After a meeting of Kosovo's negotiating team and the strategic group for transition, which comprises the most senior home and international institutions in Kosovo, it was said the time had come to transfer authority from the international community to domestic institutions. Sejdiu said he expected the transfer to take several months.
Ruecker, who heads the strategic group, said the aim of the meeting was to prepare for UN special envoy for Kosovo Martti Ahtisaari's visit to Pristina on February 2, when he is due to present the draft solution for Kosovo's status.
Sejdiu said international presence in Kosovo would be temporary, to help Kosovo's institutions, notably in security and the judiciary, but added the international mission would not have the current powers of the UN Mission.
After the Security Council adopts a new resolution on Kosovo, the UN Mission would transfer its powers to Kosovo institutions and a European Union Mission, in which the United States will also participate, the press was told after the meeting.