Switzerland’s special representative for Kosovo affairs Urs Hadorn formally took up his new job on Wednesday, saying he would concentrate on coordinating aid efforts for Kosovar refugees and keeping the public informed about the refugee issue.

Switzerland’s special representative for Kosovo affairs Urs Hadorn formally took up his new job on Wednesday, saying he would concentrate on coordinating aid efforts for Kosovar refugees and keeping the public informed about the refugee issue.

“The main task will be to consult with the various aid and support groups for Kosovar refugees operating in this country. Based on those consultations, I will then present my policy recommendations to the government,” Hadorn said.

Hadorn, 58, was appointed by Justice Minister Ruth Metzler in May to address all the relevant problems arising from the massive influx of refugees from the Serbian province.

Hadorn, a lawyer by training, was to keep his previous job as Deputy Director of the Federal Refugee Office.

The new representative said he hoped that close cooperation with Swiss support groups for Kosovo as well as ethnic Albanian and Serbian groups in Switzerland would lead to a more efficient and comprehensive aid strategy for the tens of thousands of refugees who have sought shelter in Switzerland.

Hadorn said another important aspect of his work would be to keep the public informed about the latest problems, strategies and policies relating to the Kosovo migration issue.

Individual citizens as well as administrative bodies in Switzerland will be able to contact him and ask him questions, the authorities said.

Hadorn expects his mandate to last for about two years.

Source: APD

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