International Civilian Representative Peter Feith appointed 14 members of the municipal preparation team that is to help in the establishing of the new municipality of North Mitrovica, the International Civilian Office (ICO) stated on Friday.

The preparation team has a technical mandate that involves the preparation of resources, funds and administrative structures necessary for the future establishing and functioning of the municipality of North Mitrovica, the statement said.

The appointed municipal preparation team members will be joined by one representative of the Ministry of Local Self-government Administration, one representative of 'the mother municipality' and one ICO representative.

Feith pointed out that the members of the preparation team will work on the preparation of the new municipality whose top priority will be to serve the citizens, adding that the team's operation would be fully supported by the ICO.

This step might be the new beginning for all in the new municipality, while its final goal is to make the municipality of North Mitrovica become a municipality with positive, sustainable future and be safe and prosperous for everyone living in it, Feith said.

He believes that the establishing of the new municipality of North Mitrovica, as part of the unique system of the local self-government across Kosovo will approach the municipal authorities to the community, promote economic development, facilitate addressing concrete problems and enable access to greater resources.

Martti Ahtisaari's plan, which was not accepted in the UN Security Council (SC) and dismissed by Belgrade, envisages the establishing of five new municipalities including North Mitrovica.

Representatives of all relevant political parties in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica have recently refused the possibility of the formation of North Mitrovica municipality and urged citizens not to take part in the process.