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Security Council backs set of written standards for Kosovo

Security Council backs set of written standards for Kosovo

Council President Amb. Stefan Tafrov
The Security Council today issued its support for a set of written standards launched this week to prepare United Nations-administered Kosovo for final status, including free, fair and regular elections, free media and a sound and impartial legal system.

The Council released a presidential statement indicating support after it received a briefing on Kosovo from the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno.

This month's Council President, Ambassador Stefan Tafrov of Bulgaria, said the Council now awaits the creation of an implementation plan to show how the provisional institutions of self-government in Kosovo are progressing in meeting the standards.

The plan is expected to be finalized by the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Kosovo, Harri Holkeri.

Mr. Tafrov said the Council's further support of the process for determining Kosovo's future status would be shaped by a review of the institutions' progress towards meeting the standards.

The 10-page Standards document covers eight sections: functioning democratic institutions, rule of law, freedom of movement, returns and reintegration, economy, property rights, dialogue with Belgrade and the Kosovo Protection Corps.