Mar 14, 2004

Kosovo elections set for 23 October


Kosovo's next elections will be held on 23 October, the United Nations envoy to the province announced today.
14 March 2004 – (UN News Center) Kosovo's next elections will be held on 23 October, the United Nations envoy to the province announced today.

Harri Holkeri based this decision on the recommendations of an Election Working Group, endorsing all of its proposals, including one calling for closed lists, which he termed “the most appropriate option for Kosovo at this time.”

During elections in 2000, using the open lists system, only 8 per cent of successful candidates were women.

“The closed lists will ensure women's participation in the Assembly of Kosovo, which currently has one of the highest percentages of women representatives,” Mr. Holkeri said, adding that open lists “tend to favor those who have high public profiles.”

The announcement came during a press briefing with the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, who today wrapped up a five-day trip to Kosovo and Belgrade, where he had numerous meetings with representatives from all segments of society, including senior officials.

Mr. Guéhenno said there was evident progress in Kosovo, citing the functioning of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government, improved security, the return of displaced persons and the rebuilding of infrastructure.

“At the same time I don't think that any sound bite can catch the complexity of Kosovo,” he said, adding, “I wouldn't be realistic if I did not also acknowledge that much remains to be done.”

Among the challenges ahead, he noted the need to revive the economy and to implement the Standards – a set of benchmarks that must be reached before action on Kosovo's final status can begin. He also pointed to the importance of improving minority representation in government and fostering observance of the rule of law.

“There is a lot at stake there and it goes way beyond political issues,” he said. “It is the issue of a prosperous Kosovo, which retains its people, which attracts fine capital, which is a vibrant place, where tensions have subsided, where everybody can live with mutual respect, where there is trust, where all communities can feel comfortable and that they are respected.”