Newsroom
Yugoslav NGO granted observer status for Kosovo elections
PRISTINA 18 September 2001
PRISTINA, 18 September 2001 (OSCE) - The Belgrade-based non-governmental organization, Centre for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID), has been granted observer status for the 2001 Kosovo electoral process by the province's Central Election Commission. The Commission waived the requirement that the NGO be registered with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMiK).
CeSID observers can now officially monitor the final stages of voter registration, the election campaign period, as well as polling on 17 November and the counting of votes. The NGO has submitted accreditation requests for almost 600 observers. Most of these are expected to monitor the out-of-Kosovo electoral process in Serbia and Montenegro. Some will operate within the Serb-populated areas of Kosovo.
The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Daan Everts, who is also the chairman of the Central Election Comission, welcomed the decision, describing it as "an important, pragmatic choice."
"CeSID is held in high regard. They are very experienced election monitors and they showed great courage during the Milosevic era when many of their members were detained. They have the confidence of the international community and of the Kosovo Serb community," Mr. Everts added.
To date, more than 2,000 application forms have been distributed to Kosovo NGOs wishing to monitor the electoral process. The OSCE, however, has stressed that it is the quality of the observer operation, and not the number of observers, which is important.
"It is vital that all the observers have been trained and understand their role," said Rita Taphorn of the OSCE Mission's Elections Capacity Building Department.
The deadline for receipt of completed observer forms from NGOs and political entities is 27 October.
--
For further information, contact the OSCE Spokesperson Claire Trevena, tel: (+381-38) 500-162 x260; or mobile: +377-44-500-150; or e-mail: press@omik.org.
CeSID observers can now officially monitor the final stages of voter registration, the election campaign period, as well as polling on 17 November and the counting of votes. The NGO has submitted accreditation requests for almost 600 observers. Most of these are expected to monitor the out-of-Kosovo electoral process in Serbia and Montenegro. Some will operate within the Serb-populated areas of Kosovo.
The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Daan Everts, who is also the chairman of the Central Election Comission, welcomed the decision, describing it as "an important, pragmatic choice."
"CeSID is held in high regard. They are very experienced election monitors and they showed great courage during the Milosevic era when many of their members were detained. They have the confidence of the international community and of the Kosovo Serb community," Mr. Everts added.
To date, more than 2,000 application forms have been distributed to Kosovo NGOs wishing to monitor the electoral process. The OSCE, however, has stressed that it is the quality of the observer operation, and not the number of observers, which is important.
"It is vital that all the observers have been trained and understand their role," said Rita Taphorn of the OSCE Mission's Elections Capacity Building Department.
The deadline for receipt of completed observer forms from NGOs and political entities is 27 October.
--
For further information, contact the OSCE Spokesperson Claire Trevena, tel: (+381-38) 500-162 x260; or mobile: +377-44-500-150; or e-mail: press@omik.org.