Local Elections in Kosovo No:206 - November 4, 2000 The Statement of Prime Minister Ecevit Regarding the EU Accession Partnership Document and Cyprus November 11, 2000 La proposition de loi sur le soi-disant génocide arménien, adoptée par le Sénat de la République française No: 210;Le 8 November 2000 "Turkish Accession Partnership" Prepared by EU Commission (Unofficial Translation) No:211 - November 8, 2000 Statement By The Government 0f The Republic 0f Turkey On The "Turkish Accession Partnership" Prepared By The Eu Commission (Unofficial Translation) November 9, 2000 Political Consultations Between Turkish and Danish Ministries of Foreign Affairs No:213 - November 13, 2000 IV. Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Ministres of Foreign Affairs No:214 - November 14, 2000 The Consultations Meeting Between Turkey And Lithuania No:216 - November 15, 2000 Morillon Report Regarding Turkey´s Progress Towards Accession No:217 - November 15, 2000 The European Conference to be held in Sochaux Montbeliard, France November 23, 2000 The Bomb Attack Against A Bus In Hadera No:230 - November 23, 2000 Press Statement of Prime Minister H.E. Bülent Ecevit (Unofficial Translation) November 24, 2000 Accession Partnership Document for Turkey of the EU Commission No:231 - November 25, 2000
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Local Elections in Kosovo No:206 - November 4, 2000

According to the unofficial and preliminary results, Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) headed by Mr. Ibrahim Rugova has won the municipal elections in Kosovo held on 28 October 2000, by obtaning 60% of the votes.

The fact that the municipal elections were held in a peaceful atmosphere and that Albanians who constitute the majority of the Kosovo population exercised their democratic right to vote for the first time in many years have been positive developments.

However, majority of the Turks, Serbs, Roma and Gora living in Kosovo did not participate in the elections, each for different reasons. We consider it a significant deficiency in terms of both the representative nature of the election results and the efforts toward establishing a pluralistic and participatory democracy in Kosovo.

Kosovar Turks have rightfully reacted to the fact that Turkish had been deprived of an equal status with Albanian and Serbian languages used in the forms for the registration process under the coordination of UNMIK, giving ground for concern arguing that Kosovar Turks' acquired rights were disregarded. Following UNMIK's promise to take necessary measures before the elections in order to overcome this problem, the representatives of the Kosovar Turks have declared that they might take part in the elections. However, since UNMIK did not take the necessary steps in time, the Kosovar Turks could not participate in the elections.

Therefore, in order to compensate, to a certain extent, the loss of Kosovar Turks' right to participate in the elections, we hope that the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Kosovo will exercise his discretionary power to appoint to the Municipal Assemblies the candidates from the legitimate political party of the Kosovar Turks, that is the Turkish Democratic Union (TDU). Should this request of the Kosovar Turks be met, it will constitute a major step forward towards the proper involvement of Kosovar Turks in the political life of Kosovo.

Having supported the UNSCR 1244 from the very outset, Turkey wishes to see the reinstallation of a lasting peace in Kosovo as well as the establishment of a democratic order based on equality, tolerance, solidarity and cooperation, which will protect the rights of the Turkish minority and those of other national communities at the highest level. Turkey directs her efforts in this vain, making use of every opportunity at all levels.

Turkey also hopes that the final status of Kosovo, which is directly linked to the peace and stability in the region, be determined through negotiations among all parties carried on the basis of common interest and acquired minority rights.