Elections and institution-building on top of agenda during Chairman-in-Office visit to Kosovo

PRISTINA, 20 February 2002 - The announcement of municipal elections this year and OSCE's institution-building work are on top of the agenda during today's visit of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Gama, to the Kosovo capital, Pristina.

Foreign Minister Gama and Ambassador Pascal Fiechi, the Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, met for discussions with Albanian political leaders Ibrahim Rugova, Hashim Thaci and Ramush Haradinaj, as well as with Koalicija Povratak leader Rada Trajkovic. Mr. Gama's seven-hour visit also included meetings with the United Nation's Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Michael Steiner, and the Commander of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR), Lt. Gen. Marcel Valentin.

Mr. Gama and Mr. Fieschi welcomed the announcement by the United Nations Mission in Kosovo that the second municipal elections in Kosovo will be held on 21 September.

"Municipal elections will be important, as the people of Kosovo will be assuming even greater responsibility in forming truly sustainable institutions of self-government", Mr. Gama said. He urged Kosovo's political leaders to work with the OSCE and others in the international community to make the elections inclusive. He emphasized elections as a primary element of democratic development, and said that: "All communities should be enabled to participate to have representation at the local level of governance. Elections are part of the overall exercise in gaining political expression for the people of Kosovo."

Ambassador Fieschi underlined that the OSCE Mission was moving ahead with the initial preparations for the municipal elections and the building of capacity of the people of Kosovo in election operations. "This year, our counterparts will be assuming greater responsibility in the management of the elections. The Central Election Commission, the Municipal Election Commissions and the OSCE's local professional staff have learned a great deal over the course of the last two election cycles, and have taken on ever increasing responsibilities."

Foreign Minister Gama also focused his attention on the efforts to form a government in Kosovo, which is still a concern three months after the Assembly election. He said that it was an "imperative" that this issue was addressed and that all elected representatives should be prepared to compromise to further the development of democratic institutions in Kosovo.

"The OSCE is also fully aware of the SRSG's statement on the future of municipal elections if there is a political resolution of the general elections of 17 November 2001," he added.

It was the first visit to the OSCE Mission in Kosovo by Mr. Gama. The Mission in Kosovo, established in June 1999, is with some 450 international staff the OSCE's largest field operation. Its mandate encompasses institution-building, promoting good governance, the rule of law and human rights.