YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT TALKS WITH ANNAN ON PHONE

BELGRADE, Oct 23 (Hina) - Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica talked on the phone late on Monday with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan about the situation in Kosovo and the November 17 general vote in the Yugoslav province. Kostunica's office issued a statement saying Annan pointed to the importance of the vote and the participation of Serbs and other non- Albanians in it. The conversation had been initiated by Annan, who expressed "understanding for Serbs' justified objections" to the current situation in Kosovo, the statement said. The UN Secretary General pointed to the need for cooperation between the UN Mission in Kosovo and Yugoslav state bodies in eliminating the causes of the complaints, the statement read. Annan said he would send a special envoy to Yugoslavia so that obligations from Resolution 1244 on Kosovo could be reaffirmed, which could be the only incentive for Serbs to go to the polls, the statement concluded. Kostunica yesterday called on the Yugoslav and Serbian premiers to hold a joint session on Kosovo today and adopt a declaration on the situation in the province and the general vote. (hina) rml