UN to Discuss Situation in Kosovo

Ban states in his report that the UN Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, is willing to support an investigation into human organ trafficking, and he hopes Belgrade and Pristina will soon establish a dialogue, according to the organisation's Web site.

The report covers the period between October 19, 2010 and January 15, 2011.

UNMIK handed over its findings on organ trafficking to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia back in 2003, Ban writes, adding that all of those files were given to the EU Mission in Kosovo late 2008 and early 2009.

The secretary general also noted that he regrets that the collapse of the government coalition in Kosovo and the subsequent elections have postponed the start of the talks with Belgrade.

He hopes the dialogue begins as soon as possible and that the events in Kosovo lead to political stability.

Ban describes the situation in Kosovo as relatively calm, but potentially unstable, where organised crime is still a cause for concern and where smuggling and drug trafficking are particular problems.

In a related development, the mandate of EU Special Representative in Kosovo Pieter Feith, which is due to expire at the end of February, could be extended for several months.

The mandate would be extended until the EU decides on the way that it will be represented in Pristina in the future, Tanjug learned at the Council of the EU.

A debate on the future of EU special representatives is underway, said Tanjug's source, who did not want to be named. "No decisions have been made so far, but it seems that Pieter Feith's mandate will be slightly extended so as to gain time for a more careful consideration of a proper way for the EU to be represented in Kosovo," he added.

"This issue should be observed in the context of establishing a European diplomatic service," said the source.

The EU currently has 11 special representatives across the world, five of whose mandates are to expire in late February.

Feith was appointed EU Special Representative in Kosovo on February 4, 2008, and he is also head of the International Civilian Office, established by the International Steering Group, ISG.

The ISG will hold a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday.