OSCE Chairman-in-Office calls for early repetition of Serbian presidential elections

LISBON, 14 October 2002 - Although praising the orderly manner in which the presidential elections in the Republic of Serbia were conducted, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office (CiO) regretted that the turnout requirements were not met in the second round of the elections. The CiO, Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Martins da Cruz, called on the Serbian authorities to schedule repeat the elections as soon as possible.

Noting the preliminary conclusions of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Election Observation Mission, the CiO strongly encouraged the Serbian authorities to consider, before any new elections, longstanding recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR concerning the legislative framework.

"The OSCE stands ready to further assist the Serbian authorities in addressing the shortcomings noted, in particular with regards to legislation inherited from the previous regime," the Minister said.

He also called on the Serbian authorities to consider, in the context of a comprehensive review and amendment of all election laws, ODIHR's repeated recommendations to repeal provisions in the election laws that permit control of elected mandates by political parties and coalitions.

"Such provisions are contrary to the OSCE Copenhagen Document and other international standards for democratic elections," he added.

The CiO urged all parties to play their part in ensuring that ongoing and forthcoming electoral processes in Serbia and Montenegro, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, were conducted in a satisfactory manner.