UNMIK/PR/858
Friday October 25, 2002

PDSRSG Charles Brayshaw takes election message to the people

Gnjilane/Gjilan - PDSRSG Charles Brayshaw today took his election message to the people of the Gnjilane/Gjilan region in the east of Kosovo, where he visited several towns and villages.

"It is so important that Kosovo's minorities participate in tomorrow's election," said PDSRSG Charles Brayshaw to the people of the village of Ropotovo. "Your vote is the way for your voice to be heard."

PDSRSG Charles Brayshaw began his visit in the village of Dobrcani, which has a significant Turkish community living among the majority Albanian population. Here he stopped in at a polling station and met with a village leader and director of the Jetullah Bislimi school to discuss education provisions for Kosovo's minority populations.

Later PDSRSG Charles Brayshaw moved to Kamenica where he met with representatives of the Serb community.

The importance of the decentralisation concept was also stressed during his visits today. "The decentralization plan offers something to everyone," said PDSRSG Charles Brayshaw. "And we want to know right here in Gnjilane/Gjilan on November 1st, just how Kosovo's leaders want to implement it."

(the first decentralization meeting will be held in Gnjilane/Gjilan)