S/PV.4388 Security Council

The Security Council will now continue its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. Following consultations, among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council welcomes the report of the Secretary-General (S/2001/926) and commends the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the commander of the international security presence (KFOR) for their ongoing efforts to implement fully resolution 1244 (1999). The Security Council welcomes the elections to be held on 17 November as a basis for the establishment of democratic self- governing institutions as specified in the Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self- Government, under which the people of Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, will enjoy substantial autonomy in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999). It emphasizes the responsibility of Kosovo's elected leaders to respect fully the final status provisions of resolution 1244 (1999). It reaffirms its commitment to the full implementation of resolution 1244 (1999), which remains the basis for building Kosovo's future. The Security Council supports the continuing efforts by the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and KFOR to improve public security, including through the confiscation of weapons and the package of legislation to combat violence, and to facilitate the return of displaced Serbs and members of other communities. It calls on Kosovo Albanian leaders to actively support these efforts to promote security and return, and to combat extremism, including terrorist activities. It further calls on all Kosovo leaders to publicly condemn violence and ethnic intolerance. It calls on them to exert all their influence and assume their responsibility for actively ensuring that the campaign and the elections are peaceful, democratic and inclusive. It stresses the need for proper organization and adequate security for the elections on 17 November, and welcomes continuing steps taken in that regard. The Security Council calls on all women and men of Kosovo to vote in the elections of 17 November. This will provide for the broadest possible representation of views in the institutions of the provisional self-government. The Security Council commends the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, particularly President Koštunica, for their encouragement to the Kosovo Serb community to register, which confirms the multi-ethnic character of Kosovo, and calls on them to also actively encourage the fullest possible participation in the vote. It underlines the importance, for the Kosovo Serb community, to integrate in the structures set up by UNMIK. It encourages the further development of a constructive dialogue between UNMIK and the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Security Council will remain actively seized of the matter.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security under the symbol S/PRST/2001/27. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.