|
CONTENTS: 18 NOV. 2001 KOSOVO PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
All media covered the first Kosovo parliamentary elections, which were declared successful by the three main international figures in Kosovo, UNMIK Administrator Hans Haekkerup, Head of the OSCE Mission Daan Everts and COMKFOR Gen. Marcel Valentin. "A historic day for Kosovo's freedom," said LDK Chairman Ibrahim Rugova. "Today we voted for Kosovo's independence," said PDK Chairman Hashim Thaçi. "The future will bring great challenges, but we shall prevail," said AAK Chairman Ramush Haradinaj. "I am convinced that Kosovo will have its own army," said KPC Commander Gen. Agim Çeku. "After elections maybe we will find a mutual dialogue," said Djurdje Serovic a Serb from Fushë Kosovë/Kosovo Polje. "The people of Kosovo have the chance to elect their own representatives in democratic elections," said SRSG Haekkerup. "Today is a great day for Kosovo," Everts said. "Kosovo today joined the democratic world," said John Menzies Head of the US Office in Pristina. According to local survey organizations KACI and KMDLNJ, preliminary elections results were similar to those of last year's local elections: LDK received below 50%, PDK around 25%, AAK around 10%, Serb coalition Povratak 8% and all other political parties around 9% of the votes. Bota Sot referred to incomplete results from the LDK election headquarters, which indicated that LDK leads with over 70% of the votes. Reports noted that the elections passed without incidents and violence.
There were a few problems regarding flags; however they were
resolved. Zëri carried on page one a column by its editor-in-chief Blerim Shala, who wrote: It was at once the most extraordinary and the most normal day in Kosovo's post-war history. The extraordinary aspect of the 17 November elections are know to all of us. With these elections, not by its own fault, Kosovo joins Europe as the last member of the Western democratic parliamentary family. Kosovo's democratic institutions will have international legitimacy and the parliament and government will be internationally recognized. This is great credibility for Kosovo and for the politicians who from now will be ministers and deputies. On the other hand, 17 November was an ordinary day: the elections were quiet and peaceful, with order during voting as in Western countries. There were no long queues as was the case with last year's local elections. Members of all nationalities participated. There was no violence or incidents. There was electricity and water. It was a day that all Kosovars wished for: with this kind of behavior and normality Kosovo can go forward. If after three years we will be capable of organizing the second parliamentary elections as we did these jointly with OSCE and UNMIK then we will prove that we have formed a truly democratic society.
|