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OSCE welcomes statement by Yugoslav President on voter registration for Kosovo elections
PRISTINA 24 May 2001
PRISTINA, 24 May 2001 (OSCE) - The OSCE has welcomed the statement made by the Yugoslav President, in which he urged Kosovo's Serb community to take part in the upcoming registration campaign, which is integral to the preparations for the November 17th election.
The OSCE Head of Mission, Ambassador Daan Everts, described President Kostunica's comments as "very encouraging". "The President's statement represents a very constructive step forward. We hope that Kosovo's Serb community listened to what he said and will take his advice. Our message to them is exactly the same. They don't have to decide now on whether or not to participate in the elections for the new central assembly. We appreciate that this is not a simple decision and that they need time to weigh up the pros and cons. But we, too, encourage them to keep their options open and at least make sure that they can cast their ballots and make their voices count on November 17th - if they so choose. They will not have that choice if they don't apply to have their names included on the voters' list."
The operation to update the Kosovo voters' list is scheduled to get underway on 30th July 2001. It will last for six weeks. The same voter eligibility criteria will apply to all of Kosovo's communities, regardless of whether they are currently living in Kosovo itself or outside. That means anyone who has reached 18 years of age on the day of this year's election and satisfies the other eligibility criteria applied for last October's municipal elections will be entitled to vote. People will be able to apply either for inclusion on the voters' list, or to have an existing entry updated. Arrangements are currently being made to enable Serbs from Kosovo, currently living within Kosovo or outside it, to register.
For more information, contact the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Mission in Kosovo, Claire Trevena, Spokesperson, Tel: (+381-38) 500-162 ext. 260 / mobile: +377 (044) 500-150; email: press@omik.org, website: //www.osce.org/kosovo/
The OSCE Head of Mission, Ambassador Daan Everts, described President Kostunica's comments as "very encouraging". "The President's statement represents a very constructive step forward. We hope that Kosovo's Serb community listened to what he said and will take his advice. Our message to them is exactly the same. They don't have to decide now on whether or not to participate in the elections for the new central assembly. We appreciate that this is not a simple decision and that they need time to weigh up the pros and cons. But we, too, encourage them to keep their options open and at least make sure that they can cast their ballots and make their voices count on November 17th - if they so choose. They will not have that choice if they don't apply to have their names included on the voters' list."
The operation to update the Kosovo voters' list is scheduled to get underway on 30th July 2001. It will last for six weeks. The same voter eligibility criteria will apply to all of Kosovo's communities, regardless of whether they are currently living in Kosovo itself or outside. That means anyone who has reached 18 years of age on the day of this year's election and satisfies the other eligibility criteria applied for last October's municipal elections will be entitled to vote. People will be able to apply either for inclusion on the voters' list, or to have an existing entry updated. Arrangements are currently being made to enable Serbs from Kosovo, currently living within Kosovo or outside it, to register.
For more information, contact the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Mission in Kosovo, Claire Trevena, Spokesperson, Tel: (+381-38) 500-162 ext. 260 / mobile: +377 (044) 500-150; email: press@omik.org, website: //www.osce.org/kosovo/