The UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) on Tuesday officially approved the creation of ministries of justice and interior in Kosovo.

Decrees have been issued on creating a ministry of justice, a ministry of the interior, and a judiciary council in Kosovo, and that the framework and basic principles for the police service in the province have been defined, UNMIK deputy chief Larry Rossin said in a statement.

This is the first phase in the transfer of powers from UNMIK to interim institutions of Kosovo in the judiciary and police sectors, Rossin said.

Kosovo, a Serbian southern province, has been administered by the United Nations since mid-1999. The talks on its future status are expected to be held in early next year.

Head of the UNMIK department for the police and judiciary Jean Dussourd has said that the creation of the new ministries is not linked with the issue of final status of Kosovo.

The UN Security Council Resolution No. 1244 remains fully in effect, said Dussourd, adding that UNMIK chief Soren Jessen- Petersen will continue to have the last word in the province until the end of UNMIK's mandate.

Source: Xinhua