Week of 27 February through 4 March

Secretary-General appeals to Members States to help cement rule of law in Kosovo
MARCH 3 -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appealed to Members States to provide, "as a matter of urgency", the necessary number of police, judges, prosecutors and penal experts to the cement rule of law and build on the achievements so far made by the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).   FULL STORY >>

Security Council expresses regret over the killing of a Russian soldier in Kosovo
MARCH 3 -- The UN Security Council today expressed regret over the killing of a Russian soldier of the international peacekeeping force in Kosovo (KFOR), who was shot on Tuesday in the town of Srbica.   FULL STORY >>

UN officials in Kosovo assist Albanians to return to their homes in northern Mitrovica
MARCH 3 -- Nearly 40 Kosovo Albanians returned to their homes in the northern part of Mitrovica today despite protests from local Serbs.   FULL STORY >>

Kosovo's Administrative Council endorses setting up of two more departments
MARCH 3 -- Kosovo's Interim Administrative Council (IAC) today endorsed draft regulations setting up the departments of Justice and Public Services, which will become operational once the regulations are signed by the head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).   FULL STORY >>

UN refugee agency voices alarm at rising ethnic tensions in southern Serbia
MARCH 2 -- The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) today expressed alarm over reports of rising tensions between Serbs and minority ethnic Albanians living in southern Serbia, resulting in an increase in displaced people arriving in neighbouring Kosovo.   FULL STORY >>

More than 50 recruits join Kosovo Customs Service
MARCH 2 -- More than 50 recruits, nearly 30 per cent of them women, have joined the Kosovo Customs Service, bringing the number of trained customs officials working throughout Kosovo to approximately 100, the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) said today.   FULL STORY >>

International administrator takes up duties at Pristina University
MARCH 2 -- Prof. Michael Daxner of Germany today took up his duties as the international administrator for the Pristina University system, which consists of seven campuses and some 1,500 faculty and administrators.   FULL STORY >>

Shooting of UN staffer called a mistake
MARCH 1 -- A group of armed and uniformed men who wounded a UN member of staff yesterday in southeastern Serbia, near the Kosovo border, have said that the shooting was "a mistake."   FULL STORY >>

Kosovo Transitional Council establishes secretariat
MARCH 1 -- The Kosovo Transitional Council (KTC) today established its secretariat -- a rotating group of five KTC members, which will prepare the work of the advisory body and coordinate its specialized working groups.   FULL STORY >>

All businesses in Kosovo required to register
MARCH 1 -- All businesses in Kosovo must register with every municipality in which they are operating, UNMIK said today.    FULL STORY >>

UN staffer wounded in Kosovo border incident
FEBRUARY 29 -- A United Nations staff member was today shot in an ambush on the Serb side of the border with Kosovo, UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said in New York.   FULL STORY >>

Kosovo's Interim Administrative Council names heads for three more departments
FEBRUARY 29 -- Kosovo's Interim Administrative Council today appointed two women and a student activist to co-head three departments with UN officials, the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) reported today.   FULL STORY >>

UN police in Kosovo report increased violence against Serbs
FEBRUARY 28 -- UN police in Kosovo today reported an increase in violence against Serbs around the territory, as well as explosions and grenade attacks in Pristina, Gnjilane and Pec.   FULL STORY >>

UN mission in Kosovo toughens building requirements following major fire
FEBRUARY 28 -- The UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) said today that new building in the territory would now require a permit, and will involve a "rigorous" fire safety inspection.   FULL STORY >>