UNMIK/PR/458
PRESS RELEASE - 24 December 2000

Kouchner Congratulates Kostunica on Election Victory

SRSG Bernard Kouchner today congratulated Yugoslav President Vojslav Kostunica, DOS candidate for Serbian prime minister Zoran Djindjic and the people of Serbia upon the news that preliminary election results indicated that the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) had won a convincing majority in the Serbian Parliament.

"This is a consolidation of the democratic success of the FRY elections that will further benefit democratic movements across the Balkans," Dr. Kouchner said.

Some polling went on yesterday in parts of Kosovo, where UNMIK and KFOR were prepared for possible election-related security incidents. However none were reported.

Dr. Kouchner, who left Kosovo today to spend Christmas in France, said he was pleased that Kosovo had remained calm on Saturday. He said also that the prospects for a true peace in the region would be bolstered by the election results and the new composition of the Serbian government.