K. Albanians "happy with Ban report"

Kosovo's Albanian institutions have appraised Ban Ki-Moon's latest report positively, Beta news agency says. However, they will ask for the UN mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, to end its mandate, the agency quotes the Albanian language media in Pristina. K. Albanians "happy with Ban report" The UN secretary-general's report, due to be presented to the Security Council on March 23, is described as "objective", but, the media says, "it is important for the Security Council to understand that UNMIK's continued mandate in an independent Kosovo makes no sense". Kosovo's president's spokesman Dzavit Beqiri told daily Zeri that "it would be good for the UN mission in Kosovo to end its mandate as a successful mission that has performed important activities". He added that it is now important that "Kosovo's institutions have powers and that they decide for themselves on the fate of the country". Meanwhile, the government in Pristina said that neither UNSRC 1244 nor the UN mission "make any sense in an independent Kosovo". "Resolution 1244 has no significance any longer, because the reality on the ground is completely different. EULEX is in Kosovo with the invitation of Kosovo's institutions," said spokesman Memli Krasniqi. The Kosovo Albanian government will be represented at the UN Security Council session by its foreign minister, Skender Hyseni. According to reports, Ban's document states that security in the province "has improved", despite a string of incidents, mainly in the Serb-dominated north. The UN secretary-general also stated that the UN mission "works under difficult circumstances", since the Albanian institutions consider its mandate to have expired.

K. Albanians "happy with Ban report"

The UN secretary-general's report, due to be presented to the Security Council on March 23, is described as "objective", but, the media says, "it is important for the Security Council to understand that UNMIK's continued mandate in an independent Kosovo makes no sense".

Kosovo's president's spokesman Dzavit Beqiri told daily Zeri that "it would be good for the UN mission in Kosovo to end its mandate as a successful mission that has performed important activities".

He added that it is now important that "Kosovo's institutions have powers and that they decide for themselves on the fate of the country".

Meanwhile, the government in Priština said that neither UNSRC 1244 nor the UN mission "make any sense in an independent Kosovo".

"Resolution 1244 has no significance any longer, because the reality on the ground is completely different. EULEX is in Kosovo with the invitation of Kosovo's institutions," said spokesman Memli Krasniqi.

The Kosovo Albanian government will be represented at the UN Security Council session by its foreign minister, Skender Hyseni.

According to reports, Ban's document states that security in the province "has improved", despite a string of incidents, mainly in the Serb-dominated north.

The UN secretary-general also stated that the UN mission "works under difficult circumstances", since the Albanian institutions consider its mandate to have expired.