Brussels, 10/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - Javier Solana, EU High Representative for CFSP met on Tuesday the new representative for the United Nations in Kosovo, Harri Holkeri from Finland. Mr Solana assured the latter of the EU's "100% support" in his new job as Head of the United Nations mission in Kosovo, the Unmik The two men also examined the situation in the province.
Javier Solana condemned the recent murderous incidents in Kosovo and congratulated Unmik for taking the perpetrators to court. He also pointed out that resolution 1244 of the United Nations on Kosovo remained the basis for all future definitions of the status for the province and that the concerned parties had to focus on the implementation of the "standards before the status" policy. Mr Holkeri said that he was "totally determined" to push forward the "road map" for the province established by his predecessor, Michael Steiner from Germany. While acknowledging the improvements in the region since 1999, Mr Holkeri considered that "a lot still needed doing to accomplish the goal of the United Nations". One of the main challenges is undeniably the launch of discussions between Belgrade (Serbia) and Pristina (Montenegro) on their "questions of mutual interest". Pointing to the commitments made during the summit on the Balkans at Thessaloniki by Serbia and Montenegro (EUROPE 22 June p 4), Mr Holkeri asserted that he had begun working in close collaboration with the two sides for defining the practical methods for this dialogue.