NEW YORK - The head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Farid Zarif has called on all residents of Kosovo, particularly Serbs, to take part in the June 8 elections for the Kosovo assembly, expressing hope that, once the elections are complete, the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue will resume without delay.

Both sides have fully continued their commitment to political dialogue, Zarif told the UN Security Council in New York late Tuesday.

Congratulating Serbia on the successful holding of the March 16 elections and the formation of the new government under Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, he called on all Kosovo residents, "particularly members of the Kosovo Serb community, to take part in the forthcoming elections and exercise their democratic franchise”.

Despite a slower pace of implementation of the agreement, the parties have narrowed their differences, including those on the issue of the judiciary in northern Kosovo, he said, adding that increased operational capability of the Kosovo police in northern Kosovo is an indicator of progress.

“It is hoped that, once the forthcoming electoral process in Kosovo is complete and new authorities are in place, the dialogue will resume without delay and a crucial pending matter - the establishment of the Community/Association of Serb municipalities - will be tackled expeditiously, along with other issues of mutual interest and concern,” Zarif said.

Over the past months, a great deal of effort was made to overcome challenges related to the municipal assembly statutes of the four Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo, he said, adding that it is "an important step forward in the implementation of the 19 April 2013 agreement."

Zarif also noted a number of violent incidents in northern Kosovo, condemning the involvement of Kosovo fighters in the war in Syria and noting that there has been progress on issues such as missing persons and recognition of survivors of sexual violence in war.

“It is essential that Belgrade and Pristina stay on track towards the full implementation of the agreement of 19 April 2013," he said, adding that UNMIK will continue to fully engage in Kosovo in coordination with its partners within its status neutral framework.

Zarif expressed solidarity with the peoples of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which have been hit by catastrophic floods, and extended his sincere condolences.