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8254th Security Council Meeting: Report of Secretary-General on Kosovo
Rising political temperatures between Pristina and Belgrade were threatening to derail efforts to find lasting peace in Kosovo, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General told the Security Council today.
Zahir Tanin, who is also Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), said positive steps, such as a new border agreement with Montenegro and recent talks in Brussels, were being undermined by deteriorating conditions on the ground. Briefing on the Secretary-General’s latest report (document S/2018/407), he said violent and rhetorical confrontations between the parties must be calmed to ensure shared progress towards common goals, encouraging all leaders to organize the future rather than mourn the past, with a spirit of moving forward with compassion, understanding and clarity.
For its part, the Mission continued to prioritize its work in the areas of trust-building, human rights and limited, but essential aspects of support to rule of law and justice institutions. “Our efforts are aimed at sustaining peace, ensuring we remain at the forefront of monitoring and analysing the situation and reinforcing strategic coordination with members of all United Nations entities, as well as international partners in complementing the efforts of Kosovo’s institutions,” he said.
During the subsequent discussion, Council members debated the future of UNMIK, with the United States’ delegate saying the time had come to close the Mission. Agreeing, the United Kingdom’s representative said that, given more pressing situations around the world, it was inappropriate and inefficient for the Council to devote so much time and resources to the situation in Kosovo, he said, supporting the reduction of attention to it and a review of the Mission’s activities.
Representing another perspective, the Russian Federation’s delegate said recent reports of lawlessness contrasted sharply with the “rosy picture” painted by some parties, making it completely inappropriate to modify the Council’s consideration of the situation. Echoing that view, some delegates expressed strong support for UNMIK and its essential, continuous efforts, with Ethiopia’s representative expressing hope that the Mission would continue to promote political dialogue, strengthen community reconciliation and ensure security and stability in Kosovo and the region.
Delegates also expressed regret over recent violent developments, with some saying Council resolution 1244 (1999) should guide actions, including the formation of Kosovo armed forces and the establishment of a community of Serbian municipalities. Referring to the Secretary-General’s report, some representatives spotlighted events that threatened peace, stability and the resumption of dialogue, including the 16 January assassination of Kosovo-Serb politician Oliver Ivanović and the 26 March incident involving Marko Ðurić, Director of Serbia’s Kosovo office, who had been arrested, “manhandled” along a street in Pristina and expelled from Kosovo, with the latter triggering the President of Serbia’s announcement the following day that the Serbian List leadership had intended to withdraw from Kosovo’s governing coalition.
Such actions disrupted the peace required to find a lasting solution, many delegates said. Some raised concerns about Kosovo’s disproportionate use of force in the apprehension of Mr. Ðurić, calling on both parties to return to dialogue with a view to forging a lasting peace. Others raised concerns about the slow return of refugees and internally displaced persons.
Ivica Dačić, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia, said that, while the Mission had accomplished a lot, much more must be done, referring to dialogue as the only way towards a long-term solution. Underlining the Council’s obligation to help find such a solution, he said calls to downsize the Mission and cut its budget had fallen short of contributing to that goal, particularly amid ongoing tensions and violence at a time when perpetrators must be held accountable.
Meanwhile, Vlora Çitaku of Kosovo said UNMIK had served its purpose. Noting that Kosovo had been omitted from the Secretary-General’s report on conflict‑related sexual violence, she said non-governmental organizations had collected some 20,000 accounts of systematic rape and torture perpetrated by Serbian forces during the war in Kosovo. However, no perpetrators had ever been brought to justice. Warning against turning a blind eye to those crimes, she stressed Serbia’s promotion of war criminals as heroes and role models was unacceptable for a European Union candidate country.
Also delivering statements were representatives of Bolivia, Equatorial Guinea, Netherlands, Peru, Kuwait, France, China, Kazakhstan, Côte d’Ivoire, Sweden and Poland.
The meeting began at 10:07 a.m. and ended at 12:43 p.m.
