1. Turkish Foreign Ministry has been making intensive efforts to encourage United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to take measures for the recognition and implementation of Kosovar Turks' rights which were registered by the 1974 Kosovo Constitution.

2. As will be recalled, Kosovar Turks has rightly voiced their reaction to UNMIK since the Turkish language was not equally used with Albanian and Serbian languages in the forms of civil and voter registration which was conducted with the coordination of UNMIK. When their efforts resulted in failure, they chose not to participate in the registration and in the upcoming local elections in Kosovo. In addition, they reacted strongly as UNMIK ignored their acquired rights granted by the 1974 Kosovo Constitution.

3. In the light of this development, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem sent a letter to the General Secretary of United Nations with the request that the situation be improved. The contents of this letter were brought to the attention of his relevant NATO counterparts.

Subsequently, upon the invitation of Foreign Minister Cem, consultations took place in Ankara with the representatives of Kosovar Turks. Right after these consultations, Mr. Bernard Kouchner, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, was invited to Turkey to discuss the matter.

Recently, during Foreign Minister Cem's meeting in New York with UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary General's contribution towards finding a settlement based on the mutual understanding reached at the Ankara meeting was requested.

4. As a consequence of the efforts and contacts carried out by the Turkish Foreign Ministry and Kosovar Turks, an official text comprising the commitments of UNMIK to Kosovar Turks was sent by Dr. Kouchner's cover letter of 15 September 2000 to the Chairman of the Turkish Democratic Union Party, Mr. Mahir Yağcılar.

5. The document dated 4 August 2000 and entitled "To the Turkish Community" includes that:

a) UNMIK is taking steps to guarantee the Kosovar Turkish community's rights as referred to in the 1974 Kosovo Constitution;

b) UNMIK reaffirms the equality of the Turkish community with the Albanian community, the Serbian community and all other communities, including the equality of their languages. This principle will be put into effect and ensured by UNMIK regulations;

c) UNMIK regulations shall be issued in Turkish as well where the Turkish community lives;

d) For members of the Turkish community, UNMIK shall issue ID cards with the legend also in Turkish language;

e) Within the municipalities where the Turkish community lives, the members of the Turkish community shall have the right to instruction in the Turkish language within the framework of the general education system of Kosovo;

f) UNMIK is committed that the members of the Turkish community will be ensured to fully and fairly participate in the preparatory arrangements for the establishment of provisional institutions in Kosovo.

6. We also welcome this document which was found satisfactory and consented to by the Turkish community. Its implementation will be closely followed up by Turkey.

7. Turkey will continue to support UNMIK in the implementation of the UNSC Resolution 1244 and make efforts for and contribute to the security, stability and welfare of Kosovo.