The local rounds of the OSCE political dialogue roundtable meetings kicked off 1 June in Suto Orizari. The political dialogue meetings are supported by the Norwegian government and facilitate talks between Macedonian political parties and the international community in connection with the parliamentary elections 5 July.
6 June the 8th and 9th roundtables were held in Lipkovo and Studenicani, with the participation from local political parties and the Norwegian Embassy.
13/06/2006 ::
Project manager of Political Dialogue, Andreas Raab, stressed in both meetings that it was important that parties cooperated to create an atmosphere of fair play and good will during the elections. This would, according to Raab, send a strong positive signal to the international community and voters alike that all parties were committed to following the election code and code of conduct to create free and fair elections.
All parties present in both Lipkovo and Studenicani stated that they were committed to make the upcoming elections free and fair and thus show that Macedonia was ready to move towards the European Union & NATO membership.
The local roundtables will continue in Gazi Baba, Aracinovo, Saraj, Struga, Zajas, Gostivar, Tearce, Kocani, Sandevo and Dolneni.
Representatives from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jan Braathu and Vibeke Lilloe will participate in the Zajas roundtable 14 June.
Attachement: NDI Code of Conduct.pdf