OSCE Mission to Skopje supports efforts to de-politicize municipal administrations

SKOPJE, 8 May 2009 - Newly-elected and incumbent mayors discussed the importance of having professional and de-politicized municipal administrations during an OSCE-supported conference held in Skopje today.

The conference, organized by the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje in co-operation with the Association of Local Self-Government Units (ZELS), addressed how the transition of power in municipalities can be made transparent, and how staff can be managed responsibly.

"The newly elected municipal leaders now have an excellent opportunity to prove that their hiring decisions are exclusively based on criteria of efficiency and competence and not on political affiliation," said the Head of OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje, Ambassador Jose Luis Herrero. "The OSCE is ready to assist in any effort undertaken to de-politicize the public administration."

Musa Xhaferi, the Minister of Local Self-government, added: "The central power is in charge of policy-making based on consultations of relevant actors and European standards, but local authorities largely implement those policies. Thus, it is essential to have de-politicized local administrations that will successfully handle their tasks and responsibilities."