UN Security Council discusses report on Kosovo

BELGRADE - The UN Security Council will hold a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the latest report by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the situation in Kosovo, and Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic will also speak at the meeting.

Nikolic will meet with Ban during his visit to New York, the presidential press service has stated.

A few challenges remain with regard to the implementation of certain provisions of the First Agreement of Principles Governing the Normalization of Relations of 19 April 2013, in particular those relating to the establishment of the association/community of Serbian municipalities in Kosovo, Ban said in his quarterly report covering the period from January 21 to April 15.

"I encourage both sides to continue to make efforts towards the full and faithful implementation of the Agreement and to address the establishment of the above-mentioned association/community in a spirit of openness and goodwill. The challenges to the full implementation of the Agreement should not, however, over shadow the remarkable progress that has been achieved since the start of the dialogue between the prime ministers in October 2012," the secretary general stated.

It remains essential for progress towards the full implementation of the Agreement to continue apace, in line with the implementation plan of May 22, 2013, he noted.

"I note with appreciation that Belgrade and Pristina have continued to participate actively in the European Union-facilitated dialogue, albeit at a somewhat slower pace, largely owing to the general elections in Serbia and the forthcoming legislative elections in Kosovo," Ban points out in his report.

"I welcome, in particular, the agreement reached by the parties during the...