New York  - Serbian President Boris Tadic on Monday urged the United Nations to remain in Kosovo and not cut its troops and budget, but the UN said it has drastically reconfigured its presence a year after Kosovo seceded from Belgrade.

Tadic appeared before the UN Security Council in New York to request that the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) continue to function fully and protect the Serb ethnic population in the territory.

Belgrade rejected Pristina's unilateral declaration of independence in February 2008, still claiming it as a Serb province.

"Serbia, together with a number of European Union member states, faces tremendous problems arising out of the activities of the ethnic Albanian mafia in Kosovo, which specializes in the trafficking of narcotics, human beings and weapons," Tadic said.

He called for a return to a normal life "in our southern province."

Serbia is backed by Moscow in opposing Kosovo's independence.

UNMIK and the European Union's law and order mission, known as EULEX, are assisting Pristina in building its democratic institutions.

UNMIK's special envoy Lamberto Zannier told the council that there are currently 49 UN police officers remaining in Kosovo, down from 1,288 officers of a year ago.

There are no more UN judges or prosecutors in Kosovo's courts. EULEX and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe are assuming most of the administrative responsibilities held by the UN since 1999.

"The situation in Kosovo has remained relatively peaceful during the last eight months and while both Pristina and Belgrade have made noteworthy attempts to maintain peace in the face of potentially destabilizing situations, equally, both have stopped short of where we need to be in order to feel confident that Kosovo is well and truly launched onto the path of lasting peace and prosperity," Zannier said.

Belgrade has challenged Pristina's declaration of independence and has asked the International Court of Justice to provide an advisory opinion about the legality of that declaration.

Kosovo's independence is recognized by about 55 governments, including the United States, but not by the United Nations. (dpa)