Annan Extends Envoys' Mandate Amid Unstable Situation in BalkansCiting worrying signs of instability in the Balkans, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday extended the mandate of his two special envoys to the region through mid-2001.In a letter to the president of the Security Council, Annan pointed out that since their appointment as his special envoys for the Balkans, Carl Bildt and Eduard Kukan have maintained contacts with the governments in the region as well as those seeking to promote peace and stability there. "At this delicate juncture, it would seem especially useful for my special envoys for the Balkans to pursue their contacts with governments and other actors who may be in a position to help calm an atmosphere, which, if further aggravated, could have serious repercussions for the region," the U.N. chief said. Over the course of their work, the special envoys have provided advice to the secretary-general, represented him at various regional meetings, and periodically briefed the Security Council in informal consultations and in open debates. Carl Bildt, a former Swedish prime minister, and Eduard Kukan, the foreign minister of Slovakia, were initially named as special envoys on May 7, 1999. |
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