Newsroom
High turnout, calm atmosphere in Kosovo elections
PRISTINA 28 October 2000
PRISTINA, 28 October 2000 - People in Kosovo turned out in massive numbers to vote in today's municipal elections. Despite the large number of voters, there have been few and only minor incidents or disturbances.
According to Jeff Fischer, OSCE Director of Elections Operations, voter turnout has been heavy throughout the day. The high turnout in the early hours of voting, coupled with some early administrative problems in certain polling centres, caused long queues to develop. But, Mr. Fischer said these problems had been addressed and voting was proceeding well.
Mr. Fischer said that most voters were expected to have cast their ballots by 7 p.m., the time polling stations were scheduled to close. But, he said, every voter still in line at 7 p.m. would be allowed to vote.
"We will stay open until 8 p.m., 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. - however long takes to enable everybody who wants to vote to vote." Fischer said.
The Head of the Joint Elections Operations Centre, Col. Camillo di Milato, who is co-ordinating security during the elections, said few incidents had occurred during today's voting.
"There is nothing major to report," he stated, adding that the number of security incidents has been quite small - in fact, smaller than any other day.
Voting outside of Kosovo, which is part of the Out-of-Kosovo voting programme, was also going according to expectations. "In-person voting for Out-of-Kosovo voting in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania is going smoothly," Mr. Fischer said.
For further information on the Kosovo municipal elections, contact OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Press and Public Information Section, tel.: +381-38-500-162; fax: +381-38-500-188; e-mail: press@omik.org; Mr. Roland Bless, Spokesperson, (ext. 260), mobile: +377-44-158-847 (044-124-065 within Kosovo) ; or +389-70-250-576; Ms. Laura O'Mahony, Press Officer, (ext. 118), mobile: +389-70-250-434; +377-44-158-843 (044-158-843 within Kosovo); Mr. Sven Lindholm, Press Officer, (ext. 218), mobile: +389-70-250-435 or +377-44-158-845
According to Jeff Fischer, OSCE Director of Elections Operations, voter turnout has been heavy throughout the day. The high turnout in the early hours of voting, coupled with some early administrative problems in certain polling centres, caused long queues to develop. But, Mr. Fischer said these problems had been addressed and voting was proceeding well.
Mr. Fischer said that most voters were expected to have cast their ballots by 7 p.m., the time polling stations were scheduled to close. But, he said, every voter still in line at 7 p.m. would be allowed to vote.
"We will stay open until 8 p.m., 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. - however long takes to enable everybody who wants to vote to vote." Fischer said.
The Head of the Joint Elections Operations Centre, Col. Camillo di Milato, who is co-ordinating security during the elections, said few incidents had occurred during today's voting.
"There is nothing major to report," he stated, adding that the number of security incidents has been quite small - in fact, smaller than any other day.
Voting outside of Kosovo, which is part of the Out-of-Kosovo voting programme, was also going according to expectations. "In-person voting for Out-of-Kosovo voting in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania is going smoothly," Mr. Fischer said.
For further information on the Kosovo municipal elections, contact OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Press and Public Information Section, tel.: +381-38-500-162; fax: +381-38-500-188; e-mail: press@omik.org; Mr. Roland Bless, Spokesperson, (ext. 260), mobile: +377-44-158-847 (044-124-065 within Kosovo) ; or +389-70-250-576; Ms. Laura O'Mahony, Press Officer, (ext. 118), mobile: +389-70-250-434; +377-44-158-843 (044-158-843 within Kosovo); Mr. Sven Lindholm, Press Officer, (ext. 218), mobile: +389-70-250-435 or +377-44-158-845