BELGRAD - The UN Security Council will on Friday hold a session on Kosovo to consider the latest report by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, during which Serbia's stands will be presented by First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.

In his regular quarterly report on the work of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Ban called upon the Kosovo authorities to speed up the establishment of the specialist court for war crimes and to redouble their efforts in strengthening a broad public consensus around this issue.

The UN Secretary-General welcomed the constitution of the Kosovo Assembly and the formation of the new government in Pristina, adding that "with key institutions in place, the Kosovo authorities should now move forward in addressing the many challenges still facing Kosovo."

"One important step would be for the government and the Assembly to move swiftly on the adoption of the legislation concerning the establishment of the specialist court to try cases arising from the findings of the European Union Special Investigative Task Force, as agreed between Kosovo and the European Union," Ban said in his regular quarterly report published on the UN official web site.

He also urged Belgrade and Pristina to engage in the EU-facilitated dialogue fully, earnestly and as soon as possible at the leadership level.
"This will be crucial in sustaining the engagement at the technical level and in moving forward on the implementation of the outstanding provisions of the 19 April 2013 agreement," said Ban, adding that "the core issue in this respect remains the establishment, in accordance with the agreement, of the association/community of Serb municipalities."

The UN Secretary-General also expressed concern over the "reports of population outflow from Kosovo during recent months".

The report covers the period from October 16, 2014 to January 15, 2015.