A/HRC/13/40/Add.3 as those who do not profess any religion have an important role to play in building that pluralism. II. Freedom of religion or belief in Kosovo A. Introduction 35. The Special Rapporteur wishes to emphasize that all reference in the present report to “Kosovo”, whether to the territory, institutions or population, should be understood in full compliance with Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo. 36. From 5 to 8 May 2009, the Special Rapporteur visited the municipalities of Prishtinë/Priština, Gračanica/Graçanicë, Prizren, Gjakovë/Djakovica and Deçan/Dečani. In Prishtinë/Priština she had the opportunity to meet with the Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister, the Kosovo Minister for Justice and the Kosovo Vice-Minister for Culture Youth and Sports. The Special Rapporteur also held talks with the Chairperson of the Council for Cultural Heritage of the Kosovo Assembly and with the Kosovo Acting Ombudsperson. 37. In order to collect first hand information on the status of freedom of religion or belief in Kosovo, the Special Rapporteur also spoke with leading representatives of various religious or belief communities from the Evangelical Protestant Community, the Islamic community (including the Sufi groups of Helveti Dervish in Prizren and Bektashi in Gjakovë/Djakovica), the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Roman Catholic Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church (both in Belgrade and in Deçan/Dečani). Further talks were held with members of different civil society organizations and journalists. 38. In addition, the Special Rapporteur met with a number of high-level representatives of international and regional organizations. These meetings included the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the European Union Special Representative and the Head of Mission in Kosovo of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. She also met with representatives of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the European Union Rule of Law Mission, the Council of Europe and the Reconstruction Implementation Commission for Serbian Orthodox Religious Sites in Kosovo. The Special Rapporteur’s programme in Kosovo was ably coordinated by UNMIK and the OHCHR stand-alone Office in Kosovo and she is extremely grateful to them for their excellent support. B. International human rights standards 39. Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, on 10 June 1999, the Security Council in its resolution 1244 (1999) decided on the deployment in Kosovo, under the auspices of the United Nations, of international civil and security presences. The main responsibilities of the international civil presence include, inter alia, maintaining civil law and order, protecting and promoting human rights, as well as assuring the safe and unimpeded return of all refugees and displaced persons to their homes in Kosovo. 40. According to UNMIK regulation no. 2001/9 (para. 3.2), the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government shall observe and ensure internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms, including those rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights; the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and its Protocols; the International Covenant on Civil 12