ISG opposes elections in Kosovo

The International Steering Group (ISG) today welcomes UNMIK’s decision to prohibit Serbia from holding local elections in the territory of Kosovo. “ISG supports the stance taken by UNMIK that holding the elections on May 11, 2008, in Serb municipalities in Kosovo would violate UNMIK’s exclusive authority according to the UN Security Council’s Resolution 1244,” a statement from the ISG meeting in Vienna said. ISG opposes elections in Kosovo The meeting was chaired by EU's representative to the province, Pieter Feith, who briefed the group on the situation in Kosovo. The ISG also stated that the recent violence in Kosovo directed towards the international personnel, which led to the tragic death of one UN police officer of March 17, was “completely unacceptable.” “All parties needed to unequivocally condemn such violence and take active measures to prevent a repeat of the incidents,” the ISG said. The statement expressed support "for a multi-ethnic Kosovo" and stated that “institutional separation by ethnic lines will not lead to long-term stability or an improvement in the interest of any of Kosovo’s communities.” “All Kosovo communities need to support the participating in democratic, multi-ethnic institutions and administrations,” the ISG stated. The group, whose set up was rejected by Belgrade, but also Moscow, further stated that it welcomes the “great progress made in the Republic of Kosovo in the first two months of its independence”, and reminded that "Kosovo has been recognized by 40 countries, about a fourth of the EU and NATO and all eight members of the G8". The group stated that the Kosovo leaders have shown “maturity and decisiveness in building new institutions in the new country,” and that the ISG will give full support to make sure that this progress and development is lasting. “We have especially noticed that the Kosovo parliament has adopted 19 related laws, which encompass the priority laws for communities, decentralization and the protection of cultural heritage,” according to the statement. “The Kosovo leaders need to continue working on adopting laws that will lead to a visible improvement in the lives of Kosovo’s citizens,” the ISG stated. The group said it "supported the adoption of the new Kosovo constitution, which meets the highest standards in the filed of human rights and offers widespread protection to all communities that live in Kosovo, especially the Kosovo Serbs.”

ISG opposes elections in Kosovo

The meeting was chaired by EU's representative to the province, Pieter Feith, who briefed the group on the situation in Kosovo.

The ISG also stated that the recent violence in Kosovo directed towards the international personnel, which led to the tragic death of one UN police officer of March 17, was “completely unacceptable.”

“All parties needed to unequivocally condemn such violence and take active measures to prevent a repeat of the incidents,” the ISG said.

The statement expressed support "for a multi-ethnic Kosovo" and stated that “institutional separation by ethnic lines will not lead to long-term stability or an improvement in the interest of any of Kosovo’s communities.”

“All Kosovo communities need to support the participating in democratic, multi-ethnic institutions and administrations,” the ISG stated.

The group, whose set up was rejected by Belgrade, but also Moscow, further stated that it welcomes the “great progress made in the Republic of Kosovo in the first two months of its independence”, and reminded that "Kosovo has been recognized by 40 countries, about a fourth of the EU and NATO and all eight members of the G8".

The group stated that the Kosovo leaders have shown “maturity and decisiveness in building new institutions in the new country,” and that the ISG will give full support to make sure that this progress and development is lasting.

“We have especially noticed that the Kosovo parliament has adopted 19 related laws, which encompass the priority laws for communities, decentralization and the protection of cultural heritage,” according to the statement.

“The Kosovo leaders need to continue working on adopting laws that will lead to a visible improvement in the lives of Kosovo’s citizens,” the ISG stated.

The group said it "supported the adoption of the new Kosovo constitution, which meets the highest standards in the filed of human rights and offers widespread protection to all communities that live in Kosovo, especially the Kosovo Serbs.”