Head of OSCE Mission to Serbia makes statement

BELGRADE, 4 May 2012 – The Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Dimitrios Kypreos, made the following statement today in relation to the police operation in the south of Serbia this morning:

"A local employee of the OSCE Office in Bujanovic was arrested as a result of the police operation in south Serbia this morning, along with seven other ethnic Albanians. This person has been employed by the OSCE Mission to Serbia, since 9 November 2001, after consultation with the Serbian authorities.

”The OSCE Mission to Serbia has not yet been provided with any evidence regarding this Mission member. The Mission will support Serbia's authorities in their investigation, with full respect to the principle of presumption of innocence. We take the matter seriously and are committed to working in close co-operation with the Serbian authorities on this issue.”