International IDEA to Host Kosovo
Election Commission Meeting 6-7 September

Press Release:

International IDEA to Host Kosovo Election Commission Meeting 6-7 September

In the run-up to local elections due to be held in Kosovo next month, International IDEA is holding a seminar on 6-7 September in Stockholm to assess current electoral conditions in the region. The seminar is being organized on behalf of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Kosovo, and in co-operation with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE), European Commission and Swedish Government. The main aim is to examine the experience of other Election Management Bodies in the Balkans with a view to identifying practical lessons for the Kosovo CEC in the organization of the forthcoming local elections.

Participants at seminar will include; Mr Carl Bildt, UN Secretary-General Special Envoy for the Balkans; Ambassador Daan Everts, Head of the Kosovo CEC; Mr Jan Kubic, Secretary-General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) in Vienna; staff of the Kosovo CEC; and a range of international experts on electoral issues.

“The gathering is part of International IDEA’s on-going commitment to providing a forum for sharing experiences and discussing lessons to be learned on electoral and other democratizing activities in an objective and supportive environment. It is also an important opportunity to put into practice International IDEA’s conviction that partnership with like-minded organizations is vital to success in their common endeavour”, says Professor Reg Austin, Director of Programmes, International IDEA.

Link to the OSCE Press Release on Kosovo

International Electoral Experience in the Balkans: Lessons for Kosovo
Statement by Ambassador Robert H. Frowick, September 6, 2000

-----------------------

A Press Briefing will be held at International IDEA, Strömsborg on Thursday 7 September, 11.00 - 11.40 am. A number of seminar  participants will report on the discussions and answer questions from the Press.

^{For further information and to arrange interviews contact: Monika Ericson, Press and Information Assistant. Tel: 08-698 3744 Fax: 08-20 24 22 E-mail: m.ericson@idea.int}

^{If you are interested in attending the Press Briefing, please register (by contacting Monika Ericson) at your earliest convenience, but no later than on Wednesday 6 September.}

For more information about International IDEA, contact: 
Mark Salter, Senior Information Officer 
International IDEA, Strömsborg, 103 34 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone +46-8-698 37 00, Fax: +46-8-20 24 22
email: info@idea.int

^{The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) exists to nurture, sustain and promote democracy around the world. Global in membership and scope, independent of specific national interests, and quick in its response, International IDEA is a unique international organization with a unique mandate - to support the growth of genuine, sustainable democracy.}