Deense diplomaat wordt vijfde VN-gouverneur in Kosovo (en)

Danish diplomat Soren Jessen-Petersen started work yesterday (16 August) as the fifth UN governor of Kosovo since the conflict in 1999.

He takes on a difficult task with an array of pressing problems facing him.

One of the most urgent and controversial is the status of Kosovo.

Kosovo formally remains part of Serbia and Montenegro, with Albanians pushing for independence.

However, Belgrade says that the landlocked province must stay part of Serbia.

The UN has said it will review Kosovo's status in mid-2005 but only after there has been progress on democracy and minority rights.

Another major challenge will be administering the October general elections for local offices.

Hot issue for the EU

The region is also a hot issue for the EU with several pushing for the bloc to take on a stronger role in the administration of Kosovo after 5 years of UN leadership.

Last month, an informal paper on Kosovo written mainly by the Austrians was circulated to member states.

Kosovo and the region in general may be discussed at an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers next month.

Mr Jessen-Petersen takes over from the Finn Harri Holkeri who stepped down earlier this year citing health reasons.

A UN administration was set up in the region with the NATO-led KFOR mission overseeing security in 1999, after NATO air-strikes pushed back Serb forces that were accused of war crimes against ethnic Albanians in the province.