OSCE Chair welcomes facilitation of voting in Kosovo in Serbian parliamentary, presidential elections

DUBLIN, 30 April 2012  – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore today welcomed the agreement reached regarding the facilitation by the OSCE of voting in Kosovo in the forthcoming Serbian parliamentary and presidential elections.

“I welcome the agreement which has been reached today regarding the facilitation by the OSCE Mission in Kosovo (OMiK) of voting in the forthcoming Serbian parliamentary and presidential elections. In recent days, I have been in continued contact with the parties concerned, together with the OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, to encourage them to take a positive approach.”

“We were concerned to act at all stages in full respect of UN Security Council Resolution 1244,” emphasized the Chairperson-in-Office. “It is essential that the elections take place according to the agreement reached and with full respect to the OSCE’s role,” he added. “If that is not the case, the OSCE reserves the right to withdraw from its facilitating role.”

The OSCE Secretary General, Lamberto Zannier, said: “The OSCE has begun its preparations to organize polling stations to enable eligible voters in Kosovo to exercise their right to vote in these elections. I call on all to refrain from provocation and to allow the voting to proceed in an orderly and peaceful manner. It is essential that all parties co-operate in good faith with the OSCE as we facilitate this process.”