United Nations

NEW YORK, 27 October (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

Tomorrow the people of Kosovo will be taking part in municipal elections. These elections represent one of the most significant steps in implementing the mandate entrusted to the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) under Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).

The international community will be watching these elections with great interest.  Should the voting be free and fair, the people of Kosovo will have shown the world that they are politically mature and that they can express their will in a democratic manner.

 Once the results are certified by the Secretary-General's Special Representative, he and his staff will begin the gradual transfer of several administrative responsibilities from UNMIK to the newly elected municipal leaders of Kosovo.

 The Secretary-General urges the people of Kosovo, as well as their political leaders, to conduct themselves in a spirit of peace and tolerance tomorrow, and then to accept and respect the results of the vote.  This is the true spirit of democracy.

 On the eve of this historic event, he extends his best wishes to the people of Kosovo and looks forward to hearing of a successful election day.