UNMIK/PR/392

PRESS RELEASE - 13 October 2000

IAC Hopes Changes in Belgrade Mean Regional Stability

PRISTINA – The Interim Administrative Council today issued the following statement:

“The IAC expresses its hope that the changes that are currently taking place in Belgrade will be the first step of a democratisation process that will contribute to the stabilisation of the entire region.

“The IAC underlines that many challenges remain ahead for the people of Kosovo and for the international community working here. The fate of the detained persons in Serbia and of the missing persons of all communities remains the most pressing problem. The IAC also calls for the handover of all indicted war criminals to the ICTY in The Hague.

“The IAC welcomes the statement by the SRSG that Security Council resolution 1244 will continue to be fully implemented. In this respect, the successful conduct of free and fair democratic municipal elections on 28 October mark a major step in building genuine Kosovo institutions. The IAC is dedicated to work on creating the necessary conditions to hold Kosovo-wide elections as soon as possible.”