UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari as his special envoy to lead the political process to determine the future status of the ethnically divided, UN-administered Serbian province of Kosovo.

"Mr. Ahtisaari's excellent negotiating skills, proven leadership, previous experience with the United Nations and knowledge of the Balkans make him the ideal person for this endeavor," UN spokesman Stephanie Dujarric told reporters Tuesday.

The Security Council last week endorsed the start of talks on the future status of the province where ethnic Albanians outnumber others, mainly Serbs, by about nine to one. It has been by the UN since NATO troops entered the region in 1999.

Ahtisaari was Finnish president from 1994 to 2000. He was appointed UN under-secretary-general for administration and management in 1987, a position he held until 1991. In 1993 he served as Annan's special representative for the former Yugoslavia.

Source: Xinhua