(19/06/06) UNMIK CHIEF TO LEAVE KOSOVO. (Balkan Watch)

• 2006-06-27
• Europa in de wereld

The UN’s administrator in Kosovo, Soren Jessen-Petersen, announced he will be stepping down at the end of June. It is likely the Security Council will debate who his successor should be at its June 20 session. Jessen-Petersen stated he was planning to return to his family in Washington, DC. When asked about his tenure in Kosovo, he noted that the disputed province has made significant progress toward normalization. He reiterated, however, that Kosovo’s final status needs to be resolved before Kosovo is able to progress further toward normalization and modernization. Jessen-Petersen has served in Kosovo since June 2004.

Using his authorities granted by the UN, he recently also announced a postponement of local elections in Kosovo for up to twelve months, allowing the public to focus on addressing final status issues.