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7693rd Security Council Meeting: Situation in Kosovo
UNMIK’s Tasks Largely Fulfilled, Says United States, as Russian Federation Opposes ‘Unilateral’ Revision of Founding Resolution.
While the overall security situation in Kosovo remained stable, a tense and divisive political landscape demonstrated a continuing need for the United Nations mission there to fulfil its mandate in support of lasting peace, the Security Council heard today.
Zahir Tanin, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) briefed the Council on its activities between January and April, saying that, while it no longer administered the territory, it was important for providing support and legitimacy in its role as a bridge between the Security Council and the people of Kosovo and the wider region. Among its other roles, UNMIK drew upon United Nations system-wide expertise and resources to assist in such tasks as handling migrant and refugee flows and working to discourage young people from paths leading to violent extremism and terrorism.
He reported that the recent inauguration of the new President of Kosovo and the general elections in Serbia had provided an excellent opportunity to move beyond a time marked by infighting and other distractions. Expressing hope that the conciliatory messages and visions presented by Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia and President Hashim Thaçi of Kosovo would help to settle the political scene, he said common challenges facing all parties, political groups and communities included the need for economic opportunity, better health care and a clean environment. “Real Kosovo politics are local,” he said. “What matters is how leaders […] address the everyday needs of the people in their communities.”
Ivica Dačić, Serbia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, emphasized the continuing validity of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) and the importance of UNMIK in coordinating international presences and stabilizing the situation in the southern Serbian province. Reaffirming his county’s commitment to dialogue with Kosovo in order to find solutions to all outstanding issues, he said, however, that Pristina had not yet fully implemented agreements already reached. Meanwhile, radicalism and extremism, including increasing enlistment by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) threatened the population, he warned.
Vlora Çitaku of Kosovo, emphasizing that inflammatory language by Serbian officials regarding links between Kosovo and ISIL must end, pointed out that Kosovo was an active partner of the global coalition against terrorism and saw ISIL as a regional threat. Kosovo was “on an irreversible path towards being embraced as an equal member of the free nations of the world”, she said, citing its admission into major international football associations, and the European Commission’s recommendation to grant visa-free travel for Kosovars in the Schengen area.
Several speakers welcomed the progress reported in Kosovo, with the representative of the United States saying UNMIK’s mandate had largely been accomplished. The only reason the Council was meeting so frequently on the issue was political, and it was now time to reduce both the time and money spent on the Mission. The Council seemed to be stuck in the past, he said, emphasizing that the reporting period should be extended to every six months, rather than every three months. After years of isolation, Kosovo was coming to be recognized on the international level, he said.
Others stressed that resolution 1244 (1999) sketched the path towards resolving the Kosovo question, with the Russian Federation’s representative emphasizing that no one had the right unilaterally to revise that Council decision. There were no grounds for reducing or drawing down UNMIK, he said, pointing out that much work remained to be done, according to the Secretary-General’s latest report. He also cited vandalism against Serb churches, cemeteries and other symbols of cultural and religious heritage, saying police had failed to intervene.
Some speakers welcomed Kosovo’s advances in establishing a specialized court to try allegations arising from the European Union Special Investigative Task Force. Others stressed the importance of supporting efforts to promote reconciliation, deepen dialogue and understanding among all communities and parties in Kosovo. Still others urged leaders in both Belgrade and Pristina to bolster efforts to create lasting peace, including by resolving the matter of displaced and missing persons, as well as protecting cultural and religious heritage.
Also speaking today were the representatives of France, Uruguay, Angola, Spain, Ukraine, Japan, Senegal, China, Venezuela, Malaysia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Egypt.
Serbia’s Minister Dačić and Ms. Çitaku of Kosovo both took the floor for a second intervention.
The meeting began at 10:06 a.m. and ended at 12:55 p.m.
