Bujanovac:  The Head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Bujanovac office Martin Brooks stated yesterday that it would be very important to form multi-ethnic authorities in Bujanovac, Presevo and Medveda.

The British diplomat said, “I think this process has advanced the most in Medveda and I expect the [local] assembly to be formed there as soon as Monday. Important talks have taken place in Bujanovac and Presevo in the past weeks, and I expect they will lead to good results.”

Brooks said, “The results of the last elections are such that they offer a chance to put together true multi-ethnic authorities in these three municipalities. Certainly the Albanian community, just as the Serb community, has some specific problems, but I’m sure people can solve all problems by forming multi-ethnic authorities and with a joint approach to the central government.”

Brooks added that he is “increasingly certain that ugly events in Macedonia” will not overly influence the south of Serbia.

He said, “Leaders in this region know well the only way to solve their problems. If you compare parliamentary elections of 2007 with those held this year, it becomes obvious there was no boycott this time, which demonstrates that people know how they should solve their problems.”