Ban Ki-Moon: 1244 remains in force

"Following Kosovo's declaration of independence, UNMIK continues to operate on understanding that resolution 1244 remains in force, unless Security Council decides otherwise...It is evident that Kosovo's declaration of independence has had a profound impact on situation in Kosovo," Ban said in a regular quarterly report.

UN chief also said that the latest developments have posed a significant challenges to UNMIK's ability to exercise its administrative authority in Kosovo, underlining that UNMIK might need to adjust its operational deployment to developments and  changes on the ground in a manner consistent with the operational framework established under resolution 1244.

However, Ban once again dodged a series of hot issues derived after Pristina's unilateral declaration of independence, including the proclamation itself, deployment of the 2,000-strong European Union mission in Kosovo, violent demonstrations in Kosovska Mitrovica, and Belgrade's latest proposal aimed at "functional division" of province's Serb and Albanian institutions.

In addition, Ban said that Kosovo's new constitution is expected to be introduced to Pristina parliament in April, including a set of provisions for its entry into force in mid-June.

Ban underlined differing stances of Serb and Albanian communities following declaration of independence in mid-February, with Serbs broadening the boycott of local institutions - customs, Kosovo Police Service, judiciary, local administration and railways - and Albanians expecting to see the end of UNMIK's deployment by mid-June.

"Despite a number of serious security incidents, the overall security situation in Kosovo...remained calm but tense. Isolated incidents occurred in the days immediately before and after the declaration of independence," the report said.

The UN chief, nonetheless, failed to address a series of violent incidents that followed the UNMIK's attempt to regain the control over the local courthouse in Serb-controlled northern Mitrovica on February 17, which resulted with a Ukrainian policeman killed and some 150 Serbs and internationals injured after a day of riots.

In addition, the UN chief stormed the Kosovo institutions with criticism for failing to organize the return of refugees, saying that just some 1,756 return were registered in 2007, or some 100 more than a year before.

"The number of returns remains disappointingly low,"  Ban said, adding that Serbs made up just a third of overall number of returnees. More than 200,000 Serbs have been expelled from Kosovo since 1999.

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