[ALBSA-Info] Kosova elections - November 17

[Iris Pilika]

U.N. sets out Kosovo autonomy plan

May 14, 2001
Web posted at: 1923 GMT


PRISTINA, Kosovo (CNN) -- The United Nations' special representative in 
Kosovo has announced measures for the international body to step back from 
its governing role in the province.

In a televised address Monday night to the people of Kosovo, U.N. Special 
Representative Hans Haekkerup set November 17 as the date for elections.

Haekkerup also outlined the constitutional framework that will transfer 
power from the international body to the people of Kosovo.

"It's very important to move the political process forward so that the 
Kosovars themselves take care of the day-to-day problems of the citizens," 
Haekkerup told CNN after the announcement. "I think that will actually 
contribute to reduce violence here."

The announcement is the latest in a series of provisions set up by U.N. 
Resolution 1244 to provide autonomy for the province.

Under the new step, the people of Kosovo will vote for a 120-member assembly 
that will choose the president of the region.

"What's really exciting is that there are real provisions made for the 
minority community," said Stacia Philips-Deshishku, spokeswoman for the U.N. 
Mission in Kosovo.

Philips-Deshishku said 10 seats on the assembly would be set aside for the 
Serb community and 10 seats for minority groups, including Ashkali, 
Egyptian, Turkish, Bosniac and Gorani.

Voters will determine who wins the rest of the 120 seats.

Haekkerup has met with leaders from the Kosovar Albanian and Serb 
communities to set up the process of government.

After the new government is formed, the United Nations will retain its role 
in policing the region.

Kosovo, a province of Yugoslav Federal Republic of Serbia, has been under 
U.N. and NATO control since 1999, when a bombing campaign by the Western 
alliance forced Yugoslav troops to end a crackdown on ethnic Albanians.



_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com