The episodes will feature some of Sesame Street's famous faces

Famous characters Elmo, Cookie Monster, and Big Bird will feature in 26 episodes along with footage taped in the province.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said the episodes will feature stories about children from various ethnic groups.

They will be broadcast in both Serbian and Albanian languages.

Educational needs

The series first appeared in its original form on TV screens in the UN-administered province of Serbia and Montenegro in November 2004.

It was a big success among young children, but it was also praised for promoting respect and understanding among the various ethnic groups living in Kosovo.

The special episodes will address the "educational needs of children and encourage respect and understanding," the OSCE said in a statement.

"These segments will feature children from various ethnic groups, providing a window into Kosovo's rich diversity," it added.

Besides the OSCE, the project in Kosovo has been supported by the United States Agency for International Development and the Swedish International Development Agency.

Sesame Street was first broadcast in the US in 1969.