OSCE Mission head welcomes orderly completion of vote collection operation in Kosovo

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 16 March 2014 – The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger, noted at 22:00 hrs this evening that the collection of votes has concluded in an orderly manner. The operation was designed to enable eligible voters in Kosovo to exercise their right and cast ballots in Serbian parliamentary elections.

“I am pleased with the manner in which today’s collection of votes was conducted. Ten OSCE collection centres and 15 associated branches in Kosovo opened and closed on time, with the exception of three that closed with a delay as voters waited in line. The final turnout figure reached 34.42 percent,” said Schlumberger.

Following the closing of the collection centres and branches votes are being transported to Raška and Vranje for counting.

The OSCE conducted the collection of votes operation at the request of all relevant actors and in line with agreed modalities.

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with human and community rights promotion, democratization and public safety sector development.