Observers, journalists gear up for Sunday vote

According to the Electoral Commission, RIK, the elections in Serbia tomorrow will be monitored by a dozen international organizations. Accreditations have been issued for the observers of the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the Central Electoral Commission of the Russian Duma, the Russian Public Institute of Electoral Law, and the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Observers, journalists gear up for Sunday vote The vote will also be monitored by the Hungarian and Slovakian embassies, and a number of political parties, such as the Russian Communist Party. The U.S. and British embassies in Belgrade have this time opted not to request to officially observe the Serbian ballot. "The United States is a member of the OSCE, and this year the body's observer mission is very large," Tanjug was told at the U.S. embassy. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will have two groups of observers: representatives of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and those from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. The OSCE has decided, just as it did during the presidential elections earlier this year, to send its so-called Limited Mission of the ODIHR, which will be led by Nikolai Vulchanov of Bulgaria. Based on previous Serbian elections, which were consistently assessed as having been carried out in keeping with the OSCE standards, the organization decided that the presence of a full election observation mission is not necessary. The Limited Mission will be joined by the monitors from the Parliamentary Assembly, headed by special coordinator Roberto Battelli of Slovenia. The OSCE observes will closely cooperate with the missions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, PACE. Meanwhile, several hundred foreign and domestic reporters have been issued with accreditations to follow the parliamentary and local elections in Serbia tomorrow. Head of the Foreign Ministry's Department for Accreditation of Foreign Journalists Luka Mirkovic told Tanjug that so far, some one hundred foreign journalists obtained temporary authorization, but that he expected the number to grow. A total of 300 journalists possess permanent accreditation and follow the work of the parliament and RIK, but it remains unknown how many of them will apply for the temporary accreditations, the news agency learned from the parliament's press service.

Observers, journalists gear up for Sunday vote

The vote will also be monitored by the Hungarian and Slovakian embassies, and a number of political parties, such as the Russian Communist Party.

The U.S. and British embassies in Belgrade have this time opted not to request to officially observe the Serbian ballot.

"The United States is a member of the OSCE, and this year the body's observer mission is very large," Tanjug was told at the U.S. embassy.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will have two groups of observers: representatives of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and those from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

The OSCE has decided, just as it did during the presidential elections earlier this year, to send its so-called Limited Mission of the ODIHR, which will be led by Nikolai Vulchanov of Bulgaria.

Based on previous Serbian elections, which were consistently assessed as having been carried out in keeping with the OSCE standards, the organization decided that the presence of a full election observation mission is not necessary.

The Limited Mission will be joined by the monitors from the Parliamentary Assembly, headed by special coordinator Roberto Battelli of Slovenia.

The OSCE observes will closely cooperate with the missions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, PACE.

Meanwhile, several hundred foreign and domestic reporters have been issued with accreditations to follow the parliamentary and local elections in Serbia tomorrow.

Head of the Foreign Ministry's Department for Accreditation of Foreign Journalists Luka Mirković told Tanjug that so far, some one hundred foreign journalists obtained temporary authorization, but that he expected the number to grow.

A total of 300 journalists possess permanent accreditation and follow the work of the parliament and RIK, but it remains unknown how many of them will apply for the temporary accreditations, the news agency learned from the parliament's press service.