Ban: Efforts must continue to consolidate already achieved

NEW YORK - The year 2013 was a year of significant political progress which culminated in the landmark agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, and in 2014, efforts must continue to consolidate these critical achievements of the past year in the Brussels dialogue and along the path toward regional reconciliation, stability and prosperity, reads the latest report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the situation in Kosovo-Metohija.

The UN secretary-general noted in his regular three-month report, which Tanjug has seen, that both parties have also achieved substantial progress in their objective of closer association with the European Union institutions and welcomed the decision of the European Council to begin the accession talks with Serbia.

"I welcome the decision of the European Council to begin the accession talks with Serbia in January 2014, and its support for the negotiations on a Stabilization and Association Agreement with Kosovo. The ongoing direct discussions between Pristina and Belgrade were instrumental to this success, and will remain important for ensuring that the progress achieved withstands challenges arising from differences of interpretation or tensions on the ground," Ban wrote.

The UN secretary general underscored that the successful holding of local elections in Kosovo, including in the northern municipalities, has opened space for new political dynamics within Kosovo, as well as the beginning of a new phase of engagement between the parties toward full implementation of the Brussels agreement and establishment of the Community of Serb municipalities.

Ban called on the international community to continue to encourage and actively support the dialogue process and assist the newly elected local...