In his role as the chairman-in-office of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Slovenia's foreign minister Dr Rupel held a meeting in Ljubljana with the UN Administrator for Kosovo, Søren Jessen-Petersen.
The meeting covered positions on the current political and security situation in Kosovo, plans to restructure the UN mission there, and the future role of the OSCE as one of the most important elements of the international community's presence in the province.
Dr Rupel said at the meeting: "Given its experience, actions and large-scale presence, the OSCE is one of the most important elements of the international community's mission in Kosovo, and we would like to continue to play an important role in the future," and added that as the current chairman of the OCSE and as an EU member, Slovenia was working to coordinate the approach of all key representatives of the international community in Kosovo. A vital part of this is to avoid international agencies duplicating activities.
The meeting also covered the restructuring of the UN mission in Kosovo and the future role of the OSCE, which with 1000 employees is the largest agency working in the region. "The OSCE mission has vital experience in strengthening democratically elected institutions, promoting democracy, establishing the rule of law and multicultural society in the province, and it is also implementing training for police and can continue to do so in the future," said Dr Rupel.
The two statesmen also discussed the importance of political dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which has been a special aim of the Slovenian OSCE presidency. Mr Jessen-Petersen thanked Dr Rupel for the support and assistance he had received throughout the first half-year of Slovenia's OSCE chairmanship. He went on to say that it was an important year and that Slovenia's support was very important.
Mr Jessen-Petersen went on to say: "The Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General Kai Eide will produce an assessment of how standards are being implementing by the end of the summer. The agreed-upon timetable will be met, and I am convinced that talks on the future status of Kosovo will start in the second half of this year." He added that the implementation of standards in the province was ongoing and stressed the importance of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and the inclusion of the Kosovo Serbs in the political process.
"It will be difficult to move forward without clear prospects of EU membership for the whole region," said Mr Jessen-Petersen, and mentioned that he had discussed this very issue in recent days with a number of EU foreign ministers.
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