United Nations chief Ban travels to Kosovo

BELGRADE UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has arrived in Pristina from Belgrade this Tuesday, where he is meeting with representatives of the UN mission, UNMIK. He also conferred with officials of the Kosovo authorities and those from international and regional organizations. United Nations chief Ban travels to Kosovo Later in the day, the UN chief is scheduled to visit the UNESCO World Heritage List Serb Orthodox monastery in Decani, and the town of Prizren. Ban sid on Tuesday that UNMIK still had an important role in Kosovo, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1244, stressing that he expected the authorities in Pristina to normalize relations with Belgrade. "The EU has taken over the leading role in international efforts in the region. The UN will continue to work with all the international partners in achieving the common goals of the people in Kosovo and the wider region," Ban stated. After landing in Pristina, Ban met separately with Kosovo President Atifeta Jahjaga and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, while members of the radical ethnic Albanian Self-Determination movement organized a protest in the center of the city because of his visit. The protest was held outside the UNMIK headquarters, with those gathered demanding that the UN mission leave Kosovo. Since the protesters did not disperse, the Kosovo special police intervened and broke up the crowd. Speaking in Pristina, Ban said he expected "a normalization of Pristina's relations with Belgrade, including equal seriousness and sincere commitment to dialogue". He added that he had asked the Serbian authorities to do the same. Stressing the significance of mutual respect and continuation of the dialogue towards a peaceful and prosperous future, Ban underscored he was concerned over the escalation of violence in northern Kosovo in the past year and stated that northern Kosovo was a complex issue that had to be addressed through talks. He called on both sides to take a more serious approach to missing persons, because it was key to mutual respect. Ban advocated the protection of minority, democratic rights and strengthening of the democratic institutions in Kosovo. According to a Tanjug news agency report, Ban said he was in Pristina "to work on protecting national communities and cultural heritage". Earlier this month, as he was announcing his tour of the western Balkans, Ban told correspondents of local media reporting from New York that his visit to Kosovo would be taking part "in the wider context of his visit to the region, and in line with (UN Security Council) Resolution 1244). He added that the UN had a mission in Kosovo, and that it was his duty to meet with its personnel. Meanwhile, the Pristina government's Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi was quoted as saying that Ban's visit to Kosovo was "reflecting a new political reality". In Belgrade on Monday, Ban met with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, Interior Minister and Deputy PM in the outgoing government and future PM Ivica Dacic, and FM and future UN General Assembly President Vuk Jeremic. He also met with the leader of the Democratic Party (DS), Boris Tadic. Jeremic organized a reception in honor of the UN secretary-general in Belgrade late on Monday. Ban's tour of the region will conclude with his trips to Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Ban Ki-moon (Tanjug) B92 Tanjug

United Nations chief Ban travels to Kosovo

Later in the day, the UN chief is scheduled to visit the UNESCO World Heritage List Serb Orthodox monastery in Dečani, and the town of Prizren.

Ban sid on Tuesday that UNMIK still had an important role in Kosovo, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1244, stressing that he expected the authorities in Priština to normalize relations with Belgrade.

"The EU has taken over the leading role in international efforts in the region. The UN will continue to work with all the international partners in achieving the common goals of the people in Kosovo and the wider region," Ban stated.

After landing in Priština, Ban met separately with Kosovo President Atifeta Jahjaga and Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, while members of the radical ethnic Albanian Self-Determination movement organized a protest in the center of the city because of his visit.

The protest was held outside the UNMIK headquarters, with those gathered demanding that the UN mission leave Kosovo.

Since the protesters did not disperse, the Kosovo special police intervened and broke up the crowd.

Speaking in Priština, Ban said he expected "a normalization of Priština's relations with Belgrade, including equal seriousness and sincere commitment to dialogue".

He added that he had asked the Serbian authorities to do the same.

Stressing the significance of mutual respect and continuation of the dialogue towards a peaceful and prosperous future, Ban underscored he was concerned over the escalation of violence in northern Kosovo in the past year and stated that northern Kosovo was a complex issue that had to be addressed through talks.

He called on both sides to take a more serious approach to missing persons, because it was key to mutual respect.

Ban advocated the protection of minority, democratic rights and strengthening of the democratic institutions in Kosovo. According to a Tanjug news agency report, Ban said he was in Priština "to work on protecting national communities and cultural heritage".

Earlier this month, as he was announcing his tour of the western Balkans, Ban told correspondents of local media reporting from New York that his visit to Kosovo would be taking part "in the wider context of his visit to the region, and in line with (UN Security Council) Resolution 1244).

He added that the UN had a mission in Kosovo, and that it was his duty to meet with its personnel.

Meanwhile, the Priština government's Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi was quoted as saying that Ban's visit to Kosovo was "reflecting a new political reality".

In Belgrade on Monday, Ban met with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić, Interior Minister and Deputy PM in the outgoing government and future PM Ivica Dačić, and FM and future UN General Assembly President Vuk Jeremić.

He also met with the leader of the Democratic Party (DS), Boris Tadić.

Jeremić organized a reception in honor of the UN secretary-general in Belgrade late on Monday.

Ban's tour of the region will conclude with his trips to Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.