Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office leaves for Belgrade today

VIENNA, 20 December 1996 - Today former Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez, accompanied by a delegation, left for a visit to Belgrade as Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Swiss Foreign Minister Flavio Cotti.

His mandate will basically be to seek information from all political forces, institutions, and from the judiciary about facts and events relating to the municipal elections in the FR of Yugoslavia, including the annulment of their results. He will attempt to examine to the extent possible the elections documents, taking into account that the OSCE did not monitor these municipal elections, and making any recommendations he deems appropriate. In doing this, he will be given free access to all persons, institutions, the media, election commissions, and documents including all court decisions and documents that the Special Representative judges necessary.

He will also discuss the situation of democratic rights, media and national minorities.

Lastly, he will explore ways and means in which the OSCE can provide assistance in ensuring that his recommendations are implemented.

The delegation consists of diplomats and experts from the European Union, the USA, the Russian Federation, Poland, Denmark, Canada and Switzerland.