DUSHANBE, December 6, 2011, Asia-Plus -- An article “OSCE: US to Push for Rapid-Reaction Diplomacy in Central Asia” by Catherine A. Fitzpatrick posted on EurasiaNet’s website on December 5 says US and European Union diplomats will be looking to reinvigorate the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe when a Ministerial Council meeting convenes in Vilnius, Lithuania, on December 6-7.  High on the meeting agenda is a proposal to create a diplomatic rapid reaction team.

According to the article, the OSCE is likely to face new challenges in the coming years, especially those arising out of the planned withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2014.  The United States and EU diplomats see the creation of a team of diplomatic trouble-shooters as a possible way to keep the potential for fresh upheaval to a minimum.  But, as is often the case when it comes to the OSCE, Russia is seen as an obstacle to innovation.

“I anticipate some problems with this,” a senior OSCE official told EurasiaNet.org, speaking on background.  “We want this kind of rapid deployment.  We have to empower the chair-in-office and the CPC,” the OSCE official added, referring to the Conflict Prevention Center, the sometimes timid Vienna-based office charged with responding to crises.

Russia is reportedly opposed to the rapid-response initiative because it doesn’t want to see any new, outside meddling in the situations in Georgia or Trans-Dniester. But it’s important to note that Moscow is not alone in its opposition to the rapid-reaction idea.  Turkey, for one, doesn’t like it due to concerns about how it might impact Ankara’s long-running disputes with Cypress or Greece.  Thus, to secure approval, the proposal would have to avoid naming any specific existing conflict.  One possible workaround is to target only new crises going forward.

Even if the OSCE can forge the consensus needed to give life to the rapid-reaction diplomatic team, it is uncertain how effective such trouble-shooters can be.  Recent experience doesn’t inspire confidence.