OSCE underlines importance of elections in Montenegro

WARSAW, 26 May 1998 - The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Polish Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek, expresses his hope that the 31 May parliamentary elections in Montenegro be carried out in line with OSCE standards and that the results be fully respected by all. This will be vital for maintaining stability in Montenegro, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and the region as a whole. Mr. Geremek urges all parties to adhere to the rules and regulations and to participate on election day. He stresses the importance of a strong OSCE presence before and during the elections in providing support to the democratic process in Montenegro.

Mr. Geremek has appointed Mr. Javier Ruperez as his Representative to the elections in Montenegro. Mr. Ruperez is President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Spanish Parliament. He will lead the team of short-term observers and issue the preliminary post-election statement for the OSCE Election Observation Mission, in conjunction with the OSCE/ODIHR On-Site Co-ordinator, on Monday 1 June in Podgorica.

The OSCE Election Observation Mission is a joint effort between the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE (OSCE PA) and includes long-term and short-term observers from OSCE participating States.

The OSCE/ODIHR On-Site Co-ordinator for the Election Observation Mission is Mr. Kare Vollan. The Mission, which began operations on 10 April, has been assessing the election laws, the election administration, the political campaign and the role of the media. Fifteen long-term observers have been deployed across the country in addition to the five core staff members in Podgorica.

Approximately 120 short-term observers, including more than 20 parliamentarians, are expected to be deployed by the Election Observation Mission in the period just prior to the elections. The co-ordinator for the Parliamentary Delegation will be Mr. Pentti Väänänen, Deputy Secretary General of the OSCE PA.