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Rules established for registration of domestic election observers in Kosovo
PRISTINA 23 June 2000
PRISTINA, 23 June 2000 - In order to have credible municipal elections, it is essential that observers be present at all polling sites and counting centres. The Central Elections Commission (CEC) has ruled, that observers representing domestic non-governmental organisations and certified political parties, coalitions, citizens' initiatives or independent candidates will be allowed to observe the elections process, provided they are accredited by the CEC before a date yet to be specified.
A political party, a coalition, a citizens' initiative or an independent candidate, that has been certified to stand for the upcoming municipal elections is also entitled to register observers. Kosovo NGOs, which are registered under UNMiK Regulation 1999/22 may also participate as observers.
All observers must have registered to vote and are not themselves candidates in the elections. Nor can they be members of the Kosovo Police Force or of Kosovo Protection Corps. They must sign a statement that they will abide by the Electoral Rules and respect all applicable laws. Observers representing NGOs have to sign a statement that they are not linked to any political party or grouping.
These observers are admitted to observe the ongoing civil and voter registration as well as the electoral process. If observers note any irregularities during their work, they may report incidents related to the civil and voter registration to the Head of the Joint Registration
Taskforce while violations of the electoral process should be reported to the Elections Complaints and Appeals Sub-Commission.
The CEC has decided on these rules to ensure that elections in Kosovo are free, fair and democratic. Unbiased observers of the elections instil confidence in the electoral process. It is vital that representatives of all political groupings as well as NGOs are actively involved in the observation of the elections in order to make the elections an interwoven element of the ongoing democratisation process in Kosovo.
For further information, contact Press and Public Information of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, tel.: +381 38 500 162 ext. 118, 218, 260, 342. Satphone: 871 762 009 948. Fax: +381 38 500 188. Satfax: 871 382 425 022.
A political party, a coalition, a citizens' initiative or an independent candidate, that has been certified to stand for the upcoming municipal elections is also entitled to register observers. Kosovo NGOs, which are registered under UNMiK Regulation 1999/22 may also participate as observers.
All observers must have registered to vote and are not themselves candidates in the elections. Nor can they be members of the Kosovo Police Force or of Kosovo Protection Corps. They must sign a statement that they will abide by the Electoral Rules and respect all applicable laws. Observers representing NGOs have to sign a statement that they are not linked to any political party or grouping.
These observers are admitted to observe the ongoing civil and voter registration as well as the electoral process. If observers note any irregularities during their work, they may report incidents related to the civil and voter registration to the Head of the Joint Registration
Taskforce while violations of the electoral process should be reported to the Elections Complaints and Appeals Sub-Commission.
The CEC has decided on these rules to ensure that elections in Kosovo are free, fair and democratic. Unbiased observers of the elections instil confidence in the electoral process. It is vital that representatives of all political groupings as well as NGOs are actively involved in the observation of the elections in order to make the elections an interwoven element of the ongoing democratisation process in Kosovo.
For further information, contact Press and Public Information of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, tel.: +381 38 500 162 ext. 118, 218, 260, 342. Satphone: 871 762 009 948. Fax: +381 38 500 188. Satfax: 871 382 425 022.