News from Copenhagen

Number 17 Current Information from the OSCE PA International Secretariat 11 January 2001 Rerun Preparations President Severin leads OSCE Observation of Serbian Elections in Azerbaijan President Adrian Severin was generally calm atmosphere and both meetings with, among others, the appointed by the OSCE Chairperson- polling and counting procedures were Speaker of the House of Citizens, On December 15-16 in-Office as her Special Representative followed accurately in accordance with the President of the Republic 2000, Ms. Asta Johannes- to lead the OSCE Observation Mission the law. In the pre-election period, Election Commission, international dottir (MP, Iceland) trav- for the Parliamentary Elections in fundamental freedoms were respected as well as local NGO’s, media elled to Baku to discuss the Serbia on 23 December 2000 and to and the media environment has representatives, political parties and measures undertaken by the deliver the preliminary post election improved significantly since the the ODIHR Core staff in Belgrade authorities to address viola- statement. The Election Observation September 2000 elections generally and OSCE Long-term Observers. tions during the 5 Novem- Mission was a joint effort of the OSCE providing a diversity of political views. On Election Day, Members of the ber parliamentary elections Parliamentary Assembly, the OSCE/ It was noted, however, that although OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and to review preparations ODIHR and the Council of Europe the amended version of the electoral Delegation visited polling stations for the rerun elections Parliamentary Assembly. The OSCE law presented a step forward, further in Belgrade city, the greater scheduled in 11 constituen- PA observation team included twenty- developments in the legislative Belgrade area, Novi Sad, Cacak, cies where the results had six parliamentarians from fifteen OSCE framework is needed. During the Valjavo, Topola and Niz. been cancelled. In Baku Member States December elections, the multi-party The Delegation was meetings were held with The OSCE Observers concluded election administration managed to accompanied by Secretary the President of Azerbaijan, that the Serbian elections marked overcome many of the flaws in the General, Mr. Spencer Oliver as the Head of the Presidential considerable progress in meeting legislation through regulations. well as Mr. Paul LeGendre; Ms. Administration, the Chair- international standards for democratic Prior to Election Day, the OSCE Tina Schøn and Mr. Alexander man of the CEC and as well elections. Voting was conducted in a PA Delegation held a series of Staun-Rechnitzer. as the main opposition par- ties. The visit was organized in conjunction with the Par- Presidential visit to FYR of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia liamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the From 14-24 December 2000 President OSCE/ODIHR. Paul LeG- Severin visited the Former Yugoslav endre, Program Officer, Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and accompanied Ms. Johan- Serbia including Kosovo to meet senior government representatives, political nesdottir. leaders and visit the OSCE Missions and The Elections Offices in the area. In FYR of Macedonia (14-16 Ms. Paula Kokkonen December), Mr. Severin was briefed by (MP, Finland), Special the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission in Representative of the Skopje on the political situation in the OSCE Chairper- area surrounding, as well as within the son-in-Office, led the country. Mr. Severin had meetings with the OSCE observers in the 7 President of Macedonia, Boris Trajkovski; January rerun elections in the President of the Assembly of the President Severin and President of the FYR of Macedinian parliament, Mr. Stojan Andov Azerbaijan. In a joint state- Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Stojan Andov; Daan Everts and had meetings with the Minister of Justice and President of the ment with the Parliamen- the Prime Minister, Mr. Ljubco UN Special Representative Mr. Bernard People’s Party (NS), Mr. Dragan Soc; tary Assembly of the Coun- Georgievski as well as with leading Kouchner, with the Commander of President of the Social Democratic cil of Europe, the Inter- opposition party leaders including Mr. KFOR, Lt. Gen. Carlo Cabigiosu as well Party (SDP), Mr. Zarko Rakcevic and national Election Obser- Arben Xhaferi of the Democratic Party as with representatives of political parties with Vice-President of the Socialist vation Mission concluded of Albanians (DPA), Mr. Branko and communities, including Dr. Ibrahim People’s Party Party (SNP), Mr. that “the repeat elections Crvenkovski of the Social Democratic Rugova of the Democratic Alliance of Predrag Bulatovic. in Azerbaijan mark some Alliance of Macedonia (SDSM) and Mr. Kosovo (LDK), Mr. Haradin Kuqi of In Belgrade (20-24 October) Mr. improvement, but still do Risto Gushterov of the Liberal Party. the Party of Democratic Progress of Severin had meetings with the Yugoslav not meet a number of inter- Whilst in Macedonia Mr. Severin chaired Kosovo (PDK) and Serb representative Foreign Minister Mr. Goran Svilanovic national standards.” The a session of a conference arranged by Mr. Momcilo Trajkovic. and the Chief of Staff to President OSCE PA delegation was the Italian Social Science Council entitled In Montenegro (18-20 December) Mr. Kostunica, Mrs. Liljana Nedelcovic represented by parliamen- ‘Project Macedonia’. Other participants Severin was Briefed by the OSCE/ODIHR and concluded his visit to the area tarians from Finland, Ice- in the Seminar included former President Office in Podgorica and accompanied by acting as the Special Representative land, Italy and Belgium. Gligorov and editor of Koha Ditore a by the Head of Office, Mr. Julian Peel of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Paul LeGendre, Program Kosovo daily, Mr. Veton Surroi. Yates during meetings with the President Austrian Foreign Minister Mrs. Benita Officer, accompanied the In Kosovo (17-18 December) Mr. of Montenegro, Mr. Milo Djukanovic; Ferrero-Waldner, for the observation of delegation on behalf of the Severin was briefed by the Head of the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Svetozar the Serbian Elections held on the 23 International Secretariat. OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Marovic; Prime Minister Filip Vujanovic; December 2000.

News from Copenhagen, 11 January 2001 Number 17