Danish diplomat to head UNMIK

Danish diplomat to head UNMIK
B92 - June 17, 2004

NEW YORK, PRISTINA -- Thursday – Danish diplomat Soren Jessen-Petersen is to be the new UN governor of Kosovo.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced last night that Jessen-Petersen would take over from former Finnish prime minister Harri Holkeri, who resigned last month as head of the UN mission in Serbia’s southern province, giving poor health as the reason.

The new Kosovo governor has been serving since February as the European Union’s special envoy in Macedonia. Prior to that appointment he worked for the UNHCR and the UN Secretariat.

The appointment met with a mixed reaction from Kosovo Serbs and Albanians.

Kosovo government representative Mimoza Kusari described it as a positive step, saying that the Kosovo institutions expected a partnership between UNMIK and the Kosovo institutions and a shift in the role of the UN mission from decision-maker to advisor. This would allow the Kosovo government to take responsibility for Kosovo, she told B92.

Kosovo Serb MP Oliver Ivanovic said that he would reserve judgement.

“The Serb community is obviously endangered and I expect that the UNMIK chief will work to prevent further danger to Serbs and implement the vital elements of Resolution 1244,” he told B92, adding that Jessen-Petersen would be judged on his achievements and not on his character.

There have been reports in recent days that the new UNMIK head would be expected to develop new policies and reorganise the UN mission. UNMIK spokesman Christian Lindmeier declined to be drawn on this issue, saying that it was too early to talk about structural change.

“First he has to come to Kosovo and see the place and decide what must be done first with the office and the environment,” he said, adding that any major changes would depend on the UN Security Council.

European Union foreign affairs chief Javier Solana welcomed the appointment, saying that Jessen-Petersen had the full support of the EU and that he expected full cooperation.