As our Council colleagues witnessed firsthand, the situation in Kosovo, although improving, continues to be extremely difficult. There unquestionably continues to be a security gap in Kosovo. We believe that the report makes important recommendations in this regard. Additional international judges and resources for the judicial sector will help make fair trials and effective criminal prosecution the rule rather than the exception in all of Kosovo. These efforts must be expedited.
Municipal elections are an important first step.
These elections must go ahead as scheduled this fall and we were pleased to see that the mission observed voter registration under way in Kosovo and pledge our continued support for this project. As High Representative Petritsch noted in Tuesday's meeting on Bosnia, economic reform is also crucial. It will support those leaders in Kosovo willing to speak out against violence and to reject the politics of ethnic hatred. Economic revitalization will also help reinforce programs aimed at promoting the return of refugees and displaced persons, an understandable priority for the Kosovar Serb community. I would note my own country's considerable efforts in this area, to which we have devoted significant resources.