Kosovo Speaker says Macedonian elections "not free and fair"
BBC Monitoring Europe (Political) - June 3, 2008 Tuesday

Text of report in English by Pristina-based independent internet news agency KosovaLive

Prishtina [Pristina], 2 Jun (KosovaLive) - Kosova [Kosovo] Assembly Speaker Jakup Krasniqi said that the elections in Macedonia were not free and fair and as such they must be declared invalid, as well due to the fact that uniformed persons have abused ballot boxes.

He said that the organizing the elections and maintenance of the whole election procedure should was the duty of the ruling coalition, whereas Krasniqi considers that the ruling coalition has not guaranteed and provided free and fair elections and it bears the responsibility for everything that has happened.

"We believe that these elections deserve to be declared invalid due to the fact that the paramilitary forces dressed in uniforms have abused the election process by filling ballot boxes with illegal votes. In fact, there were no free and fair elections in Macedonia," Krasniqi said.

According to him, the issue of Albanians in Macedonia cannot be resolved by such ruling coalition, which has many anti-Albanian notes.

The government of the Republic of Kosova requires for the election process in Macedonia, especially among Albanians, to be concluded without consequences, as well in democratic way.

The deputy prime minister of Kosova, Hajredin Kuci, said that the Government of the Republic of Kosova has observed with attention the elections in Macedonia and on this occasion the Kosova Government is concerned about the developments that have happened in Macedonia.

The deputy chairperson of the Alliance for the Future of Kosova (AAK), Bajram Kosumi, said that the political parties in Macedonia, especially the Albanian political parties, have not achieved to control the election process in the right way.

The deputy chairperson of the Democratic League of Dardania (LDD), Besa Gaxherri, said that incidents in Macedonia are not acceptable to any democratic state.

The deputy chairperson of the New Kosova Alliance (AKR), Ibrahim Makolli, evaluates the events in Macedonia as a failure of Macedonian institutions.

Source: KosovaLive website, Pristina, in English 2 Jun 08
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