OSCE Chairperson-in-Office calls on FRY Government to respect election results

VIENNA, 27 September 2000 - In reaction to yesterday's announcement of the Federal Election Commission in Belgrade of the provisional results of Sunday's elections, the Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE, Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, reiterated her call on the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to recognise, without any further delay, the overriding wish of the people for democratic change.

"I urge the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and especially the Federal Election Commission to finally respect the results of Sunday's elections," she said. "President Milosevic has clearly lost these elections. If he turns over power, the OSCE can help the FRY to overcome its isolation. It is time for him to step down."

The Chairperson-in-Office expressed her doubts about the provisional results presented yesterday evening by the Federal Election Commission. "Elections should be transparent, public events. But for the past two days the FEC has been invisible, releasing no information publicly, while denying the opposition their right to have representatives in the Commission and access to important election data. I call on the FEC to make the results of Sunday's election transparent and public."

The results presented so far did not correspond to the political reality that "the Serbian people have voted for a future in peace and security and have elected Vojislav Kostunica for President," Ms. Ferrero-Waldner said.

"I appeal to the authorities to show restraint in responding to any public demonstrations and to refrain from actions which could incite unrest," Ms. Ferrero-Waldner said.

The Chairperson-in-Office reiterated her view that the future behaviour of the Government of the FRY would decide whether the FRY remained isolated or would become an integral part of a democratic Europe. She also praised the opposition for its courage and stamina in this process of peaceful democratic change.

For further information contact the Press and Public Information Section of the OSCE Secretariat, tel.: (+ 43-1) 514 36 180 or e-mail: info@osce.org