25/11/2010 Political Affairs and Democracy
Strasbourg, 25.11.2010 – Björn von Sydow (Sweden, SOC), rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on the situation in Kosovo, and Chair of the PACE Political Affairs Committee, will conduct a fact-finding visit to Kosovo from 28 to 30 November 2010.
The main purpose of this visit is to assess the political situation on the ground and the position of the various communities, prior to the early elections to be held on 12 December 2010. “I would use this opportunity to raise awareness about the recommendations made in my latest report of June 2010 and in particular insist on the need to prevent corruption – all the more important in the current pre-electoral context – as well as on the importance of organising free and fair elections,” said Mr von Sydow.
In Pristina, the rapporteur will hold meetings with representatives of the international community, the Kosovo authorities, leaders of political parties, the Central Electoral Commission as well as with representatives of NGOs and the media. In Gracanica, he will meet representatives of the Serbian community and the Orthodox Bishop Teodosije.
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A press conference is due to take place in the Council of Europe Office in Pristina (Bedri Pejani street, No. 3) on Tuesday 30 November at 12.45 pm.
Contacts:
Pristina Council of Europe Office: tel. +381 38 243 749/750
PACE Communication Division: tel. +33(0)3 88 41 31 93
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*All reference to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.