The statement came as Chen Xu, representative of the Chinese mission to the United Nations, took the floor at an Security Council open meeting, which began on the afternoon of November 14.

"We welcome the smooth holding of the elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina," said the Chinese representative, who also voiced his appreciation of the large amount of work done by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other parties concerned for this elections.

The holding of the elections, which began on November 11, is also "the result of the joint efforts by the three sides of Bosnia and Herzegovina," he said, referring to Serbs, Croatians and Muslims, the three main ethnic groups that make up the former Yugoslav republic.

"This is an important step in the peace process in Bosnia and Herzegovina," Chen said. "It is our hope that the elections will help Bosnia and Herzegovina achieve the self-reliance and self-sustainability at an early date."

Earlier, Jean-Marie Guehenno, UN under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations, told the open council meeting that "the elections took place in conditions of safety and security."

"Final certification of the elections results is not expected before November 17," Guehenno said.

Some 2.5 million citizens were registered to vote in the elections, organized by OSCE, monitored by 760 international supervisors and 5,500 local monitors. An estimated 70 percent of registered voters in and out of the country cast their ballots.

(People's Daily 11/15/2000)