Dispatch of Electoral Observers to the Kosovo-Wide Elections

November 2, 2001

1. In accordance with the International Peace Cooperation Law, the Government of Japan has decided to dispatch six electoral observers (four from the private and two from the public sector) to Kosovo from November 11 (Sun) to 21 (Thu) to ensure that the Kosovo-Wide Elections to be held on November 17 (Sat) are conducted in a free and fair manner.
   
   
2. The Council of Europe, which organizes international electoral observer groups, requested the Government of Japan in September to dispatch electoral observers to the Kosovo-Wide Elections. The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) will organize the elections, while the Council of Europe will observe the elections, independently from the United Nations, to ensure its fairness and impartiality.
   
   
3. The Government of Japan, under its policy to extend utmost cooperation to the efforts of the international community to democratize and stabilize Kosovo, responded on November 2 to the request to dispatch electoral observers by deciding at a Cabinet meeting to conduct international peace cooperation activities in Kosovo as well as adopting the implementation plan for the operations related Cabinet orders, based on the International Peace Cooperation Law.