UN To Hand Over Police,Justice Role To Kosovo By Year End

PRISTINA (AP)--The U.N. mission in Kosovo plans to hand over duties in the fields of police and justice in the hands of the province's government by the years end, the head of the U.N. mission to Kosovo says.

Soeren Jessen-Petersen said that the new duties will be conditioned on effective monitoring, vigorous accountability and capacity building while the U.N. will remain the ultimate authority in the province's affairs.

According to the plan, two new ministries of justice and police will be created in coming months, with the rest of responsibilities to be handed over gradually by the years end, Jessen-Petersen said. Kosovo has been administered by the U.N. since 1999.