OSCE Mission welcomes signing of agreement on co-ordination body for South Serbia municipalities

BELGRADE, 27 March 2009 - The Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Hans Ola Urstad, welcomed today the signing of an agreement on Reconstruction of the Co-ordination Body for the Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja municipalities, saying it would improve multi-ethnic dialogue in South Serbia.

The agreement commits the signing parties to strengthening multi-ethnic administrations in the region, and to ensuring adequate participation of the Albanian minority in state institutions.

"It is crucial that an agreement on reconstruction of the co-ordination body has been reached. I want to congratulate all who were involved in this process and thank them for their good will in reaching a mutually acceptable solution," said Urstad.

"It is now time to follow up with specific actions to put the agreements into practice. Crucially, the working groups must start functioning promptly with the active participation of all partners. The OSCE Mission will monitor the process of implementation and will provide all necessary assistance."

The document was signed by the Minister for Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Milan Markovic, the Head of the Co-ordination Body, Riza Halimi, a Member of the National Assembly of Serbia, and by Ambassador Urstad. They also agreed the organization and competencies of the Co-ordination Body.