The Council of Europe said Tuesday hailed the outcome of Kosovo's first post-war elections as an important step towards democracy in the region.
Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer said in a statement that the landslide victory of Ibrahim Rugova's moderate Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) and the recognition from the opposition were "positive signs for democratic stabilization in Kosovo".
Schwimmer also said that Sunday's municipal elections had been carried out in a calm and peaceful atmosphere.
The LDK won 58 percent of the vote in first-ever free municipal elections against nearly 27 percent for the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) of Hashim Thaci. Ninety percent of the electorate voted.
"The victory of moderate forces led by Ibrahim Rogova and the announcement by Hashim Thaci that his party will cooperate with those forces in municipal bodies, are positive signs for democratic stabilization in Kosovo," said Schwimmer -- STRASBOURG (AFP)
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