NEW YORK - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has appointed FaridZarif of Afghanistan as his Special Representative for Kosovo and head of the United Nations mission there, the UN announced Wednesday.

Zarif's appointment came as European Union mediated talks between Serb and Kosovo delegations reached deadlock this week amid a tense over-two-month-long border crossing dispute between Belgrade and Pristina.

Zarif has extensive experience in diplomatic, international and UN affairs, having served in various capacities inside and outside Afghanistan, including as the country's permanent representative to the UN from 1981 to 1987.

He was also Afghan deputy foreign minister from 1987 to 1989 and presidential adviser on international affairs from 1989 to 1991.

Zarif joined the UN in 1993 and has since served at UN Headquarters, as well as in UN political, humanitarian and peacekeeping operations in Eritrea, Liberia, South Africa, Iraq and Sudan.

He has served as Ban's acting special representative in Kosovo since August and succeeds LambertoZannier of Italy, who led the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) until June. (AKI)