17 Sep. 2004

UN Kosovo representative visits NATO News 16/09/04 - NATO Mr. Soren Jessen-Petersen, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Kosovo, to visit NATO on Friday 17 September 2004 Opinions Transcript of the Press point Background NATO's role in Kosovo Multimedia High resolution photos Audio file of the Press point (MP3/4797Kb) The United Nations Special Representative in Kosovo, Mr. Soren Jessen-Petersen, visited NATO on 17 September to discuss preparations for the province’s October elections with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. The Secretary General told Mr. Jessen-Petersen that the NATO-led Kosovo peacekeeping force (KFOR) would be increased to 20,000 for the period of the elections. He said this is a sign of the Alliance’s continuing commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment in the province. Elections for everyone “KFOR is there, KFOR is there to stay,” Mr. De Hoop Scheffer told reporters after the meeting. He said that NATO hoped all citizens, including the Serb minority, would participate in the elections. The Secretary General and Mr. Jessen-Petersen also discussed the way ahead for Kosovo and the lessons learned from March this year, when violence flared up in the province. This was the first visit by Mr. Jessen-Petersen since his appointment as the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Kosovo. Since 1999, NATO is leading an international peacekeeping force, KFOR, which is responsible for establishing and maintaining security in the province.