World | Other World Stories
Italian to head UN mission in Kosovo
The United Nations is expected to name Italian diplomat Lamberto Zannier this week as the new head of its Kosovo mission, a senior UN official said on Tuesday.
- Reuters
- Published: 23:53 June 17, 2008
Pristina: The United Nations is expected to name Italian diplomat Lamberto Zannier this week as the new head of its Kosovo mission, a senior UN official said on Tuesday.
Zannier takes over from German diplomat Joachim Ruecker as part of a planned "reconfiguration" of the mission after Kosovo Albanians declared independence from Serbia in February and won recognition from major Western powers.
"The appointment should be made this week," a senior UN official said on condition of anonymity. "The planned arrival is on Friday."
UN veto-holder Russia, which backs Serbia in opposing Kosovo's secession, had blocked the withdrawal of the mission.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last week put forward proposals to "reconfigure" the mission, allowing it to cede certain powers to Pristina.
More from Other World Stories
More from World
News Editor's choice
-
Allies quit ruling coalition in Nepal
Political row could trigger months of street protests and violence
-
Qatar blaze 'started at nursery'
Fire killed 19 including 13 children, at Doha’s main shopping centre
-
Jagan jailed over illegal assets
Andhra Pradesh leader accused of corruption, cheating, conspiracy
