OSCE Head of Mission welcomes formation of government in Kosovo
(Lubomir Kotek/OSCE)Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Pascal Fieschi of France, speaking at a press conference. (Lubomir Kotek/OSCE) Photo details
PRISTINA, 4 March 2002 - The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Pascal Fieschi, has welcomed the formation of a Government in Kosovo. Political deadlock had been preventing this important development since the elections for the province-wide Assembly took place in November 2001, under the supervision of the OSCE.
"Today an important and a very positive step was taken by the political leaders of the Assembly. By committing themselves to implementing a power-sharing agreement on the formation of provisional institutions of self-government, the leaders have demonstrated the political will to act in the interests of all communities of Kosovo and taken further steps towards a democratic society," said Ambassador Fieschi.
Emphasizing elections as a specific duty of the OSCE's institution-building mandate, the Head of Mission added: "The OSCE is now committed to carrying out the electoral process and calls on the international community to demonstrate its continued support for democratic development in Kosovo. The 2002 elections will be a benchmark by building on the successes of the Assembly election, giving all communities a chance to participate and be represented at the local level."
He recalled the statement of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Portugal's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jaime Gama, on Friday, 1 March, who welcomed the resolution of the political stalemate, saying: "I hope that the future Kosovo Executive will assume its functions fully in accordance with the Constitutional Framework on Provisional Self-government."
"Today an important and a very positive step was taken by the political leaders of the Assembly. By committing themselves to implementing a power-sharing agreement on the formation of provisional institutions of self-government, the leaders have demonstrated the political will to act in the interests of all communities of Kosovo and taken further steps towards a democratic society," said Ambassador Fieschi.
Emphasizing elections as a specific duty of the OSCE's institution-building mandate, the Head of Mission added: "The OSCE is now committed to carrying out the electoral process and calls on the international community to demonstrate its continued support for democratic development in Kosovo. The 2002 elections will be a benchmark by building on the successes of the Assembly election, giving all communities a chance to participate and be represented at the local level."
He recalled the statement of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Portugal's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jaime Gama, on Friday, 1 March, who welcomed the resolution of the political stalemate, saying: "I hope that the future Kosovo Executive will assume its functions fully in accordance with the Constitutional Framework on Provisional Self-government."