ANNAN URGES STRENGTHENING OF RULE OF LAW IN KOSOVO

NEW YORK, July 26 (Hina) - The strengthening of rule of law is the most important task of the transitional UN administration and mission in Kosovo, read a report which the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, forwarded to the Security Council on Friday. #L# The continuation of the struggle against crime, thorough investigations against organised crime and corruption and the strengthening of local police and judiciary are the best contribution to the normalisation of developments in Kosovo, Annan wrote. In his opinion the UN mission (UNMIK) with the help of the international community has so far achieved good results in this field. The Secretary General added that one of the major tasks of the UN Administrator in Kosovo, Michael Steiner, and his aides was the acceleration of the refugee returns in all areas of Kosovo. In the first half of 2002, only one thousand people came back to their homes in Kosovo, the report noted. Annan reported about tension in the town of Kosovska Mitrovica and described it as an obstacle for the implementation of UNMIK tasks. He advocates the continuation of dialogue with local Serb representatives and Belgrade in bids to solve the situation in that town. Steiner is expected to inform the Security Council of the developments in Kosovo on Tuesday. (hina) ms