effectively to crises through the despatch of Rapid Expert Assistance and Co-operation Teams (REACT). The aim is for the OSCE to be able to deploy civilian personnel, with a range of conflict prevention and resolution skills tailored to the requirements of a particular crisis, anywhere in the OSCE area, when required. As part of this, the OSCE is to create an Operations Centre to plan and co-ordinate the rapid, as well as regular, deployment of international staff to OSCE missions. The success of this initiative, agreed at the Istanbul Summit, will depend on the commitment and will of OSCE participating states to provide the necessary personnel within the requisite timescale. In line with our current policy, the UK aims to provide about 10 per cent. of the OSCE's overall deployment of personnel in the field.