Japan's Assistance for the Kosovo-Wide Elections

October 17, 2001

1. In order to assist the fair implementation of the Kosovo-Wide Elections, which will be held on November 17, the Government of Japan, on the basis of the International Peace Cooperation Law, has decided to prepare for a dispatch of election monitors from around mid-to late November to the international election monitoring activities conducted by the Council of Europe (CE).
   
   
2. In addition, the Government of Japan has decided to dispatch two Balkan specialists from around late October until the end of November to the Organization for Security and Co-operation of Europe (OSCE) Kosovo Mission, which conducts the elections under the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).
   
   
3. In addition to these personnel contributions, as financial assistance Japan has decided to extend about 270,000 U.S. dollars (approximately 32,500,000 yen) through the United Nations Human Security Fund to the UNMIK, which will conduct election PR activities aimed at the ethnic minority citizens.
   
   
4. The elections are to elect members to the Kosovo Assembly, and are important since a provisional self-government will be established in Kosovo after the elections. Japan will continuously cooperate for the establishment of a democratic and multi-ethnic society in Kosovo.