OSCE Chairman-in-Office calls on all communities in Kosovo to go and vote

LISBON, 24 October 2002 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office (CiO), Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Martins da Cruz, has sent a strong message to all Kosovo voters to go out and cast their votes on the day of the municipal elections, 26 October.

"This Saturday, all 1.3 million Kosovo voters have the chance to influence an important part of their future - by casting their ballots for their municipal representatives," he said.

The CiO specifically appealed to Kosovo Serb voters to make use of their rights. "Do not let others decide for you," he said.

"These municipal elections will create municipal assemblies with an increasingly strong responsibility for the day-to-day life of the people," Foreign Minister Martins da Cruz added. "These elected women and men will also play an important part in creating the conditions in their municipalities for the return of displaced people to Kosovo."

The CiO reminded voters that the recently devised decentralization plans were aimed at bringing governing structures closer to the people. "This should be a strong motivation for the smaller communities to vote this Saturday. Only this will enable them to participate in the process leading to municipal units that can manage fundamentally important development issues."

"These elections will be followed in all capitals with the greatest interest," the Foreign Minister said. "A strong participation from all communities will demonstrate their shared responsibility for the building of a multi-ethnic and tolerant society and that Kosovo is taking another step forward on the road to reconciliation and democracy."