Newsroom
OSCE Mission in Kosovo welcomes endorsement of Kosovo Serb participation in November's election
PRISTINA 3 November 2001
PRISTINA, 3 November 2001 (OSCE) - The OSCE Mission in Kosovo has welcomed the endorsement, by the parliaments of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and Serbia, as well as by the President of the FRY, Vojislav Kostunica, of the participation of Kosovo Serbs in the Assembly election later this month.
"We are happy to note President Kostunica's statement. This is an important encouragement for the Kosovo Serbs," said the Head of the OSCE Mission, Ambassador Daan Everts. "We are very pleased that they have opted for the parliamentary route in helping to determine Kosovo's future."
Large numbers of Kosovo's Serbs put their names on the voters' list both inside and outside Kosovo earlier this year.
Kosovo's Serbian community will automatically receive ten seats in the new Assembly; these are in addition to any of the 100 Assembly seats which are obtained by the one Serbian political entity contesting the election.
However, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo still faces the challenge of preparing the election in Serbia proper and Montenegro. Agreement has to be reached with the Belgrade authorities to go ahead with the technical arrangements.
"Organizing an election in just 14 days is an almost impossible task," said Ambassador Everts. "Our primary concern is to create fraud-free conditions for voting, as will be seen in Kosovo. We shall not allow any manipulation of the votes."
The election for the Kosovo Assembly takes place on 17 November. There will be 100 polling centres in Serbia proper and Montenegro, housing 191 polling stations. Each will have an OSCE trained international supervisor, and OSCE trained staff.
"We are happy to note President Kostunica's statement. This is an important encouragement for the Kosovo Serbs," said the Head of the OSCE Mission, Ambassador Daan Everts. "We are very pleased that they have opted for the parliamentary route in helping to determine Kosovo's future."
Large numbers of Kosovo's Serbs put their names on the voters' list both inside and outside Kosovo earlier this year.
Kosovo's Serbian community will automatically receive ten seats in the new Assembly; these are in addition to any of the 100 Assembly seats which are obtained by the one Serbian political entity contesting the election.
However, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo still faces the challenge of preparing the election in Serbia proper and Montenegro. Agreement has to be reached with the Belgrade authorities to go ahead with the technical arrangements.
"Organizing an election in just 14 days is an almost impossible task," said Ambassador Everts. "Our primary concern is to create fraud-free conditions for voting, as will be seen in Kosovo. We shall not allow any manipulation of the votes."
The election for the Kosovo Assembly takes place on 17 November. There will be 100 polling centres in Serbia proper and Montenegro, housing 191 polling stations. Each will have an OSCE trained international supervisor, and OSCE trained staff.