UNITED NATIONS, April 18 (Hina) - Although the significant process of transferring responsibility from the United Nations onto local authorities began three months ago, Kosovo still needs to do much more in the establishment of
multiethnic and efficient institutions, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Thursday.
UNITED NATIONS, April 18 (Hina) - Although the significant process
of transferring responsibility from the United Nations onto local
authorities began three months ago, Kosovo still needs to do much
more in the establishment of multiethnic and efficient
institutions, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Thursday. #L#
In his report to the Security Council on the activities of the
U.N.'s transitional administration in the province this year so
far, Annan voiced concern with the tendency of ethnic Albanian
leaders and interim institutions to focus on symbols and ideas and
publicly promote views contrary to U.N. resolutions.
Annan called on local leaders to work together to reinforce
institutions, focusing on the significant and on practical results
instead of making the development of institutions hostage to
political and ethnic differences.
Forming separate, monoethnic administrative institutions will not
lead to a multiethnic Kosovo, towards which everyone aspires, said
Annan, adding that acting within established structures demanded
will from minority communities and openness from the majority
community.
Annan said the transfer of authorities must resume so that
temporary institutions could become accountable to the Kosovo
people for the tasks they had been entrusted with.
The U.N. mission in Kosovo is working on securing conditions for the
return of members of national minorities, said Annan, but added
that intimidation, threats, and violence against minorities were
still taking place with the aim to discourage them from
participating in public affairs.
The U.N. Security Council will hold an open session on Kosovo next
Wednesday.
(hina) ha