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OSCE/ODIHR opens large-scale Election Observation Mission in Skopje
WARSAW 22 July 2002
WARSAW, 22 July 2002 - The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened a large-scale, long-term Election Observation Mission to monitor the parliamentary elections in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, scheduled for 15 September.
"The forthcoming elections are an important step in closing the chapter of violence and instability the country witnessed last year", said Julian Peel Yates, the Head of the Observation Mission. "It is now the responsibility of all actors involved in the elections, including the authorities, political parties and the civil society at large, to ensure a democratic electoral process."
At the invitation of the Macedonian Government, the ODIHR will monitor the election process before, during and after election day with one of the largest Observation Missions ever deployed to an OSCE country.
Seventeen election experts in the Mission headquarters in the capital Skopje, 45 mid-term and long-term observers in the regions, and some 750 short-term observers deployed throughout the country shortly before election day will closely monitor and analyse the entire electoral process. This includes the campaign of the political parties, the work of the election administration, the media situation, and the legal framework as well as the voting, vote count and tabulation of results.
For election day observation, the ODIHR will be joined by parliamentarians from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. In addition, among the observers deployed shortly before election day will be 100 short-term observers seconded by the European Commission.
The ODIHR Election Observation Mission will operate separately from the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje, while maintaining close co-ordination and co-operation with it.
"The forthcoming elections are an important step in closing the chapter of violence and instability the country witnessed last year", said Julian Peel Yates, the Head of the Observation Mission. "It is now the responsibility of all actors involved in the elections, including the authorities, political parties and the civil society at large, to ensure a democratic electoral process."
At the invitation of the Macedonian Government, the ODIHR will monitor the election process before, during and after election day with one of the largest Observation Missions ever deployed to an OSCE country.
Seventeen election experts in the Mission headquarters in the capital Skopje, 45 mid-term and long-term observers in the regions, and some 750 short-term observers deployed throughout the country shortly before election day will closely monitor and analyse the entire electoral process. This includes the campaign of the political parties, the work of the election administration, the media situation, and the legal framework as well as the voting, vote count and tabulation of results.
For election day observation, the ODIHR will be joined by parliamentarians from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. In addition, among the observers deployed shortly before election day will be 100 short-term observers seconded by the European Commission.
The ODIHR Election Observation Mission will operate separately from the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje, while maintaining close co-ordination and co-operation with it.