Improving ethnic relations in Kosovo must be post-election priority - UN envoy

On the heels of this weekend's assembly elections in Kosovo, the senior United Nations envoy there called for the swift formation of a new government once the polling results are finalized.

Søren Jessen-Petersen, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, described the election of lawmakers to the 120-member Kosovo Assembly as "a turning point" for the province, which has been under UN administration since June 1999.

"We must listen to the voices of those who voted, and respect their verdict. Kosovo and its people are the winners, and no one who wants a better future for Kosovo should consider himself or herself a loser," he said in a statement issued in Pristina.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has announced preliminary results from the election, with final results expected to be certified shortly.

Calling for the establishment of a new government once the final results are released, Mr. Jessen-Petersen said one of its priorities must be to implement the Standards, a series of eight UN-set benchmarks that include upholding the rule of law and encouraging greater dialogue and better relations with Belgrade.

Voter turnout among the province's Serb population was comparatively low, and the envoy stressed that more harmonious ethnic relations must be a key goal.

"We must now work with the legitimate representatives of all communities, and we must also reach out to those who decided not to vote or who felt intimidated not to cast their ballots," he said.