UN SECURITY COUNCIL'S DELEGATION ON VISIT TO KOSOVO

PRISTINA, Dec 15 (Hina) - A delegation of the UN Security Council, that began its three-day visit to Kosovo on Saturday, held talks with UN Civil Administrator Michael Steiner in Pristina last night. #L# The purpose of the visit of this delegation, led by Norwegian Ambassador to the UN Security Council, Ole Peter Kolby, is to become acquainted with the situation on the ground after the recent local election and the establishment of the Kosovo institutions. After the talks with Steiner, the UN delegation met Kosovo top officials: President Ibrahim Rugova, the parliament chairman, Nexhet Daci, and Premier Bayram Rexhepi, in the UN offices in Pristina. The Kosovo leaders agreed that the meeting with the UN Security Council's delegation was productive. After a meeting with Kosovo parliament representatives, Kolby said the UN supported the idea about the creation and fulfilment of standards, set by the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) before the beginning of the resolution of Kosovo's final status, such as the multiethnic society and integration of all communities into Kosovo society. He said the UN backed Steiner's plan for the set-up of UNMIK authorities in northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica. The Norwegian diplomat added that the people of Kosovo should work much on the implementation of the defined standards and fight against organised crime and terrorism. He warned that democracy in Kosovo was still far from functioning. Something that could most impress the international community is the return of displaced persons to a significant extent, Kolby said. On Sunday the delegation is to meet the KFOR (international Kosovo Force) commander, Italian General Fabio Mini and tour Kosovska Mitrovica an the police academy in Vucitrn. On Monday, before leaving Pristina for Belgrade, the delegation will hold a news conference. (hina) ms