STEINER WANTS KOSOVO PROTECTION CORPS TO BE PROFESSIONAL, MULTIETHNIC ORGANISATION

PRISTINA, Dec 7 (Hina) - The Kosovo Protection Corps should reflect the kind of society the UN wishes to build in Kosovo, the UN Civil Administrator in the province, Michael Steiner, told reporters in Pristina on Saturday after meeting the Corps' commander, General Agim Qeku. #L# Steiner and Qeku discussed standards the Corps will have to meet before talks on the province's final status can start. Steiner told reporters it was necessary that the Corps, which under the Kosovo constitution was a civil organisation for special situations, become a professional organisation reflecting a multiethnic society before the start of talks on Kosovo's final status. He mentioned the example of the Kosovo police, where 8.5% of the force's 15% minority members were Serbs. The UN Mission in Kosovo will continue supporting the development of the Kosovo Protection Corps because it is one of the most important organisations for Kosovo's development, Steiner added. (hina) rml