UNMIK/PR/851
Tuesday, 22 October 2002

SRSG Meets OSCE Election Officials

PRISTINA – SRSG Michael Steiner today praised the OSCE for the “efficiency with which it had swung into action” to run the “election engine”.

Speaking to journalists after meeting the International Polling Station Supervisors, hired by OSCE and undergoing training at Vushtrri/Vucitrn, SRSG Michael Steiner said that the OSCE was managing a “big and solid operation”, “a well-oiled and efficiently running engine”.

OSCE Head of Mission Mr. Pascal Fieschi, accompanied the SRSG to the training centre. Mr. Steiner complimented Mr. Fieschi, saying he and his staff had been working hard for the past six months preparing for these elections.

“Over 10,000 trained staff are working to make a success of the elections. Many of them are veterans of previous elections. In fact, I recognized a couple of them from my days in Bosnia”, SRSG said.

SRSG Michael Steiner said that 900 international supervisors from over 30 of 55 OSCE member states were here to work in the elections. “The world is helping in the democratization of Kosovo”.

“18.3 million euros is being spent on the elections. This is real money and will be well spent. There are 1,750 polling stations in Kosovo and 215 in Serbia and Montenegro, serving 1.32 million voters”, Mr. Steiner said.

In answer to a question, SRSG Michael Steiner stressed the need for all communities, especially the Serbs to participate in the municipal elections. “For returns to be possible, you need your representatives at the municipal level, in the municipal administration”.

Earlier, SRSG Michael Steiner went around the training centre where he met and spoke to the supervisors about their work.

The OSCE training, being held in the KPS School Vushtrri/Vucitrn, involves training the International Polling Station Supervisors about election procedures. The supervisors will be in charge of the polling and counting activities to ensure everything goes according to the rules. Unlike election observers, supervisors have the mandate to intervene in the electoral process and have the ultimate authority if polling is not conducted according to correct procedures