Thank you, Madame Chairperson and thank you, Ambassador Everts, for the insights you shared with us today. I would like to congratulate you again, as well as your colleagues, for your hard work and dedication over the past year.

Our views on the October 28 elections are clear. We circulated a statement last week reflecting that, but I would like to reaffirm the key conclusions: the elections were free and fair; they were conducted peacefully, transparently, and in accordance with international standards; and they were a key step in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

We recognized all along these elections would not be perfect, from either a political or a technical standpoint. But they were credible, representative, and they served as a crucial early step on Kosovo's path toward further democratization.

Many observers have focused on the problems and flaws and challenges encountered before the elections, as well as on election day. I would encourage you and your colleagues to accept these critiques constructively and to seek to take steps to correct the problems that have been identified.

In that spirit - and that is a constructive spirit - there are two suggestions I would like to offer. The first is that you take all necessary steps to continue to build a relationship of cooperation and trust and teamwork between your mission and UNMiK's Pillar II. These two bodies are obliged by UNSCR 1244 to work closely together on some of the most critical challenges that remain. Specifically, I would urge you to take steps to work closely and constructively with Pillar II on issues such as updating and maintaining the voter registration list, assisting municipal councils as they get up and running, and modifying as necessary the election rules for those elections that will take place in the future.

The second recommendation I would offer is to undertake a formal "lessons learned" exercise, and to draw directly from those lessons learned when the time comes to prepare for future elections.

Now that the election results have been certified, we welcome the intention to hold the inaugural municipal assembly meetings on November 11. It is a positive development, both to the international community, and to the people in Kosovo, that Kosovo's residents will now be able to take fuller responsibility for their local affairs.

We are pleased that most Kosovar Serb representatives have agreed to respect the election results, and remain hopeful that moderate Serb voices will accept appointment to, and participate in, municipal assemblies.

The idea has been raised of possibly re-running municipal elections in the Serb-majority municipalities. We would support that, if Kosovar Serbs are committed to participating in elections under the same terms and conditions as the 28 October elections, and if no unacceptable logistical obstacles emerge.

Holding successful municipal elections was a major milestone, but the hard work of implementation, institution building, and self-governance continues. We support OMiK's efforts to build local institutions and train local professionals, as well as the development of civil society and non-governmental organizations.

We believe two very successful areas of OMiK's mandate, police training and media development, should be highlighted. The police school's target goal of basic training for 4200 police cadets will be completed next spring, with graduating classes that represent the gender and ethnic mix of a multi-ethnic Kosovo. The Media Department's efforts to support both independent media and the public broadcaster, as well as to bring effective media regulations into force, have also been remarkably successful.

I would also like to cite notable Mission accomplishments in other mandate areas, such as creation of the Ombudsman institution, the ongoing work of the Kosovo Law Center and the Kosovo Judicial Institute, and the tireless work of the regional centers and field offices to meet the Mission's mandate across the board.

The United States will continue to lend its full support to the Mission in Kosovo, and to you, as you continue to meet the challenges of fulfilling the Mission's mandate.

Thank you.