OSCE Secretary General calls on Belgrade and Pristina to ensure smooth running of municipal elections in northern Kosovo

VIENNA, 31 October 2013 - OSCE Secretary General Lamberto  Zannier has called on Belgrade and Pristina to live up to commitments regarding Sunday’s municipal elections in Kosovo and to use their influence to ensure proper and safe conduct of the process in the north.

Speaking to the OSCE’s 57 participating States today, he expressed concern about the uncertain security situation in northern Kosovo.

“I personally continue to be concerned about uncertain security conditions on the ground and the on-going boycott campaign in the north, which includes intimidation of candidates, voters and persons engaged in the election process. This could negatively affect turn-out on election day.”

He told ambassadors that yesterday’s OSCE-led meeting between representatives of Belgrade and Pristina in Brussels had addressed a number of important issues. “I wish to express my confidence that all parties would live up to their respective commitments, in line with the 19 April Brussels agreement and its Implementation Plan.”

He added: “These elections are of particular importance not only for the local population in the north and the stakeholders in this process, but also for overall reconciliation and normalization of relations in the region.”

The OSCE is facilitating elections in northern Kosovo, providing all necessary technical support to enable voting in four municipalities and out-of-Kosovo by-mail voting.