Ban greeted the announcement of dialogue on Kosovo
He believes the process will open a new phase in mutual relations and help peace and stability in the region.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Tuesday, November 02, 2010
In a regular quarterly report handed out to Security Council member-states' ambassadors, he offered full UN support to the negotiation process, led by the EU, adding there are serious challenges ahead of Belgrade and Pristina, monitored by growing tension in the north of Kosovo.
He believes the dialogue should commence soon, in order that both sides should take advantage of the positive moment created in the last few months. He also asked SC member-states for support with a view to avoiding unilateral actions that could additionally raise tension, but also warned that Kosovo officials and media were carrying out a campaign aimed against the presence of UNMIK in northern Kosovo, whereby UN staff is threatened.
As in all the previous reports to the Security Council, Ban pointed to the very low number of returnees to Kosovo, as, according to UNHCR, only 706 persons, one third of whom are Serbs, have returned to the Province.
