President of the Republic of Kosovo, Mrs. Atifete Jahjaga, received today at a meeting the representatives of the institutions responsible for the organisation, proper conduct and the security of municipal elections, at the threshold of the second round of elections:
Chairwoman of the CEC, State Prosecutor, Director General of the Kosovo Police, Kosovo Judicial Council Coordinator and the Chairman of the Electoral Complaints Panel.
President Jahjaga and the representatives of the institutions responsible for organisation, proper conduct and security of the municipal elections in Kosovo discussed the preparations and engagements of all the institutions in organisation of free and democratic elections. The representatives of the above named institutions informed Madam President for all the preparations undertaken, their coordination and increased measures prior to the second round of municipal elections, aiming the securing of fair and peaceful electoral process.
President Jahjaga during the day also met in separate meetings with the representative of the Kosovo Judicial Institute (KJI), Mr. Betim Musliu, as well as the representatives of the coalition of Non Governmental Organisations- Democracy in Action, with whom she discussed the municipal elections process in Kosovo, with particular emphasis in the observation of the whole process and of the institutional mechanisms mandated with provision of security of the second round of elections.
KJI representative, Mr. Betim Musliu, informed Madam President with the proper conduct of the November 3rd electoral process and with the findings of the monitoring process of the work of the mechanisms mandated with guaranteeing the security of the process, state prosecution and police. He presented the findings report to Madam President. On the other hand, representatives of the coalition of Non Governmental Organisations- Democracy in Action, informed President Jahjaga with their undertakings in lieu of the electoral process, inclusive of monitoring of the electoral campaign of the second round of voting. They expressed their apprehension with the harshness of the political language used during the campaign but stated that they believe that the December 1st elections will be peaceful and democratic.
President Jahjaga, after the meetings conducted during the day, has issued a media statement. We are presenting the statement bellow, in full.
We have just ended the meeting with the representatives of the institutions mandated with organization and proper conduct of the second round of the municipal elections. Earlier during the day I also met with the representatives of the civil society- monitors of the activities of the prosecution service and of the whole electoral process. We discussed the proper proceeding of the municipal elections process in this second round and the security of voters and we concluded that all the necessary mechanisms are prepared for the guaranteeing of successful, free and fair elections.
On November 3rd, Kosovo has demonstrated its political maturity and the level of democratization of the society. We have passed though an important test as a society and a state, by organizing good, all inclusive elections, in which all our citizens voted freely and without fear. November 3rd elections, held for the first time in the whole territory of the Republic of Kosovo at the same time, demonstrated the commitment of the whole society and institutions of Kosovo towards guaranteeing of the legality and constitutionality in the whole territory of the country, through holding of free elections.
The citizens of Kosovo will be going to the polling stations again tomorrow, and we must ensure that they vote freely. We must guarantee peaceful and democratic election process, free and fair vote, in which every single vote of the citizen is inviolable and free. Citizens of the Republic of Kosovo are entitled to vote without fear, anywhere, in each part of the country and their vote will be guaranteed. Law will be implemented in cases of violation of the free vote and no one will be pardoned for the violations committed against the elementary rights of the citizens of Kosovo.
December 1st elections must demonstrate that Kosovo is a state of law and of equal citizens. We must demonstrate the integration of each citizen into the society and institutions of the country, including those of Serbian community in the northern part of the territory of the Republic. And this must conclude the chapter of disagreements amongst us- by making all of us citizens of the Republic of Kosovo and opening of the perspective of European integrations.
Tomorrow is the final test, and its a test which we must pass.