OSCE Mission welcomes deployment of domestic observers at constitutional referendum

BELGRADE, 9 October 2006 - The OSCE Mission to Serbia welcomes the decision of the Republican Electoral Commission to enable domestic observation of the referendum on the new Serbian Constitution scheduled for 28 and 29 October.

"Serbia has developed a positive tradition of professional and impartial election observation by civic organizations over the past years, which has contributed to an increased confidence in the electoral processes," said Ambassador Hans Ola Urstad, Head of the OSCE Mission.

"Since the Constitution is the fundamental social and legal document of a state, transparency and widest possible confidence in the process of its adoption is of particular importance.

"The OSCE Mission therefore strongly supports observation of the referendum by the relevant civil society organizations, in line with Serbian law and international best practices."