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Statement by the OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
BELGRADE 1 August 2002
BELGRADE, 1 August 2002 - The OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has taken note of the decision of the Municipal Election Commission in Bujanovac to accept a number of complaints filed by representatives of the 'Coalition for Bujanovac' concerning the conduct of the municipal elections in that municipality.
The OSCE Mission is supportive to the idea that, in line with the Serbian election law, alleged irregularities are dealt with by the authorized national institutions, in this case the Municipal Election Commission and the Municipal Court.
At the same time, the OSCE Mission reminds that these elections were observed by an Election Observation Mission headed by OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in co-ordination with the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE). The EOM concluded in its preliminary assessment, made public on 29 July 2002, that the elections "generally were conducted in accordance with international commitments and standards for democratic elections".
Therefore, the OSCE Mission, while supporting the repetition of elections in places where their validity is annulled, calls on all political parties and candidates competing in these elections to maintain the positive mood in which these elections have been carried out, focusing on the democratic process of casting votes and resisting individualized efforts to inflame passions.
It is precisely because of the general atmosphere of transparency and co-operation between the Government's Coordinating Body led by Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic, all local communities and the OSCE Mission that significant progress in the area has been achieved, culminating in the holding of these municipal elections.
It is the belief of the OSCE Mission that this spirit can be maintained during the post-election period, leading up to the moment where the newly elected leaders will be able to take up their positions in an undisputed manner, and allowing them to demonstrate their political responsibility and maturity with the aim of providing further social and economic progress for all citizens living in the region.
The OSCE Mission is supportive to the idea that, in line with the Serbian election law, alleged irregularities are dealt with by the authorized national institutions, in this case the Municipal Election Commission and the Municipal Court.
At the same time, the OSCE Mission reminds that these elections were observed by an Election Observation Mission headed by OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in co-ordination with the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE). The EOM concluded in its preliminary assessment, made public on 29 July 2002, that the elections "generally were conducted in accordance with international commitments and standards for democratic elections".
Therefore, the OSCE Mission, while supporting the repetition of elections in places where their validity is annulled, calls on all political parties and candidates competing in these elections to maintain the positive mood in which these elections have been carried out, focusing on the democratic process of casting votes and resisting individualized efforts to inflame passions.
It is precisely because of the general atmosphere of transparency and co-operation between the Government's Coordinating Body led by Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic, all local communities and the OSCE Mission that significant progress in the area has been achieved, culminating in the holding of these municipal elections.
It is the belief of the OSCE Mission that this spirit can be maintained during the post-election period, leading up to the moment where the newly elected leaders will be able to take up their positions in an undisputed manner, and allowing them to demonstrate their political responsibility and maturity with the aim of providing further social and economic progress for all citizens living in the region.