UNMIK/PR/543
PRISTINA - The SRSG Hans Haekkerup denied today a report printed in the latest issue of the Economist magazine that he had decided Kosovo-wide elections would only be held in 2002 instead of this year as planned.
“ This report simply is not true,” Mr. Haekkerup said. “ I have always said UNMIK and the OSCE plan to hold elections later this year, and this is still the case. Of course the exact timing of the vote depends on when we finalize the Legal Framework for Kosovo but this is progressing steadily and I intend to have elections this year.”
Mr. Haekkerup noted he had not been approached by any journalist from the Economist nor had he made any statement remotely suggesting a ballot in Kosovo would not take place until next year at the earliest – as alleged by the Economist.