The OSCE Mission to Skopje welcomes the government's efforts in line with the recommendations by the OSCE/ODIHR referring to reforms of the electoral process and expects more efforts to be made.

This was stated by the Head of the OSCE Mission to Macedonia, Ambassador Ralf Breth at a joint press conference with Vice PM Teuta Arifi following a Monday meeting of the steering committee on addressing recommendations from the final OSCE/ODIHR report on the 2011 early parliamentary polls.

"The mission encourages working groups to intensify their activities and to be included in the process. We welcome government's commitment to the process and we are prepared to offer our support and expert opinion in coordination with OSCE/ODIHR," Ambassador Breth said.

Vice PM Arifi stated that the issue on improving electoral legislation and the process was part of the tasks also covered by the high-level accession between Macedonia and the EU.

"It was concluded that working groups, formed after the first meeting of the steering committee in connection to the legislation and voters' list, have submitted a report that they operate in line with a determined dynamics. We believe that with more intensive efforts of the committee and working groups, we will manage to complete possible obligations that could be related to the upcoming local elections," Arifi said.

The Vice PM also informed that an assessment mission on chapters 23 and 24 was launched today.

"A report of the European Commission experts conducting the mission will be important given the forthcoming EU report. I think we have made achievements to demonstrate, which is an additional encouragement to do more work after receiving mission's results," Arifi noted.