UN peacekeeping chief to arrive in Belgrade

UN head of peacekeeping operations Jean Marie Guehenno says the UN wants to have peace and stability in the Balkans as its legacy. After the meeting with the Serb representatives in Kosovska Mitrovica, Guehenno said that "law and order must be respected, and problems solved in non-violent ways". UN peacekeeping chief to arrive in Belgrade "There must be no violence and I think that is the only way for everyone to move forward. Not only the Serbs – all of us", he was quoted as saying. The French diplomat met with Serb municipal presidents from the north of the province and said he welcomed the desire for laws to be implemented, and for Resolution 1244 to remain in force. "I believe we must all work in a practical manner, based on Resolution 1244, because that is what the people of Kosovo need," Guehenno said. After the meeting, Zubin Potok municipal chief Slavisa Ristic said he told the senior UN official that "the only cause of violence and threats to security in northern Kosovo came with the international community and UNMIK's attempts to set up institutions of an independent Kosovo". "We pointed out to our commitment to Resolution 1244, and that we demonstrate this in our municipalities. We said that, naturally, we expect the UNMIK-Belgrade talks to establish a judicial system under our country's jurisdiction – not that of the state of Kosovo, which we will never recognize," Ristic was adamant. Guehenno was in Pristina last night where he said that "in this important period we must all work to avoid any situation that could lead to violence. We must work on establishing a basis for economic development, that will lead to reconciliation and peace". He held a joint meeting with UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker and Kosovo's leaders, Fatmir Sejdiu and Hashim Thaci. The diplomat did not provide any concrete answers when asked what the future UN role in the province will be, but said talks with EU representatives were "ongoing". "We continue Kosovo discussions in the Security Council, as well as with EU representatives in order to ensure peace and stability and implementation of Resolution 1244," he said, and added the resolution's mandate applied to the whole territory of Kosovo. In a joint news conference with Sejdiu, Kosovo's president, Guehenno did not give any deadlines for the UN to leave the province. Sejdiu told reporters that the meeting discussed "future international presence in Kosovo". "We especially talked about clarifying UNMIK's operations according to Resolution 1244, during the transfer of power in the period of the arrival of the international civilian mission to Kosovo," he was quoted as saying. Guehenno is expected in Belgrade later today. Guehenno in Kosovska Mitrovica today (FoNet)

UN peacekeeping chief to arrive in Belgrade

"There must be no violence and I think that is the only way for everyone to move forward. Not only the Serbs – all of us", he was quoted as saying.

The French diplomat met with Serb municipal presidents from the north of the province and said he welcomed the desire for laws to be implemented, and for Resolution 1244 to remain in force.

"I believe we must all work in a practical manner, based on Resolution 1244, because that is what the people of Kosovo need," Guehenno said.

After the meeting, Zubin Potok municipal chief Slaviša Ristić said he told the senior UN official that "the only cause of violence and threats to security in northern Kosovo came with the international community and UNMIK's attempts to set up institutions of an independent Kosovo".

"We pointed out to our commitment to Resolution 1244, and that we demonstrate this in our municipalities. We said that, naturally, we expect the UNMIK-Belgrade talks to establish a judicial system under our country's jurisdiction – not that of the state of Kosovo, which we will never recognize," Ristić was adamant.

Guehenno was in Priština last night where he said that "in this important period we must all work to avoid any situation that could lead to violence. We must work on establishing a basis for economic development, that will lead to reconciliation and peace".

He held a joint meeting with UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker and Kosovo's leaders, Fatmir Sejdiu and Hashim Thaci.

The diplomat did not provide any concrete answers when asked what the future UN role in the province will be, but said talks with EU representatives were "ongoing".

"We continue Kosovo discussions in the Security Council, as well as with EU representatives in order to ensure peace and stability and implementation of Resolution 1244," he said, and added the resolution's mandate applied to the whole territory of Kosovo.

In a joint news conference with Sejdiu, Kosovo's president, Guehenno did not give any deadlines for the UN to leave the province.

Sejdiu told reporters that the meeting discussed "future international presence in Kosovo".

"We especially talked about clarifying UNMIK's operations according to Resolution 1244, during the transfer of power in the period of the arrival of the international civilian mission to Kosovo," he was quoted as saying.

Guehenno is expected in Belgrade later today.