Erhard Busek, Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South East Europe, welcomes UNSG Kofi Annan's intention to appoint Soeren Jessen-Petersen to the position of Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (SRSG) in Kosovo.

"In the past, Mr. Jessen-Petersen has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to bringing about peace, stability and ethnic reconciliation in the region," SC Busek said.  "He is a very skilled negotiator, and an excellent choice to tackle the complex problems facing Kosovo today."

Beyond his extensive work for UN agencies and the European Union, Mr. Jessen-Petersen has significantly contributed to the work of the Stability Pact as Chairman of the Migration, Asylum and Refugee Return Initiative ( MARRI).  He has been instrumental in the Pact's efforts to assist refugee returns in the war-torn areas of South East Europe, and successfully initiated a dialogue with the governments of the region on broader migration issues, including asylum and visa arrangements.  Between 2000 and 2003, a record number of refugees and displaced persons returned, mainly in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia-Montenegro. 

SC Busek looks forward to the co-operation with Mr. Jessen-Petersen as SRSG, and invites UNMIK and the representatives of Kosovo's Provisional Institutions of Self-Government to continue the work of incorporating Kosovo into regional processes.   Kosovo currently participates in over twenty of the Pact's initiatives, which contribute to the fulfilment of the standards set out by UNMIK.