UNMIK-KFOR Press Briefing: 10 July  2000
UNMIK Spokeswoman Nadia Younes
KFOR Spokesman Major Scott Slatten
OSCE head, Ambassador Daan Everts

UNMIK Spokeswoman Nadia Younes

Municipal Election Regulation
Good morning.  The reason we have here the head of one of our pillars, Ambassador Daan Everts, and his colleague Ms. Hume, head of the Secretariat of the Central Election Commission, is because yesterday Dr. Kouchner, the SRSG signed the municipal elections law.  Let me just point out that the regulation that was signed yesterday by Bernard Kouchner is the result of elaborate and exhaustive discussions at the Interim Administrative Council, the Kosovo Transitional Council as well as the Central Election Commission.  It has also been elaborately discussed at international level consultations with OSCE as well as with the United Nations in New York.  It has taken into account the opinion of the vast majority of political factions and opinion in Kosovo. You will have copies of the regulation which Mr. Everts will brief on, outside the briefing room in both English and Albanian.  There will be more information, which will be available later on for your benefit.  He and his colleague will, after we finish our part of the briefing, UNMIK and KFOR, brief you on this election law.

Water
Regarding the water situation, repairs to the Batlava Pumping Station were completed last week, and pumping stations resumed activity on Friday and Saturday, following the resupply of fuel and the agreement signed between KEK and the Batlava Company.

The water supply conditions, which had worsened last week, as we had announced, were mainly due to the electricity situation, which unfortunately still remains precarious.

However, although water is now being pumped normally to Pristina, there remains an urgent and strong need to conserve water. The continuing water shortage is due primarily to the huge waste by residents of Pristina, who are continuing to hose down the streets and sidewalks with drinking water.  So I would please urge you, the media, to reinforce the fact that the administrative instruction that we briefed you on two weeks ago is still very much in effect and fines will be placed on those who break the law.

Electricity
We continue to suffer power cuts due to problems with the two power plants. Kosovo B2 will be producing 152 megawatts today, which is far below its capacity, due to a problem with the fuel feeder pump. Kosovo A, unit three, which had been working, has been out of operation due to the low level of water in the reservoir supplying the plant's cooling system. Rotating power cuts will continue around Kosovo today.

Police
I would like to give you an update on the Streoc incident.  UNMIK Police is in the middle of an investigation of the incident.  What we can confirm so far is that Mr. Ramush Haradinaj was among several individuals involved in the incident.  The police have carried out interviews with a number of the witnesses and is also carrying out a full forensic investigation of the scene.  It not possible at this point to draw any definitive conclusions about what transpired during the incident.  It is confirmed that the incident included an exchange of gunfire and the detonation of at least one hand grenade.  Obviously, since one of the key witnesses is undergoing surgery abroad and has yet to be interviewed by UNMIK Police investigators and, due to the fact that numerous secondary witnesses and other sources of evidence must still be examined, we will not go into detail and draw any conclusions at this stage. As with any ongoing investigation, it would be improper to speculate or discuss details of what may have occurred.  You will have to be patient while the investigators carry out their work.  However, you can be assured that UNMIK Police are devoting all available investigative resources to determine the circumstances of this incident as rapidly as possible.

In other police reports, a Kosovo Albanian shop owner was shot dead in Trestenik  near Glogovac early yesterday morning as two unidentified gunmen attempted to rob his kiosk located next to his house.

There were also two reports of attempted violence in minority areas:

Last night in Stimlje, a hand grenade was thrown into a Serbian house. No one inside was injured.

Also, on Friday night or early Saturday morning, rocks were placed on the tracks of the Kosovo Polje--Mitrovica train in what police believe was an attempt to derail the service which is used primarily by members of minority communities.

There has been another robbery of an NGO, a safe was stolen from the Pristina office of Children's Aid Direct just after midnight early yesterday morning. 

Roma Visit
Let me remind you also of the visit to the Roma camp which is scheduled for Thursday.  The visit will cover Roma camps in the Pec/Peja area.  We will have more details for you on Wednesday. Please see Francois Charlier from my office is organizing bus service for those of  you  who wish to follow it.

Acting CFA head
Dr. Kouchner has appointed a new co-head for the Department of the Central Fiscal Authority, Mr. Anthony Preston-Stanley. He will temporarily replace Mr. Alan Pearson who is now acting Deputy SRSG for Pillar IV, Reconstruction and Economic Development.

KFOR Spokesman, Major Scott A. Slaten

Fires Burn Throughout the Region
Dry winds out the deserts of North Africa and high local temperatures are creating a volatile combination for fires in Kosovo.

Throughout all the MNB sectors, bush and house fires have been reported during the past few days. Although arson is not ruled out as a cause, the majority of fires seem to be either accidents or the negligence of the local population.

Many residents of Kosovo are still burning their trash in the countryside, throwing their cigarette butts on the ground or failing to extinguish small fires before they can grow. The abundance of glass and other reflective debris scattered about the countryside also contributes to the starting of fires by magnifying the sun's rays.

KFOR and local fire fighters are doing their best to contain and extinguish these blazes, however, the high temperatures and abundance of minefields and unexploded ordnance make their work extremely difficult.

Fire fighters are concentrating their efforts where danger is posed to life of the inhabitant or destruction of property. In some areas they have not been able to contain the blazes in time and homes have been consumed.

In MNB Centre yesterday afternoon, a fire was reported in an unoccupied Serb home in the town of Kosovo Polje. The fire spread quickly and both KFOR and local fire departments were tasked to respond. As of 3:30 p.m. the fire was under control.

Also in MNB Centre a fire broke out near the Gracanica monastery at around 2 p.m.  Local fire fighting units and KFOR Swedish fire fighters responded to the scene. The fire was extinguished by 2:30p.m. No injuries were reported as a result of the blaze.

In MNB South an extensive fire has been burning near the town of Planeja. KFOR and local fire fighters responded to the area and are battling the blaze. The fires have been extinguished and restarted several times by sparks and high winds. The population of a village near Planeja was evacuated yesterday because of danger. It was reported that the flames consumed most of the village.

In MNB East KFOR Military Police and Infantry soldiers reported a fire burning in the town of Gnjilane. The Camp Monteith and Bondsteel fire departments responded to the scene and put the fire out. It was reported that three to four homes were damaged or destroyed. KFOR continued to monitor the area to ensure smoldering embers did not restart the fire.

Residents are encouraged to refrain from burning their trash, leaving fires unattended and throwing burning cigarettes from vehicles. It is also suggested that all dry brush and foliage that could ignite should be cleared from around their homes and residents be vigilant of fires that could start during this period of dangerous hot, dry weather.

Fire at Kosovo B power station
A fire started yesterday afternoon on a conveyor belt bringing coal to the Kosovo B power station.  The KFOR British Defense Fire Service quickly responded to the scene and extinguished the fire before additional damage could occur to the belt.

The fire was started when rubbish clogged the conveyor belt, which caused the mechanism to bind, and the heat subsequently generated ignited the rubber belt.  20 meters of the belt were destroyed during the fire. The damage may lead to disruption of the electricity supply until it is replaced.

KFOR MNB Centre representatives are in consultation with the owners of the Kosovo power plant to offer assistance in the interim period.

Elderly woman shot
MNB Centre headquarters reported this morning that an elderly woman was shot with a pistol yesterday evening, at her house in Gornja Repa

The woman, aged 74, from Montenegro, was watering her plants in her garden when she was shot in the thigh.  She was taken to the medical facility in Podujevo/ Podujeve and is now recovering there.

KFOR Scots Dragoon Guard soldiers stopped a suspect vehicle containing four males near the location of the shooting.  An empty ammunition case was found in the car and the men were taken to the UNMIK police station in Podujevo.  A house search will take place today.

Medical Evacuation
KFOR 18th Polish Air Assault headquarters in MNB East requested an aerial evacuation for a 62 year-old Serb man who was suffering from severe difficulty in breathing. A KFOR medical evacuation helicopter was dispatched to the village of Strpce and transported the man to the Camp Bondsteel medical facility. The man is reported to suffer from chronic lung disease and is currently in the intensive care unit. Coordination is now being made to transfer him to a local hospital for long term treatment.

Wedding Riot
In MNB South, 11 kilometers southwest of Prizren last night, several people were injured during a riot. An initial investigation has reveal that a wedding ceremony between two families turned violent for unknown reasons. Six persons were reported injured and transported to the hospital in Prizren.

In MNB Centre, several mines and items of unexploded ordnance were discovered yesterday and were dealt with properly and efficiently by the KFOR explosive experts

Children playing unexploded ordnance under a bridge on the road to Podujevo/ Podujeve (five kilometres north of Lebane) found a UXO.  The children did not touch the UXO, as advised during KFOR and UNMACC mine awareness training, but reported it to the nearest KFOR troops.  The  Commander of MNB Centre praised the children for their sensible and prompt action and encouraged others finding mines or UXOs to follow their example.

Questions

Q.  This is a question about the incident in Streoc with Ramush Haradinaj.  Are you admitting then that there was an exchange of gunfire, that there were two sides involved, and  that it was not just an assassination attempt against Ramush as his party is claiming?

NY.  What I have said is all I am intending to say.  These are the facts as we known them from the police and it is difficult to draw any conclusions as of now.  The only thing that we can say, which was confirmed by the police, is that there was an exchange of gunfire and a detonation of at least one hand grenade.  Beyond that, I will not say more, until the investigation comes to some conclusions.

Q.  Are any pending plans to reinforce KFOR troop strength with troops of any nationalities, specifically Spain or Great Britain.

SS. In which area and for what reason?

Q.  Simply to reinforce KFOR’s presence here and across any Multinational Brigade areas, not any particular MNBs.

SS.  I am not aware of any.  Personnel strength in Kosovo tends to fluctuate with units coming in and out.  They are usually negotiated.  Some units return to their countries.  Other units will come here to Kosovo.  I am not aware of any increase in troop level strengths purely for security reasons.

Head of OSCE, Ambassador Dan Everts

Indeed, the SRSG has signed into law a very important piece of legislation, the basic provisions of the elections to be held later this year.  And it may be a good idea to go through some of the main provisions and then be open, of course, to questions.  These are the main provisions of the electoral law.  From there derive numerous rules that are issued separately, but not under promulgation of regulations.  On those more detailed rules, you will be constantly informed, I am sure, by Roland but also technically by Ms. Hume who is sitting to my left and who is heading, as you heard, the Secretariat Election Commission.

Let me go through some of the main provisions.  Let me go through them successively.  One is that these are of course elections in the UNMIK area of administration.  So the duration of offices has been limited deliberately to two years.  So the elections will produce numbers of municipal assemblies with a mandate for two years.

The SRSG has been mandated by 1244 to certify the final results on the recommendation of the Central Election Commission.  But after polling date and counting of all the votes, the Central Election Commission will recommend the final results to the SRSG who has the final say, the final authority to certify, after which the CEC will publish the results.

Very important has been the discussion on what kind of system we would apply to these  municipal elections.  The CEC has decided, for a number of reasons which I can’t explain, to opt for a particular system for this coming election without prejudice to what system should prevail later on, for instance, in central elections.  So it has chosen, recommended to the SRSG who has accepted the recommendation to apply the system of proportional representation which means that at least parties will gain seats in proportion  to the percentage of votes they receive.  So it’s the proportional system that will be applied this year to municipal elections.  As a background, the CEC has discussed this choice thoroughly --as the political parties among themselves and the IAC and the KTC and the world at large.  The reason for proportional preference this time around has been two-fold.  One is the argument of principle that the proportional system allows fair representation to smaller parties.  It gives a larger spectre of political parties a chance to be represented.  This, at the municipal level, is probably a good thing.  At least, this was the feeling of the CEC.  So that it’s the principles issue here that proportional systems allow broad-based representation to smaller parties which in a majority system or in a combined system would more easily be squeezed out.  The reason, a very practical one, is that everyone inside and outside Kosovo are pressing hard for having the elections in time.  Meaning this year, meaning basically October.  If we had all the time in the world, we could design lots of different systems and could offer more options and alternatives but the simple fact is that October is election month.  And this is how the world wants to have it--, the international community but also there has been pressure from within. In order to introduce the first, free, fair, informed democratic test in Kosovo and in order to bring to democracy where it counts most directly and first at the municipal level and to replace the self-appointed or appointed representatives now at the municipal level by truly, popularly-elected representatives.

Let me elaborate on the practical argument for the proportional system.   Since the elections must go on no later than October, the alternative to the proportional system, which is the majority system, is to be ruled out.  It’s impossible, in the time frame given, to subdivide the municipal districts in many smaller sub-districts. 

(Later on) separate detailed elections (could) be held in order to have one or two of the most vote-drawing candidates get elected to the municipal assembly. That second system, the majority system, or even a combination of proportional and majority, would require drawing lines dividing sub-districts within the municipalities. It is impossible to do that in time for October elections, technically. So the choice given the parties was if you insist on a majority or line system, it can be done. But it cannot be done this year, and we have to wait until 2001. That is an unacceptable possibility for most of the parties inside Kosovo and also to the international community that would like to see that first democratic test this year.

Another striking feature of the system promulgated by Dr. Kouchner and it's ambitious, is that at least 30 percent on the candidates list should be women. That is among the first 15 candidates on the list. After 15, they're free to do whatever they want. Male or female or other combinations. But we want to ensure that among the first 15 candidates there are five women at least. This is ambitious. We have introduced this elsewhere as OSCE, in Bosnia, and it has led to a dramatic change of the composition of representative bodies, so there is a much larger women's participation in such deliberative, legislative and executive bodies. It's a striking feature, bold: many other democracies are behind in this regard. So here, Kosovo is blazing a trail. We should commend the CEC here and I know the response from the women's movement in Kosovo has been very positive. And I'm sure they take this up as a major challenge to feed the parties with ideas about candidates and to ensure that women will play a more proportional role in politics.

Another feature is that the bill applies an open list system, versus a closed list. This is at the urging of the Kosovo parties. Administratively, technically for us it would be easier to have a closed system. The voter simply ticks off the party of preference, and the ballot will only show the parties that compete. The open list there is the possibility for the voter to not only tick off a party, but also to go down the list of candidates and tick off candidates. So there is an option for the voter to indicate a personal preference for a candidate and not just a party. This way voters may correct the order of candidates that political party leaders have decided. So this has corrective possibility on the art of the voters is part of the choice made by political leaders. So this is the open list and we said we should concede. We should comply with this strong urge, unanimous, from political parties, because the argument ran that Kosovars tend to vote for persons rather than parties. So they want voters to have that opportunity. So although it is a bureaucratic, organizational and logistical complication, we and the SRSG have accepted the recommendation. so we will have the open list. So in Pristina there will be a sizable ballot with possibly hundreds of names. So there is the question of how to design it, but that is our concern. But it is a very important choice. Let me recapitulate: two years term; proportional system; 30 percent at least female candidates and open list. On other technicalities, we are following international standards. The SRSG signed it now, as we could not wait to have the other steps of the election in place--the certification of parties, the candidates have to be certified. We have to check if candidates are eligible, whether they are truly Kosovars, whether they are truly registered in the civil registry. They cannot be criminals, etc. All that has to be done in the coming one and a half months. The ballots have to be printed and shipped out to the out-of-Kosovo voters. There are many mechanics that have to be gone through and that's why the organizers were very keen to see the SRSG sign this in time which he did. Now elections are going to be prepared in earnest and we will see a run-up to the electoral campaign which will start at  a date to be announced, which is not so long from now. And the last big news is that we will make maximum efforts to make sure that we do have an informed electorate. We are seeking funds to make possible to widely encourage dissemination of information, of party programs. We will organize town hall meetings. We will have open debates. TV and radio will be very important. A number of rules are in the making to address the media coverage. There's a code of conduct for political party candidates. There is a lot of work ahead of us, partly already prepared partly to be completed. All work for the Central Election Commission. And let me finish by saying that this turns out to be one of the best CECs that we have witnessed, as OSCE, in the region. It has been very free from politicking. There is no party politics in the CEC. It's a technical body. All the politics we have transferred to another forum that meets regularly and that is the Political Party Consultative Forum. So to keep the CEC technical, we have created that forum for where the political debates take place, and they do take place.

Questions for Daan Everts

Q.  What hope is there for free and fair elections in Kosovo when certain political figures are actively involved in trying to kill or succeeding in killing their potential political opponents?

DE.  I think they are very good hopes for the elections because I think that the election climate will improve over time. The code of conduct for politicians still has to be disseminated more persuasively and people have to sign up. Of course I know what you are alluding to, but I have the feeling, that Kosovo is really ready for elections. The population is very keen to have them and to show the world that democracy can work. I think we can use that very positive basic attitude to call politicians into line. I think we can mount great pressure, not only international pressure – and that’s quite compelling too at times – but also domestic and popular pressure for people to behave for candidates to behave and parties to behave. And we will expose anyone who is not playing by the rules and we will be ruthless. It will be on TV; we will inform you. We will publicly expose those who try fraud or to intimidate and not play by the rules. By having a very open climate on elections and with your help, I think we should be able to have the conditions of a very positive climate that will produce a free and fair election.

Q.  You talked about exposing people who might be guilty of things like intimidation. There are major political players who the international community is fairly convinced are involved in activities such as this already. What is being done to expose these people or what pressure is being brought to bear on them?

DE.  Well, in the rules already agreed to by the CEC and communicated to the political parties we have listed a whole range of sanctions that can be applied. So a complaint about the behaviour of any politician or party will be dealt with – there is a special committee for this and the Commission may impose sanctions. These range from fines to in the extreme case, to striking of candidates from the candidates list. So there is quite a range of instruments to bring parties and individuals into line

Q.  You were mentioning that most of the Albanian political parties were in favour of proportional system. But Mr. Thaçi’s party and LDK which are together according to Gallup compile more than 75% of votes in Kosovo were against this system. Is it OSCE’s will for proportional system and the minor parties’, or is this Mr Thaci and Rugova’s wish as well?

DE.  It’s true. On the proportional system there was a very good discussion, a technical one and a political one and good arguments were exchanged. It is a little more nuanced. The PDK was strongly against proportional and strongly in favour of majority, possibly (agreeable) to a mixed system. So they have strong views but also declared that the ultimate choice would be no reason for them to turn their backs on elections and engage in a boycott. We were very clearly assured of this by Mr. Thaci and his colleagues. The LDK was slightly milder. They were in favour of a mixed system, but said that if it cannot be done otherwise, they would go along with the proportional, but not wholeheartedly. The 75% is your estimate. The electors are the first to have access to find out where the percentages of popular support are. I stress that all the other parties – some 25 – strongly urged the  proportional. I have tried to convey arguments to Mr. Thaci as well that for a municipal system a majority system doesn’t make that much sense because we have already a whole place divided in smaller districts, namely thirty municipalities in Kosovo. That makes already relatively small electoral units. Going further down does not serve much purpose if that means that you are squeezing out most of the small contenders. But the practical argument--, I have not been able to convince Mr. Thaci that it is simply not possible for us if we want to have elections in October to do it. It cannot be done. The demography is not there. We are still registering people. We don’t even know where people are exactly residing. And there is the whole problem of displaced persons. And  I am drawing lines to identify smaller electoral units; much smaller than a municipality is a virtually impossible job. It can be done over time but would not allow elections this year. That’s why I have also told PPDK that for central elections, you make a much better case on principles and for practical reasons. By that time we should be able to draw up a smaller electoral units.

Q.  What are you going to do about the areas north of Mitrovica and other Serb areas if the Serbs continue to boycott the registrations?

DE.  Well, we are intensively dialoguing with the various Serb leaders to try to tell them that is in their interest to be counted, to be part of the process, to not exclude themselves, to not marginalize themselves. In fact, on Friday, we had a huge meeting, relatively huge, in Leposavic with all the leaders from all the various pockets and municipalities with strong Serbs populations, to again convey that message.  Now, their basic objections and reasons for abstention or boycott are security and return of Kosovo Serbs. My reply is: we are working on both. You cannot expect overnight satisfaction and gratification on these two very difficult issues. Security is the concern of the international community and special measures will be taken to improve that very unsatisfactory situation. On returns, it is a stated international interest to see the return take place.  It will not happen overnight that all of them return, but there is hope for a return of some, and hopefully there will be increasing numbers of those who belong here, who are truly Kosovar Serbs. But this was of course our decisive argument. If you want to accelerate, facilitate the return and if you want to have everyone’s interest in your security – the international community and Albanian leaders --then show that you are committed to Kosovo, tell your people to register, commit to being part of society and rebuilding society. If you abstain, if you opt out, your case is not very persuasive. So registration is recognition of your cause. So don’t wait for all your conditions to be met and then register, that’s putting the horse behind the wagon. I should tell you that in the Serb community there is no unanimity. There are at least three factions that have different opinions that came out clearly in Leposavic. Some moderate leaders are seriously considering to enter. So, we have not given up the participation of the Serbs. One big argument which struck the audience in Leposavic was when I said: If you abstain, if you declare you are not part of this society, what do you think the other side will think. We have to commit to the same overall purpose of building Kosovo society. Otherwise, you reinforce an anti Serb stand among the Albanian community. It is very obvious. Extremism feeds extremism. Don’t do it. Be reasonable, be tolerant and join. So we have to see: there are more meetings coming up and we will encourage by all our means the participation of those who truly belong to Kosovo.

Q. Would it be fair to qualify these elections if the Serbs do not participate as a multi-ethnic failures? Can you give us the account of the lunch you had with the publisher of Dita?

D.E.  The elections will be, unless unforeseen complications emerge, fair and free and will be seen as such here and abroad also without Serb participation because, we have the measures in place to make them join the process. If people voluntarily opt out, do not want to join, then it’s their choice and they have to be blamed for it. You cannot hold the elections and their outcome hostage to the attitude of one community. If we get the permission, we move in to Serbia tomorrow with 30 registration points to check the credentials of the Kosovo Serbs who are there. We are ready to open – to reopen in fact in all the areas where Kosovo Serbs reside. So we have it all in place. Even, the CEC – the majority of which is Kosovar Albanian – have just to be helpful opened small window for late entry by Serb parties and Serbs voters. If they refuse, stubbornly, that’s their choice, but the international community cannot say we have not done anything and everything possible to include them.

Q.  Are you going to guard the polling stations with policemen, soldiers, just to avoid any kind of intimidation or murder?

There will be a lot of measures in place, not only for security but also to observe the due process.  We have asked the Council of Europe and other international organisations to come here in sizeable numbers to observe the process, including the whole campaign and the media coverage, and of course, in particular, on the election day. With UNMIK and KFOR we are in constant touch on the security requirements. We have a common joint operational centre, the JOC, of which you will hear a lot of more in the future.  It is in close daily interaction to prepare for whatever is needed at the time of the elections

Q.  (Not recorded)

DE.  There will be a strong international presence. There will be one international in each polling centre for supervision and depending on the security analysis, there will be KFOR and UNMIK in the vicinity of the polling station to make sure that there is no mischief.

Q.  Do you have a number as a minimum turnout figure to give elections credibility?

DE.  Not in the rules or regulation. We have not completed the voter’s list yet. So it’s very hard to give any figure. But I would predict, given the strong interest of the population in the elections, a very high turnout. In the registration, we have now passed the 900,000.  We have five more days to go. We have already seen a very strong interest.

Surely this strong interest is on behalf of the ethnic Albanian population and there must be some municipalities where if there is a mass boycott by Serb voters –who are the majority in that municipality,-- they will end up with a local government of ethnic Albanians.

We have been telling that to the Serbs. Some other communities, I should stress, have very much expressed their interest. The Bosniaks are in the CEC.  The Turkish Community is still debating an official endorsement of registration not because they don’t like registration or elections but because they would like to have some recognition on the language issue. But they are all in favour. The Romas, the Askalli, have all professed their interest in both processes. So all communities are on board – one leg in case of the Turkish Community. It’s only the Serbs who hold out for the reasons that I have mentioned and we are not giving up on trying to convince them to see the light and wake up to realities.

Q.  You said that you have 30 mobile registration centres ready to go across into Serbia.  How close are you to being allowed to go into Serbia?

DE.  Not very close. Belgrade takes a very intransigent position. We are in touch with the president of the committee for cooperation with UNMIK here in town. We had a meeting the other day, but he can’t do better than Belgrade allows him and Belgrade is very negative about anything that helps democracy in Kosovo. In Leposavic, there was a representative of “Now (or no) democracy” from Belgrade who feels that there is an interest in the Serb community to participate. We expect in a follow-up meeting in Gracanica, more people from Belgrade to come and join the discussion.

Q.  By people from Belgrade, do you mean Serb opposition or government parties?  Have you thought about extending the deadline for the Serbs to register and changing the date for elections for them as well?

DE.  The dialogue we have with Belgrade is really a “dialogue de sours”, so it does not come very much further, although we are appealing to the international actors with influence in Belgrade to continue pressing the point. Extending the registration deadline? No. In principle, we will have finished by the 15th. It looks that we have captured a lot of people, except those who have opted out. Now the question is: if there is a significant signal, a convincing one, then the CEC in its own deliberation has said: let’s bend over backwards to bring in the Kosovo Serbs.  So, then we will have to decide what can be done for those particular municipalities and communities. But, basically, we draw the line on the 15th because we have now to compile the voters lists, etc. It has then to go out to all towns and villages publicly so that people can check whether they are on the list or whether there are people on the list that should not be there. So this whole verification of the voters’ lists is quite a process in itself.   Again, it will take easily at least a month. That’s why we have to close books at one time. The civil registration will continue of course. People continue to be born and die and get children. This is what a civil registry is for. The simultaneous voter registration that we are conducting now will finish by that deadline.