Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic received today the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Kosovo and Metohija and Head of UNMIK, Farid Zarif.

During the talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides expressed their satisfaction with the cooperation thus far. Also, views were exchanged regarding the best methods to expand cooperation after the local elections in Kosovo and Metohija. Minister Mrkic reiterated that it was of the utmost importance for R. Serbia that UNMIK remained in Kosovo and Metohija in an unaltered form, as the guarantor of the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1244 and the status neutrality of the international presence. Zarif thanked Serbia for its constructive approach to cooperation with the UN, adding that he would continue to invest efforts towards improving the living conditions of all communities living in Kosovo and Metohija.

The visit of Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General Farid Zarif, whose delegation also included the newly appointed Head of the UN Office in Belgrade, P. Due, was in line with Serbia's commitment to actively develop cooperation with the United Nations, especially in seeking a mutually acceptable solution to the issue of Kosovo and Metohija.