UNMIK/PR/1800
PRISTINA – UNMIK SRSG Farid Zarif, during a visit to northern Kosovo where he met a wide range of political actors, stated: “Diligent efforts must be sustained to ensure conditions for a free and fair process of local elections in northern Kosovo. There is ample room for optimism as long as principles of tolerance, mutual respect, and non-violence are upheld during the electoral campaign."
SRSG Zarif emphasised the need for all stakeholders to respect the opinions of others and to foster a spirit of democracy in which decisions will be made freely by each individual.
“No act of intimidation or coercion will be condoned or tolerated, and any anti-democratic acts will be condemned. I was gratified during my meetings to hear leaders from all sides make this commitment to me explicitly,” SRSG Zarif said, adding, “All communities and their leaders in northern Kosovo must remain committed to civilised conduct and to pursue their objectives in a peaceful and democratic manner.”
SRSG Zarif expressed his conviction that the population in Kosovo will exercise their democratic right by taking active part in the electoral process.
