Hinting it would be his last address to the United Nations Security Council, SRSG Dr. Bernard Kouchner wished fervently for general elections as soon as possible. ideally, this coming spring. On the other hand, it would be impossible for UNMIK to become involved in organizing in Kosovo Serbian parliamentary elections slated for December 23.

Calling for the process to define substantial autonomy and develop institutions of self-governance to move forward as fast as possible, the SRSG praised the recent municipal elections as "a victory for the burgeoning democracy in Kosovo". With Municipal Assemblies now holding their first sessions following elections the nature of the institutional transfer of responsibilities, especially from appointed holders of posts to those elected, would be the true test of political maturity.

Pointing out that all UNMIK's partners in Pristina and Belgrade agreed that resolution 1244 was the basis for future work, Dr. Kouchner also said there was another element at work: every Kosovo Albanian wanted independence. The paradox meant, he warned, that seeking immediately to resolve the question of a definitive status for Kosovo could rapidly lead to another conflict. "There will be no stability in the Balkans without stability in Kosovo. The stability of Kosovo cannot be limited to Kosovo alone; it must evolve throughout the region," Dr. Kouchner added.

The SRSG said he was convinced that the Kosovars were determined to prove their aptitude for democracy. The Albanians of Kosovo, Kouchner told the Council, welcomed the events in Belgrade as a contribution to regional stability. Nevertheless, they affirmed their determination never again to submit, as in the past, to domination by Belgrade.

But what resolution 1244 guaranteed to them and what Mr. Kostunica had accepted, he underlined, had nothing to do with the situation that prevailed "in the past". In order that the necessary discussions could take place, it was necessary to hold general elections as soon as possible.

UNMIK's own relations with Belgrade had proven very productive. For example, a Belgrade delegation had visited Pristina to discuss at length the problem of Kosovo Albanian prisoners in Serbia. The opening of true and meaningful dialogue, the SRSG emphasized, held great promise for the years ahead.

While he himself was trying to convince the inhabitants of Kosovo of the goodwill of leaders in Belgrade and to allow President Kostunica some time, Dr. Kouchner urged that no one should be allowed to forget-neither how recent the suffering is, nor who suffered. It was the Kosovo Albanians who largely suffered in recent years, he underlined. "Let us welcome democracy in Belgrade, but let us not forget too quickly the months and years that have just gone by."

Meanwhile Kosovo remained a society in crisis, the SRSG reminded the Council. The brutal gunning down of four Ashkalis within 48 hours of returning to Kosovo was but one example of how Kosovo had not yet developed into a peaceful society. Such killings, he continued, represented a "very negative omen for the legitimate return of all communities to their regions of origin".

On the Serbian parliamentary elections planned for 23 December, the SRSG commented that, while no one had yet asked UNMIK to organize those elections in Kosovo, there was no way for it to do so. The OSCE election specialists that had been so effective in October had already departed. Vast security problems remained, requiring NATO troops to be reinforced. a move categorically rejected by most of Kosovo's moderate leadership. There were no Serbs on electoral rolls, no international or European regulations applied and there were many legal, political and psychological aspects.

In response, several Council members recalled the progress since 1999 when many Kosovars had been "cast on the roads or had chosen the path of exile". Results far exceeded the original expectations. The recent municipal elections had been a new and important step in the implementation of resolution 1244.

Looking ahead, Ambassador Anwarul Karim Chowdhury of Bangladesh and Head of the Security Council mission to Kosovo last April, fully agreed with the SRSG's proposals for UNMIK's next moves set out in a briefing note submitted to the Council (see box).

Replying for the United States, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke strongly supported the SRSG's call for Kosovo-wide elections as soon as possible. elections that should include the participation of all groups in Kosovo. The United States would continue to press for early elections: "The longer we wait, the more difficult it will be to conduct them, and the more likely they will turn on the wrong sets of issues."

For the European Union (EU), Ambassador Levitte of France reminded Council members how things were in "year zero". the economy shattered, many houses destroyed, administrative structures no longer in existence. Today, private initiatives were backing up the massive international aid effort to ensure that reconstruction was successfully completed. The EU role was decisive: tens of thousands of houses rebuilt, outdated industries being brought up to standard, a budget established, as well as a legal framework promoting recovery of economic activity.

The EU representative hailed UNMIK's initiatives to enable members of the Serb community and other minority groups to live at home and in peace. All inhabitants of Kosovo should be able to live together on their shared land. That meant, said the EU statement, the return of Serb, Roma and other minority refugees. "A multi-ethnic, democratic and prosperous Kosovar society, united in respect for rights and identity of all, is now, more than ever before, the express aspiration of the international community."

Representing the Russian Federation, Mr. Gatilov regretted that resolution 1244 was still being implemented in "an incomplete and unsatisfactory manner". He called for a specific dialogue between Kosovar and Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) leaders. This would include normalization of relations between FRY, UNMIK and KFOR, measures for the international presences to reaffirm the sovereignty of FRY and steps to curb separatism in Kosovo.

More moderate, the FRY Representative, Mr. Mladenovic, noted that resolution 1244 could not be implemented without active participation of his Government. FRY's priority within the resolution was to address still unresolved basic problems rather than undertake political negotiations on Kosovo's final status.