Statement on Voting in Kosovo

As delivered by Ambassador Ian Kelly
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
April 19, 2012

We would like to thank the Chairmanship, the OSCE Secretariat, and the OSCE Mission in Kosovo for their efforts to develop a workable plan to facilitate voting in Kosovo and to secure agreement among the parties concerned. We continue to value the OSCE’s elections expertise and the ability of its field missions to execute sensitive missions such as this one. We also recognize the important role the OSCE can play in promoting stability and upholding the rights of members of minority groups.

We would urge Serbia to accept the OSCE plan but note that time is running out.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.