HC Deb 26 February 1992 vol 204 cc495-6W
Mr. Atkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the new institutions of the CSCE; and if he will list their forthcoming meetings.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

At the meeting of the CSCE Council of Ministers in Prague on 30 and 31 January the CSCE's office for free elections was given broader functions and renamed as the office for democratic institutions and human rights.

The council also agreed on new functions for the conflict prevention centre; and that the committee of senior officials will henceforth meet more frequently and from time to time as an economic forum.

These changes which, together with a new programme of CSCE meetings, will be further discussed at the CSCE follow-up meeting in Helsinki from 24 March to 10 July 1992, are intended to continue the adaptation of the CSCE to enable it more effectively to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law, to engage in crisis management and conflict resolution and to encourage the transition to market economies.

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