UNMIK/PR/321
PRISTINA—SRSG Dr. Bernard Kouchner has signed an administrative direction (No. 2000/18) regulating the activities of sports federations, associations and committees in Kosovo for the development of sports. This direction makes it mandatory that 30 per cent of the members of these organizations be women and that 10 per cent be from the ethnic minorities.
The sports organizations are expected to promote sports in the spirit of tolerance and Olympic ideals of peace, solidarity, friendship and fair play. The membership of these federations will be open to all habitual residents of Kosovo, irrespective of sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, natural, ethnic or social origin, association with a national community, property or birth. All members shall have the right to vote for and to be elected to, positions on the organizations’ board, which shall consist of a president, up to three vice presidents, one secretary and one treasurer. They will be elected for a term of four years. In addition there will be three members elected for a term of two years and three other members who shall be appointed by the president, also for a term of two years.
The elections shall be held on the basis of secret ballot. At least 30 per cent of the candidates in the elections shall be women and 10 per cent from the ethnic minorities.
The direction makes it mandatory for the sports organizations to ensure that at least one of the positions on the board---president, vice president, secretary or treasurer---is held by a woman and that at least one other is held by a member from an ethnic minority.
The organizations’ logos, symbols, motto and flags shall be clearly described and shall not contain any political, religious, ethnic, racial or national reference.
The direction states that the sports organizations that comply with the provisions set out in it shall be recognized by the Administrative Department of Sports as officially representing a particular sports discipline in Kosovo and shall be eligible to apply for grants-in-aid and other assistance that may be available from the department.
The SRSG signed the regulation on the establishment of the Administrative Department of Sports, Regulation No. 2000/41, on 10 July 2000. The department is tasked with preparing an overall strategy for the development of sports activities in Kosovo.