UN Still Faces Challenges In Kosovo

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, June 11, 2003

UN Still Faces Challenges In Kosovo

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Four years into the UN mission's mandate in Kosovo, much remains to be done in developing provisional democratic self-governing institutions and ensuring conditions for a peaceful and normal life for all inhabitants, a top United Nations official said Tuesday.

Briefing the Security Council on Kosovo, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hedi Annabi said there have been successes during the four-year UN administration of the Serbian province.

The successes include reconstruction of basic infrastructure, restarting of services for the public such as schools, a growing professional local police and judiciary, three successful elections and the establishment of municipal and central level self-government bodies, he said.

Annabi noted the remaining challenges, including freedom of movement, meaningful minority participation and the return of displaced minorities to Kosovo.

The development of local bodies and dialogue between Serbia andKosovo is also a major concern, he added.

He described a recent murder of a Serb family as a setback in ethnic reconciliation in the mainly-Muslim region.

"The fact that we still have some way to go was highlighted in the most horrific way recently -- with the tragic murder of three Kosovo Serb residents in Obilic Municipality on June 4," Annabi said.

Last week, Kosovo firefighters were called out to a burning house in which they found an 80-year-old man, his 78-year-old wifeand their 53-year-old son beaten to death in their beds.

Annabi said the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) had taken a number of concrete steps to find and bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

Though UNMIK has seen many successes in Kosovo in the last fouryears, political pressure on the mission has increased, with attempts to challenge its role, he noted.

The Provisional Institutions, particularly the Kosovo Assembly,have overstepped their competence on a number of occasions, he said.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Efforts Urged to Frame China's Long-time Plan on Science,Technology ( 7 Messages)

Global Warming Troubles Qinghai-Tibet Railway Construction ( 7 Messages)

US Planning Historic Shift of Military Power Abroad: Report ( 26 Messages)

'Haven't got lost!': China's 1st SARS Patient out of Shadow ( 3 Messages)

Hu, Bush Pledge to Further Develop Constructive Ties of Cooperation ( 6 Messages)

G8 Meeting Urged to Highlight Water Issue in Africa ( 9 Messages)