LOCAL INT'L LEADERS ADDRESS KOSOVO PEOPLE AHEAD OF NEW YEAR

PRISTINA, Dec 30 (Hina) - International officials in Kosovo on Monday released New Year's messages to the local people, with the U.N. civil administrator saying the Kosovo population should all be proud of the progress that was made this year, while the head of the OSCE Mission urged political leaders to show courage and fully dedicate themselves to democratisation and reconciliation. #L# U.N. civil administrator Michael Steiner called on the Kosovo people to resolutely face the challenges ahead, saying that together with the United Nations civil administration they were part of an ambitious and noble enterprise -- turning Kosovo into a place whose residents lived well and dignified. Nobody expects that to be easy or achieved overnight, Steiner said. He recalled that Kosovo had done a lot but had to do much more yet. The head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission, Pascal Fieschi, said that without strong dedication and determination towards the conciliation of all communities, progress towards normal living for the common people in Kosovo was not possible. The ambassador said he was confident that at the start of 2003 Kosovo's political leaders would have to accept the challenge and take brave steps. Fieschi added he strongly believed the people of Kosovo would do what was necessary to take the road leading to the European community. (hina) ha