UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan (file photo)
17 February 2005 -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has asserted that Kosovo has not made sufficient progress in setting up democratic institutions to allow the international community to assess the province's long-term status.
Annan says in a report to the Security Council that there must be "real progress" in Kosovo before any decision can be taken on its future.
Annan says the continued unwillingness of Kosovo's minority Serbs to engage in dialogue and to help implement reforms has hampered the ability to move forward.
Annan also notes that Kosovar Serbs continue to consider themselves at risk from attacks and intimidation by the ethnic Albanian majority.
The UN has established a set of standards -- including democratic institutions, human rights, security, and the rule of law -- that must be met before Kosovo's final status can be decided.
Kosovo's 90 percent ethnic Albanian majority seeks independence, while the Serbian government in Belgrade says the province must remain part of Serbia.
(Reuters/AFP)
Annan says the continued unwillingness of Kosovo's minority Serbs to engage in dialogue and to help implement reforms has hampered the ability to move forward.
Annan also notes that Kosovar Serbs continue to consider themselves at risk from attacks and intimidation by the ethnic Albanian majority.
The UN has established a set of standards -- including democratic institutions, human rights, security, and the rule of law -- that must be met before Kosovo's final status can be decided.
Kosovo's 90 percent ethnic Albanian majority seeks independence, while the Serbian government in Belgrade says the province must remain part of Serbia.
(Reuters/AFP)