(New York, October 20, 2000)
Kosovo's first post-war elections will take place on October 28, against a backdrop of months of attacks on Serbs and other minorities and political violence among Albanian political parties, according to a Human Rights Watch backgrounder released today. The level of violence has fallen over the last month, probably as a consequence of the Serbian elections and the overthrow of Slobodan Milosevic. Even so, Human Rights Watch argues that preparations for the elections have been driven more by the desire to meet the pre-determined deadline set for the poll, than the need to create the minimum international standards necessary for free and fair elections.
The OSCE-organized municipal elections will have a profound impact in shaping the democratic development of the province, with ramifications for the rule of law, human rights, and the overall security situation.
To view the backgrounder, please click on the link to the right entitled "October 28, 2000 -- Municipal Elections in Kosovo."
For a more detailed analysis of Kosovo election conditions, please click on the link just below.
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