Attack at Kosovo registration centre condemned as "cowardly and shameful"
Daan Everts, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. (Lubomir Kotek/OSCE) Photo details
PRISTINA, 9 August 2001 (OSCE) - The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Daan Everts, has whole-heartedly condemned the attack on an elderly Roma woman outside a registration centre.
The woman was assaulted, allegedly by two Kosovo Albanian men, outside the centre in Gjilan/Gnjilane. She was grabbed by the throat and threatened. She was slightly injured and has been badly shaken by the attack.
"This sort of attack cannot be condoned," said Mr. Everts. "It is unacceptable. People should be allowed to exercise their democratic rights freely, without being harassed or intimidated by anyone.
"This sort of action is cowardly and shameful. It is a slur on all of Kosovo as its people get ready to take part in an historic election here."
The registration centre where the attack happened opened today and the team working was to remain there until Saturday. It has remained open and is expected to remain open for the rest of the week, with increased security provided by KFOR and United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMiK) police.
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is in the process of updating the voters' list both inside and outside of Kosovo. People are asked to come to a voter service centre if they had problems voting last year, or are newly returned to Kosovo.
There is also a concerted effort to get those communities involved who did not participate in last year's election. The OSCE is working closely with UNMiK in this process so that people can register for the civil registry as well as be assigned a place where they will vote.
The process will run six days a week, until 8 September.
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For more information please contact Claire Trevena, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission in Kosovo, tel.: (+381-38) 500-162 ext. 260, mobile: +377 (044) 500-150, e-mail: [email protected], website: www.osce.org/kosovo.
The woman was assaulted, allegedly by two Kosovo Albanian men, outside the centre in Gjilan/Gnjilane. She was grabbed by the throat and threatened. She was slightly injured and has been badly shaken by the attack.
"This sort of attack cannot be condoned," said Mr. Everts. "It is unacceptable. People should be allowed to exercise their democratic rights freely, without being harassed or intimidated by anyone.
"This sort of action is cowardly and shameful. It is a slur on all of Kosovo as its people get ready to take part in an historic election here."
The registration centre where the attack happened opened today and the team working was to remain there until Saturday. It has remained open and is expected to remain open for the rest of the week, with increased security provided by KFOR and United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMiK) police.
The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is in the process of updating the voters' list both inside and outside of Kosovo. People are asked to come to a voter service centre if they had problems voting last year, or are newly returned to Kosovo.
There is also a concerted effort to get those communities involved who did not participate in last year's election. The OSCE is working closely with UNMiK in this process so that people can register for the civil registry as well as be assigned a place where they will vote.
The process will run six days a week, until 8 September.
--
For more information please contact Claire Trevena, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission in Kosovo, tel.: (+381-38) 500-162 ext. 260, mobile: +377 (044) 500-150, e-mail: [email protected], website: www.osce.org/kosovo.