Implementation of Commitments
pa rt I
Parties directly concerned
(26) Parties directly concerned in tensions who can provide specific reports to the High
Commissioner and with whom the High Commissioner will seek to communicate in
person during a visit to a participating State are the following:
(26a) governments of participating States, including, if appropriate, regional and local
authorities in areas in which national minorities reside;
(26b) representatives of associations, non-governmental organizations, religious and
other groups of national minorities directly concerned and in the area of tension, which
are authorized by the persons belonging to those national minorities to represent them.
Conditions for travel by the High Commissioner
(27) Prior to an intended visit, the High Commissioner will submit to the participating State concerned specific information regarding the intended purpose of that visit.
Within two weeks the State(s) concerned will consult with the High Commissioner on
the objectives of the visit, which may include the promotion of dialogue, confidence and
co-operation between the parties. After entry the State concerned will facilitate free
travel and communication of the High Commissioner subject to the provisions of paragraph (25) above.
(28) If the State concerned does not allow the High Commissioner to enter the country
and to travel and communicate freely, the High Commissioner will so inform the CSO.
(29) In the course of such a visit, subject to the provision of paragraph (25) the High
Commissioner may consult the parties involved, and may receive information in confidence from any individual, group or organization directly concerned on questions the
High Commissioner is addressing. The High Commissioner will respect the confidential nature of the information
(30) The participating States will refrain from taking any action against persons, organizations or institutions on account of their contact with the High Commissioner.
High Commissioner and involvement of experts
(31) The High Commissioner may decide to request assistance from not more than three
experts with relevant expertise in specific matters on which brief, specialized investigation and advice are required.
(32) If the High Commissioner decides to call on experts, the High Commissioner will
set a clearly defined mandate and time-frame for the activities of the experts.
(33) Experts will only visit a participating State at the same time as the High Commissioner. Their mandate will be an integral part of the mandate of the High Commissioner
and the same conditions for travel will apply.
58 OSCE Human Dimension Commitments
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