Briefing the Interim Administrative Council (IAC) today, the co-heads of the Department of Local Government, Rame Buja and Blanca Antonini, said that councils in the remaining municipalities should be established in the next few weeks. They noted that the main obstacle to the establishment of the councils, and of the local administrative boards responsible for delivering local services, has been the enmity dividing Albanian and Serb communities and the related security situation.

The municipal councils, which are set up following consultations with representatives of political parties and communities in the municipalities, act as advisory bodies to the local administration. They have begun to meet regularly, addressing major issues of concern to the local population, and UNMIK administrators, who chair the councils, rely heavily upon their advice in taking decisions that affect the local population, UNMIK said in a statement issued after the meeting.

The Department of Local Government monitors the delivery of services by municipalities, assists in coordinating international support for municipalities and develops policies to ensure the protection of the rights of minorities at the municipal level.

The pledges made at the Regional Funding Conference for South East Europe exceed the 1.8 billion euros ($1.73 billion) required over the next 12 months to finance a comprehensive "quick-start" package for regional projects.

The projects are aimed at developing infrastructure; promoting private sector development; supporting policy and institutional reforms and encouraging democratization, reconciliation and security, according to the World Bank, one of the organizers of the conference.

The extra funding of 600 million euros ($577 million) will be used to accelerate the preparation and implementation of projects and initiatives that can be implemented over the next two to three years.

Some of the projects Kosovo will benefit from include the rebuilding of the Blace Border Crossing between Kosovo and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, a regional project to facilitate trade and transport, a regional mine awareness campaign and a feasibility study for the development of a regional television network.

Participants at the conference, including 47 countries and 36 international organizations, noted the importance of consolidating stability in Kosovo and welcomed its inclusion in the "quick-start" packages over the next 12 months.

The head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Dr. Bernard Kouchner, attended the conference, which was jointly chaired by the European Union and the World Bank.

The regulation was signed yesterday by the Principal Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Jock Covey, acting for the head of UNMIK, Dr. Bernard Kouchner. The first travel documents are expected to be issued by June.

According to the regulation, the travel document, to be issued by the Central Civil Registry, does not confer nationality upon its holder, and admission to other States will be subject to their normal visa requirements.

The documents will be valid for up to 24 months from the date of issue, and can be extended or renewed. Documents will be refused only in "compelling circumstances" such as pending criminal charges or a restraining order issued by a competent court.

Speaking to the press today, Council President, Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury of Bangladesh, said the mission's mandate would be to assess the implementation of the UN resolution on Kosovo and the operations of the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK), and to see what difficulties it faces.

The mission would also "take a strong message of the Council to the parties concerned in Kosovo to end hostilities and engage in the development work, the restoration of the civic life in that territory," Ambassador Chowdhury said.

UNMIK head, Dr. Bernard Kouchner, urged the Council to send a mission to Kosovo when he briefed it on 6 March.

A press statement issued by the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) said that an Ombudsperson would ensure that all people in Kosovo can exercise their rights and fundamental freedoms safeguarded by international human rights standards.

The Ombudsperson will review and redress actions constituting an abuse of authority by the interim civil administration or any emerging central or local institution, the statement said.

The IAC also endorsed three other regulations on the establishment of Travel Documents, the Department of Posts and Telecommunications and the Kosovo Consolidated Budget.

The regulations will be signed into law by the head of UNMIK, Dr. Bernard Kouchner.