Which of the following statements about Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) are correct ? 1. There are total 57 states from Europe, Central Asia and America. 2. It offers a forum for political negotiations and decision-making in the field of early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation. 3. OSCE has the primary responsibility of providing military security in the European Region. 4. The decisions of OSCE are legally binding. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.1, 2 and 3 only
- C.1, 2, 3 and 4
- D.3 and 4 only
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A, 1 and 2 only. The OSCE has 57 participating states and works as a forum for dialogue on early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, but it is neither a military body nor a maker of binding law.
The organisation grew out of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, whose Helsinki Final Act of 1975 eased Cold War tensions; it took the name OSCE in 1995. Its secretariat is in Vienna, and its members stretch from North America through Europe to Central Asia, making it the world's largest regional security organisation. It takes decisions by consensus, and they bind its members politically only.
B is wrong: statement 3 is false, because the OSCE has no armed forces; collective military defence in Europe is NATO's task.
C is wrong: statements 3 and 4 are both false.
D is wrong: it picks exactly the two false statements, since OSCE decisions are politically, not legally, binding.
Exam tip: OSCE = Helsinki 1975 roots, Vienna secretariat, 57 participating states, consensus decisions that are only politically binding.
Practice Questions
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- C.The Communist Party of Cuba
- D.The Polish United Workers Party
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