FIELD OPERATIONS SOUTH-EASTERN EUROPE
OSCE Mission in Kosovo The serious outbreak of inter-ethnic violence in mid-March 2004 represented a setback for Kosovo on its way to lasting peace – and overshadowed the rest of the year. Despite all obstacles, the OSCE Mission continued its efforts to help Kosovo on its path from a
troubled past to a stable future based on peace and tolerance between the different communities. Although it often played a quiet role, the Mission’s efforts yielded concrete results: democratic self-government is forming and beginning to take hold in Kosovo.
“The ‘Standards for Kosovo’ describe a Kosovo where public institutions are representative and democratic, where the rule of law is effective, respected and accessible to all, where those IDPs who wish to are free and able to return to Kosovo without hindrance, threat or intimidation, where all individuals, regardless of ethnic background, can travel and work safely, and use their languages (and where that use is respected) anywhere and in any institution of Kosovo, where the framework for a functioning market economy is in place and where the Kosovo Protection Corps operates strictly within its mandate; furthermore, the standards describe a Kosovo where Pristina is participating in successful dialogue with Belgrade and where Kosovo is in stable and peaceful relationships with its regional neighbours. In short, a truly multi-ethnic, stable and democratic Kosovo which is approaching European standards.”
Since its establishment in 1999 as Pillar III of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the OSCE Mission has been striving to prepare the groundwork for the building and consolidation of democratic institutions while fostering the rebuilding of ties between Kosovo’s communities. In 2004, the Mission’s main objectives were the strengthening of local ownership of the ‘Standards for Kosovo’ process laid down in December 2003. This process sets out specific goals that Kosovo’s Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG) have to meet before Kosovo’s final status can be addressed.
Quoted from: Kosovo Standards Implementation Plan
Human Dimension Activities ELECTIONS In October, 1.3 million Kosovans went to the polls to elect a new central Assembly. After having organized three successive cycles of elections since 1999, the Mission for the first time turned over key responsibilities to a local election management body, the Central Election Commission Secretariat (CECS).
The Mission focused its activities on four areas: • building the capacity of governmental and non-governmental institutions; • monitoring and promoting human rights and the rule of law; • development of the media; and • continued training and specialization of the Kosovo Police Service.
Handing over the baton. The CECS was created in 2003 as the operational arm of the Central Election Commission. Based in Prishtinë/Priština, the Secretariat has a technical, non-political mandate and is equipped with sufficient resources and capacity to provide fair electoral administration. “The OSCE, with its seasoned field presence, is uniquely qualified to play the leading role in the critical process of local capacity-building and monitoring the transfer of responsibilities to Kosovo’s institutions.” Søren Jessen-Petersen, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, UNMIK
For the 2004 Assembly elections, the OSCE Mission played an advisory role, passing on its electoral know-how and operational responsibilities to the emerging CECS. This marked an important step forward for Kosovo’s institutions to take over ownership and manifested the OSCE’s commitment to successively transfer the electoral process to the people of Kosovo. The CECS is financed by the Kosovo
Consolidated Budget and its entire staff is made up of Kosovans. All future elections will be carried out by the CECS. Preparing the electoral groundwork. To increase local ownership of the electoral process, the Elections Working Group – a consultative forum hosted and chaired by the Mission and composed of representatives of the main local political and civil forces – recommended to the Special Representative of the UN SecretaryGeneral the electoral framework for the 2004 election. Many of the tasks outlined by this framework were taken over by the CECS, including co-ordination of the polls on election day and planning with municipal commissions and polling staff. Other responsibilities included the certification of political parties, candidates and other groups standing for election, public information activities, observer accreditation and distribution of electoral material. In the final push to the election, the CECS and the Mission made a special effort to ensure that all displaced persons were able to take part in the poll.