Chairman-in-Office welcomes conduct of elections in Montenegro, FRY

BUCHAREST, 23 April 2001 - The Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, has welcomed the satisfactory conduct of yesterday's parliamentary elections in Montenegro, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. "I am pleased with the assessment by the International Election Observation Mission that these elections were generally in line with international commitments for democratic elections," said Mr. Geoana.

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office made the following statement on the importance of these elections for overall stability in the region: "I would encourage the new government that will be formed as a result of these elections to enter a dialogue as soon as possible with the Federal Government in Belgrade, according to democratic principles, on an agreed durable re-definition of the relations within the Federal Republic. This dialogue is of utmost importance in order to ensure the stability not only of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, but of the whole region as well."

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