First published in the Koha Ditore on 27 Nov. 2000

Article by NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson This weekend, the people of Kosovo will do what most people across Europe and North America have come to take for granted: elect their own local leadership. This is, by any standards, an important event, because it marks another crucial step in the normalization of life in Kosovo. It is easy to forget how much progress has been made in Kosovo, in a very short time. It has been just eighteen months since NATO's air campaign came to an end, Serb forces withdrew from Kosovo, and KFOR and UNMIK entered to assist returning Kosovars to rebuild their lives. And in that year and a half, almost all aspects of life in Kosovo have improved - sometimes dramatically. The security situation is much better for the vast majority of people. Crime rates have dropped dramatically. There are over 4,000 international police officers in Kosovo. and the Kosovo Police Service has now graduated almost half of the planned strength of 4,000 KPS members. And UNMIK is working very hard to create an unbiased, independent and multi-ethnic judicial system. Reconstruction has been swift and successful. Thousands of homes have been rebuilt, schools have been cleared of mines, bridges and roads have been repaired. Very quickly, the destruction caused by last year's fighting is being repaired, and new buildings and new infrastructure are appearing every day. Perhaps most important, there is enough shelter to ensure that everyone in Kosovo can make it through the coming winter, even better than last year. when there were no deaths due to inadequate housing, Civil society is returning to normal. Almost four hundred thousand children are now in school, being taught in their own language. Newspapers, radio and television are free to tell the truth. And individuals too, are free to gather, to complain, to protest -- to do the things that are normal in a democratic society. This weekend, the people of Kosovo will do what most people across Europe and North America have come to take for granted: elect their own local leadership. This is, by any standards, an important event, because it marks another crucial step in the normalization of life in Kosovo. It is easy to forget how much progress has been made in Kosovo, in a very short time. It has been just eighteen months since NATO's air campaign came to an end, Serb forces withdrew from Kosovo, and KFOR and UNMIK entered to assist returning Kosovars to rebuild their lives. And in that year and a half, almost all aspects of life in Kosovo have improved - sometimes dramatically. The security situation is much better for the vast majority of people. Crime rates have dropped dramatically. There are over 4,000 international police officers in Kosovo, and the Kosovo Police Service has now graduated almost half of the planned strength of 4,000 KPS members. And UNMIK is working very hard to create an unbiased, independent and multi-ethnic judicial system. Reconstruction has been swift and successful. Thousands of homes have been rebuilt, schools have been cleared of mines, bridges and roads have been repaired. Very quickly, the destruction caused by last year's fighting is being repaired, and new buildings and new infrastructure are appearing every day. Perhaps most important, there is enough shelter to ensure that everyone in Kosovo can make it through the coming winter, even better than last year, when there were no deaths due to inadequate housing, Civil society is returning to normal. Almost four hundred thousand children are now in school, being taught in their own language. Newspapers, radio and television are free to tell the truth. And individuals too, are free to gather, to complain, to protest - to do the things that are normal in a democratic society. All of this is major progress. It demonstrates that together, the people of Kosovo and the international community can build a Kosovo that is peaceful, stable, prosperous and democratic. This weekend's elections are an important step in that process. But they are also a crucial test. They are a test of the Kosovar community's ability to assume the responsibilities of democracy, as well as the privileges. What are those responsibilities? First and foremost, elections must be free and fair. All eligible voters must be encouraged to participate. Violence and intimidation have no place in a democratic political process, and Kosovar Albanians should understand that as clearly as anyone. The essence of democracy is that disagreements are expressed through a ballot, not a bullet. This is true both for conflicts among ethnic Albanian political parties and for the Albanian relations with other ethnic groups in Kosovo. KFOR and UNMIK are doing their best to ensure that these elections take place in a secure environment. KFOR has reinforced its presence by four battalions in anticipation of the elections, and will take every measure possible to ensure that all the residents of Kosovo have the opportunity to express themselves democratically. But the ultimate responsibility to ensure the success of these elections lies with the people themselves. Only if the people of Kosovo, and their leaders, choose the path of democracy can long-term peace and prosperity be made irreversible. Second: elections must lead to good local governance. These elections are not a referendum on independence, nor are they a popularity contest. They are a process through which the Kosovar people are choosing the leaders who will be responsible for daily life in Kosovo: for day-to-day administration, for street repair, for transportation, for garbage collection. This is not glamorous work - but it is the bread and butter of a normal society. The true test of Kosovar democracy will be whether the people of Kosovo, who have for over a decade been denied their political rights, will now seize the opportunity to govern themselves. These will not be easy challenges to meet. But Kosovo's future depends on meeting them successfully, because if it is to maintain the support of the international community, Kosovo must be seen to be able to sustain a true democracy: inclusive, peaceful, and effective at local governance. This weekend's election is an important step -- but it is only the first one.