Ban: Dialogue to open up new phase

He also stated the willingness of the UN to work with the EU to support the talks in his latest quarterly report to the UN Security Council.

"I welcome the resolution passed by the UN General Assembly on September 9, and the readiness of the EU to facilitate dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade," it is said in the secretary general's report presented at the UN Security Council on Friday.

In the document which covers the period from July 16 to October 18, Ban expressed satisfaction that the resolution on Kosovo was the product of an agreement between the EU and Serbia and that it created conditions for the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade to resume in the context of the region's European perspective.

"It is expected that the dialogue will open a new phase, help build trust between the parties and lead to solutions for issues which are important for the consolidation of peace, stability and reconciliation in Kosovo and the region," he said in the report.

Ban noted that he would therefore continue to encourage Pristina and Belgrade to engage in good faith and close cooperation with the EU.

He also confirmed the UN's readiness to contribute to these efforts.

"The UN is willing to support this dialogue, as necessary and useful. My special representative is in contact with the EU, in order to facilitate the process and I will keep the Security Council informed about this," reads Ban's report.

The reports assesses that the situation in northern Kosovo remains unstable and specifies that tensions intensified following the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion in late July.

"The court's opinion was met with disbelief among the Serbs in northern Kosovo," adds the report.

The UN general secretary called upon both sides to show restraint and adopt a measured, constructive approach to avoid further escalation in northern Kosovo.

Ban expressed concern over recent reports of the interim authorities in Priština and media comments directed against UNMIK's presence in northern Kosovo.

He pointed out that UNMIK's goal remained the advancement of security, stability and respect of human rights, through the inclusion of all communities in Kosovo and the participation of Belgrade, Pristina and regional and international factors.

The UN general secretary also assessed that in addition to the situation in the north, lack of significant progress in reconciliation between communities was still evident in Kosovo and that it presented a challenge.

"Even though some progress has been made in decentralization, there is no change in the consistently low number of returnees," concludes the report.