OSCE Statement September 25 on Yugoslav Elections
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Chairman-in-Office
Press Statement
25 September 2000
OSCE CHAIRPERSON-IN-OFFICE ISSUES STATEMENT ON FRY ELECTIONS
VIENNA, 25 September 2000 -- In reaction to yesterday's elections in
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Chairperson-in-Office of the
OSCE, Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said it was
clear that the people of Yugoslavia expressed their strong desire for
change that will permit them to embrace democracy and rejoin Europe.
"All available information points to a clear lead by the Democratic
Opposition of Serbia's Vojislav Kostunica in the first round," said
Ms. Ferrero-Waldner. "Claims of victory by pro-Milosevic forces are
not credible."
"These elections were far from democratic," she said. "But despite
reports of widespread fraud and intimidation, the will of the people
for change has been overwhelming. The large number of voters in Serbia
who turned out is proof of that. I call on the Government of the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to recognize the overriding will of the
people to embrace democracy and rejoin Europe."
The Chairperson-in-Office expressed her dismay that the Federal
Election Commission has been holding sessions behind closed doors
after expelling all representatives of opposition parties and even
members of the Serbian Radical Party.
She noted that according to reports, over 70% of the electorate in
Serbia turned out to cast their ballot. In Montenegro, on the other
hand, the turnout was only up to 25%. In Kosovo, UNMIK information
indicates that no more than 45,000 voters participated in the poll.
Throughout election day, there were reports of intimidation and of
serious irregularities, including ballot stuffing and exclusion of
opposition representatives from polling station commissions.
Ms. Ferrero-Waldner also pointed out that the months leading to
election day were characterised by harassment of and attempts to
suppress the independent media, by the persecution and intimidation of
non-governmental organisations, and by the disappearance of former
President of Serbia Ivan Stambolic on 25 August.
The Chairperson-in-Office reminded that the OSCE's Office for
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) had previously
reported that the laws and environment for these elections provided
considerable scope for manipulation. The Government of Belgrade
controlled the entire process, from the formation of election
commissions to the tabulation of election results. The authorities'
decision to bar the local non-governmental organisation Centre for
Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID) from monitoring the process,
their extreme limitations on international journalists, and their
refusal to invite the OSCE to observe the elections further increased
the opportunity for fraud. Under these conditions, she recognised the
courage of CeSID members and other domestic observers who managed to
monitor the process and report their findings.
A more detailed report by ODIHR on Preliminary Findings and
Conclusions on these elections can be found on the OSCE website at:
www.osce.org/odihr.
For further information contact the Press and Public Information
Section of the OSCE Secretariat, tel.: (+ 43-1) 514 36 180 or e-mail:
info@osce.org
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