OSCE Mission Head welcomes peaceful conclusion of voting in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA, 17 November 2013 – The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger, welcomed peaceful voting in three polling centres in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North.

The repetition of voting was organized today following the Kosovo Central Election Commission’s decision to annul the outcome of the first round of the local elections in those three centres. This decision was taken after violent incidents on 3 November in which security of the OSCE election facilitators and the polling station committee members was compromised and election material violated. 

“I am very pleased that there were no incidents today and that the balloting went smoothly. All security providers, Kosovo Police, EULEX and KFOR, as well as political entities running in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North contributed to the peaceful environment,” said Schlumberger. 

He added that all the 27 polling stations in the three centres opened on time and operated until 19:00 hrs.  

“With the approval of the Central Election Commission, the OSCE and the polling station committees have packed all the election materials and we are now transporting the committee members and the materials to the Central Election Commission’s Counts and Results Centre in Prishtinë/Priština, where the votes will be counted,” said Schlumberger at 20:45 hrs.

He commended Kosovo Police, EULEX and KFOR for their excellent performance and thanked them for their support.

The OSCE is facilitating elections in the four northern Kosovo municipalities in line with the 19 April EU facilitated Belgrade Prishtine/Pristina agreement.