UNMIK/PR/580

PRESS RELEASE - 14 May  2001

SRSG Announces Election Date

Pristina -- Kosovo-wide elections will take place on 17 November 2001, Mr. Hans Haekkerup, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo announced this evening.

Mr. Haekkerup made the announcement during a television and radio address, which aired across Kosovo and over Serbian media.   During the address he explained the new provisional institutions of self-government, which are spelled out in the Constitutional Framework for Interim Self-Government.

Haekkerup plans to sign the document, which he called the "most important legislative act since UNMIK was established almost two years ago," after a final review from the Kosovo members of the Interim Administrative Council Tuesday morning. 

In his address, the SRSG outlined the main ideas within the Constitutional Framework and described the significant powers and responsibilities that will be handed over the Kosovar government.

Voting will be by a proportional system, so that the parties with the most votes will fill 100 of the Assembly seats. The Constitutional Framework also sets aside 20 other seats for non-majority communities-10 for Kosovo Serbs and 10 for other communities.

A seven-member Presidency of the Assembly will guide its work, suggesting draft laws; while the Assembly will elect a President of Kosovo, who will in turn nominate a Prime Minister.

All those 18 and over who were residents of Kosovo on 1 January 1998 are eligible to vote. Voting will be set up in the FRY so that displaced persons can participate.

Mr. Haekkerup said that his own role would be to ensure that the acts of provisional self-government would be in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244. 

The SRSG explained that the Constitutional Framework was a joint effort of all the communities within Kosovo.  He said that though there were several areas where they could not get consensus, he believed the "result is a fair compromise."

Finally the SRSG urged all communities to vote in the elections and the new government, pointing out that only by participating can the "future of all communities be secured."

"The Constitutional Framework is good for Kosovo.  It is also good for the overall stability of the region," said the SRSG.