Serbia and Kosovo should accept a solution to their sovereignty dispute through United Nations mediation, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday in a report to the Security Council.
Ban said the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) remains "uniquely" placed to work out a dialogue between the two sides, dpa reported.
"The continuing support for UNMIK activities by the communities on the ground, by Pristina and by Belgrade as well as by the Security Council and the broader international community, is of crucial importance," Ban said.
Kosovo seceded from Serbia in February 2008 and declared a sovereign state recognized by about 50 governments. Belgrade has continued to claim that territory as a province, while tensions remain high in northern Kosovo where a sizable number of Serbs still live.
Other unsolved issues include the voluntary return of displaced people and the vandalization of cultural and religious sites.
UNMIK first arrived in Kosovo in 1999 to administer it after NATO forces bombed the territory and forced Serb security forces to pull out.
"The strategic goal of UNMIK remains the promotion of security, stability and respect for human rights through engagement with all communities in Kosovo, as well as with Pristina and Belgrade and regional and international actors," Ban said.
"The longer-term stability and development of Kosovo and the region rests on a successful process of reconciliation between communities," he said.
The report to the 15-nation council said there has been no increase in the number of incidents in past months, including those affecting the Serb and Roma minority communities.
The European Union has deployed a 3,200-strong Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), which includes 1,400 international police officers, to help maintain security.
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