elections for the Kosovo parliament.
After meeting with representatives of the local U.N. Mission, the Kosovo Force, Kosovo institutions and political parties, the Contact Group said in a statement progress was made in the implementation of standards set by the international community.
The statement underlined the importance the international community attached to standards for the protection of minorities.
The Contact Group supported the new U.N. civil administrator in the province, Soren Jessen Petersen, and welcomed the changes he introduced in the relations between the U.N. mission and Kosovo institutions.
The statement read the Contact Group insisted on the building of a multiethnic and democratic society in Kosovo and urged all communities in the province to vote in the October 23 elections. All participants in the election campaign are urged to respect the law and democracy, and prevent political violence.