Nina Suomalainen appointed Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje

Press Release 198/2015
28 August 2015

Nina Suomalainen. Kuvaaja Jasmin Fazlagic.

Nina Suomalainen has been selected to lead the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Skopje. The OSCE Chairperson in Office, Foreign Minister Ivica Dačić of Serbia, has appointed the new Head of Mission as from 7 September 2015.

The main task of the OSCE Mission to Skopje is to support and monitor the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement that brought an end to the country’s armed conflict in 2001. The purpose is to guarantee the participation of all ethnic groups in the country’s political, social and cultural life. The agreement focuses on decentralization, non-discrimination, language and education rights, as well as equitable representation of all citizens. The Mission’s mandate additionally covers police and legislative reforms as well as the development of good governance and the rule of law.

The Mission involves inspection trips and maintaining contacts among others with government institutions, politicians, NGOs, religious leaders and police forces. In addition, it assists in developing education and the electoral system and supports the elimination of illegal weapons. Aside from these, the Mission’s mandate includes border control, measures to combat human trafficking and terrorism, the prevention and resolution of conflicts, educational reform, the promotion of gender equality, and the promotion of human rights and minorities’ rights.

The OSCE Mission to Skopje began in 1992. At present it has a staff of 148 persons.

Nina Suomalainen has extensive international experience. She has served as the Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2012–2015 and an Advisor to the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, at the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, as well as for the South-Eastern Europe Stability Pact. Suomalainen has also been in the employ of the UN Development Programme and Finn Church Aid. She holds a Master’s degree in Political Science.

Inquiries: Nina Suomalainen, mobile tel. +358 40 533 5869; Ambassador Katja Pehrman, Permanent Representative of Finland to the OSCE, tel. +43 676 848 350 350; and Deputy Director General Timo Kantola, tel. +358 295 351 477

OSCE