"We have a huge number of departments to be created," the head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Dr. Bernard Kouchner, told the press after the meeting. "This will be done step by step by 31 January."

The number of departments increased from 18 to 19 when the department for Sport and Culture was broken into two separate departments. IAC members agreed that the Secretariat would now begin drafting regulations to define the competencies of the 19 departments, in cooperation with UNMIK's legal office, the statement said.

Dr. Kouchner, who chaired the fourth meeting of the IAC, said the first appointments of department co-heads from Kosovo and UNMIK would begin next week.

He also reiterated his call to members of the Serb community to take up their seat in the IAC along with the three major Kosovo Albanian parties and to ensure their participation in the various departments.

Dr. Kouchner will further this, along with the protection of Serbs in Kosovo, when he meets with Bishop Artemije, a Serb Orthodox religious leader, in Gracanica this evening.

During the meeting, the IAC also discussed the expansion of the Kosovo Transitional CouncilKTC) to include new political forces, members of civil society and additional minority representatives.