Week of 11 July through 17 July

Albanian and Serb community leaders take part in first meeting of Kosovo Transitional Council.
JULY 16 -- The United Nations brought Serb and Albanian political leaders together in Pristina on Friday in the first meeting of newly-formed Kosovo Transitional Council, marking a critical first step towards development of self-government in the province.   FULL STORY >>

New head of UN mission in Kosovo arrives in Pristina.
JULY 15 -- Bernard Kouchner, the Secretary-General's new Special Representative who will also head UNMIK, the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, arrived in the provincial capital Pristina on Thursday.   FULL STORY >>

Security Council appeals to all parties in Kosovo to cooperate with UNMIK and KFOR.
JULY 15 -- The members of the Security Council Thursday appealed to all parties in Kosovo to cooperate with UNMIK and KFOR.  FULL STORY >>

Secretary-General says for Kosovo to succeed, Balkans region must be brought back to health.
JULY 15 -- For Kosovo to really succeed the Balkans regions as a whole must be brought back to health, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Thursday.    FULL STORY >>

UN Kosovo Mission appeals for end to attacks on minorities.
JULY 14 -- Sergio Vieira de Mello, the acting Head of the UN Mission in Kosovo, on Wednesday expressed alarm at the continued high level of violence and intimidation directed at minorities throughout the province.   FULL STORY >>

UNHCR urges aid agencies to begin construction of homes and damaged infrastructure in Kosovo.
JULY 14 -- With the vast majority of the Kosovo refugees already home, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is urging other agencies to begin immediate reconstruction of homes, apartment buildings and damaged infrastructure.  FULL STORY >>

Secretary-General outlines comprehensive strategy for UN mission in Kosovo to restore shattered province.
JULY 13 -- Saying the international community faced an "unprecedented challenge" in Kosovo, Secretary-General Kofi Annan has outlined a comprehensive strategy for the United Nations mission which will help to restore the shattered province.    FULL STORY >>

Head of Yugoslav war crimes tribunal says charges against Milosevic could be expanded.
JULY 13 -- Louise Arbour, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia says current indictments against Slobodan Milosevic for crimes against humanity in Kosovo could be expanded.   FULL STORY >>

Plight of minorities in Kosovo a prime concern of UN mission.
JULY 12 -- The head of the United Nations mission in Kosovo on Monday told several thousand Romas or gypsies living in desperate conditions outside Pristina that enormous efforts were being made to ensure respect for everyone's human rights and urged them not to give up and leave the province.  FULL STORY >>

UNICEF survey finds half of Kosovo's primary schools destroyed or severely damaged.
JULY 12 -- A preliminary survey of Kosovo's primary schools by the UN children's Fund (UNICEF) has found widespread destruction with more than 43 percent of 394 schools completely destroyed or severely damaged.   FULL STORY >>