OSCE Chairman-in-Office to send Special Representative to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

BERN, 17 December 1996 - In response to the 13 December invitation of FRY Foreign Minister Milutinovic, the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Swiss Foreign Minister Flavio Cotti, has decided to send a Special Representative to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

The former Prime Minister of Spain, Mr. Felipe Gonzalez accepted today Mr. Cotti's request to serve as OSCE Special Representative. Mr. Gonzalez will be accompanied by a small group of high-level diplomats and experts from several OSCE participating States. The delegation is expected to leave for Belgrade in the coming days.

Mr. Cotti has asked the Special Representative to seek information from all political forces and institutions, including the media, and from the judiciary on the facts and events relating to the municipal elections, including the annulment of their results.

Mr. Cotti expects that the Special Representive will enjoy free access to all the persons, institutions, election commissions and documents that he considers necessary.

Mr. Gonzalez will subsequently offer any recommendations he deems appropriate based on his findings.