Kosovo's new institutions ready to take over full responsibility for next elections
As an integral part of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the OSCE is also responsible for democratization and institution building (the "third pillar" of UNMIK's operational framework).
So when it began preparing for the first municipal elections, which were held in 2000, it also began creating the conditions for the establishment of local election institutions. The most important part of that process was the transfer of know-how.
"Our goal here was never purely operational," says Lars Lagergren, Director of the Mission's Elections Department. "We came to conduct the first few elections, but more importantly, we came to help create local institutions that would be able to take on those responsibilities in the future."
Local election institutions
Early 2000 saw the creation of the first of Kosovo's local election institutions, the Central Election Commission (CEC). It was originally charged with developing the legal framework for the conduct of elections, based on UN regulations.
The OSCE worked closely with the CEC (in fact, the Head of the OSCE Mission, Ambassador Werner Wnendt, still chairs it), providing legal advice and logistical support. On a broader scale, the OSCE was also responsible for implementing all the operational and technical aspects of the electoral process.
This, however, all changed in 2003 with the establishment of the CEC Secretariat. "At that point, the CEC began taking on some of the operational responsibilities and our role changed from organizing and administering elections to more of a training and advisory one," says Lagergren.
Transfer of knowledge
The CEC Secretariat's Deputy Chief Executive, Bogoljub Staletovic, says that the support they have received from the OSCE is very valuable.
"Through the numerous training sessions and all the advice they have offered, the OSCE is gradually transferring its knowledge and expertise to us so that we can conduct the next elections independently," he says.
The CEC demonstrated its ability during the 2004 general election, co-ordinating the work of the municipal election commissions, establishing polling station committees, certifying political entities participating in the elections, running a voter information campaign, accrediting observers and distributing election materials.
"We are now working with the Secretariat to build their capacity and transfer the last of our responsibilities to them," says Lagergren. These include running the out-of-Kosovo voting, maintaining and updating the voter lists, and compiling and verifying the results.
Improving the legal framework
In addition to transferring its remaining operational responsibilities, the OSCE is currently assisting the CEC, which also handles election administration, with the development of an improved legal framework for future elections.
In late 2005, the CEC formed an Election Forum to draft a proposal for the UN regulations and CEC rules that will govern the forthcoming local elections. The Forum includes all ten local members of the CEC (which also has four international members including the Chair), as well as four civil society representatives and one from the Ministry of Local Government Administration.
"We are advising our counterparts on pros and cons of different electoral systems and the regulations that govern them," notes Lagergren.
Once the CEC decides on the electoral system and approves the legal framework, it will forward its proposal to UNMIK for review and ratification by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of UNMIK, Søren Jessen-Petersen.
Mission accomplished
With the CEC Secretariat taking over last of the operational responsibilities and becoming the sole administrator of elections in Kosovo, one of the major institution-building efforts of the OSCE Mission is close to completion.
"We will provide advice and intervene where necessary if any irregularity or deviation from the electoral rules and regulations is detected, but the elections which are currently anticipated for this October will be the first to be fully administered by local institutions," says Lagergren.