United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the successful conduct of elections for the Assembly of Kosovo and called on the Kosovo authorities to remain committed to strengthening democracy, the rule of law and the protection of human rights of all in Kosovo. According to the statement issued by the Spokesman for the Secretary-General, the Secretary-General is encouraged by the preliminary positive reports from local and international observers as well as the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) of the smooth and orderly conduct of the elections and broad public participation throughout Kosovo. The Secretary General “looks forward to a renewed high-level engagement by Belgrade and Pristina in the European Union-facilitated dialogue, once the new leadership is in place in Pristina. The United Nations and UNMIK will continue to support this important engagement”, the statement from the United Nations in New York says.