OSCE Mission to Skopje trains police officers to help ensure safe electoral process

SKOPJE, 11 February 2009 - Some 80 policemen will learn how to better co-ordinate and provide security during the electoral process through training that started in Skopje today.

The training of trainers, organized by the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje in co-operation with the Interior Ministry and CIVIPOL, the French Interior Ministry's consultancy, is designed to instruct the police on maintaining security and protecting citizens' right to vote in a safe environment.

"The police need to act positively from the start of the campaign, on election day and afterwards when dealing with any investigations that might be required, and thus create a positive atmosphere of freedom and fairness throughout the electoral process," said the Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, Ambassador Jose Luis Herrero.

In the coming weeks, the police officers will pass on their knowledge and skills to 8,500 colleagues who will be on duty on election day. Presidential and local elections are scheduled for 22 March.