UN / KOSOVO

UN Special Representative for Kosovo Lamberto Zannier briefs the Security Council on the report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Kosovo. UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:51
• Production Date: 3 August 2010
• Asset Language: Original
• Subject Topical: POLITICAL AFFAIRS; LAW; INTERNATIONAL LAW; POLITICAL CONDITIONS; POLITICAL CONDITIONS; POLITICAL MOVEMENTS; INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; PEACE AND SECURITY; INTERNATIONAL LAW
• Geographic Subject: SERBIA
• MAMS Id: U100803d

Description

STORY: UN / KOSOVO
TRT: 2.51
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 03 AUGUST 2010, NEW YORK CITY

Shotlist

RECENT 2010, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

03 AUGUST 2010, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Lamberto Zannier, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Kosovo (UNMIK):
“Insufficient progress towards reconciliation between the communities and the unresolved issues which hamper such reconciliation, coupled with slow economic development and a high rate of unemployment, continue to present the risk of social unrest. For its part, UNMIK continues to implement its mandate in a status neutral manner, assisting Kosovo’s communities, interacting with the institutions in Prishtina and the other key stakeholders in Kosovo, with the Government in Belgrade and with other regional and international actors.”
4. Cutaway, delegates
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Vuk Jeremic, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Serbia:
“We will continue to use all diplomatic resources at the disposal of a sovereign state to oppose this attempt to forcibly change our borders in peacetime. No peaceful and proud nation facing such a threat-be it African, European, Asian or American; be it small or large, rich or poor-would act differently.”
6. Cutaway, delegates
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Skender Hyseni, Kosovo:
“The time has come to replace resolution 1244 with a new resolution reflecting realities created with the independence of Kosovo and the ICJ clear ruling in its favour. Our request for replacement of 1244 is in line with Kosovo’s ultimate objective of becoming a UN member. Membership with United nations is a goal we eagerly look forward to achieve as soon as possible, a natural step after ICJ ruling.”
8. Cutaway, delegates
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Philip Parham, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom, United Nations:
“The United Kingdom support for Kosovo’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity remains as strong as ever. We welcome the recent advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice which in response to the question put to it by the General Assembly confirms the Kosovo declaration independence was in accordance with international law. Our understanding of the opinion differs from Serbia’s in particular the opinion does not create a precedent. Kosovo is a unique case its independence is contingent on its particular facts. It does not provide a template for secessions else where. The legal process before the ICJ had now come to an end and this must also mean an end to debates about Kosovo’s status.
10. Wide shot, Security Council

Storyline

The United Nations (UN) Security Council met today (3 August) to consider the Secretary-General’s report on the situation in Kosovo.
The meeting comes nearly two weeks after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found that Kosovo’s declaration of independence in 2008 did not violate international law.
Lamberto Zannier, the head of the UN mission (UNMIK) told the council members that the situation in Kosovo had been relatively stable although the potential for instability remained in the north of the province. Zannier emphasized that insufficient progress towards reconciliation between the communities, coupled with slow economic development and a high rate of unemployment, continued to present “the risk of social unrest.”

He noted that UNMIK continued to implement its mandate in a status neutral manner, assisting Kosovo’s communities, interacting with the institutions in Pristina, with the Government in Belgrade and with other regional and international actors.

Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vuk Jeremic, said that his country would continue to use all diplomatic resources at their disposal to oppose “this attempt to forcibly change our borders in peacetime.” He added that no “peaceful and proud” nation facing such a threat would act differently.

Kosovo’s Representative Skender Hyseni announced that “the time has come to replace resolution 1244 with a new resolution reflecting realities created with the independence of Kosovo and the ICJ clear ruling in its favour.

He stressed that the request for replacement of Security Council resolution 1244 was in line with Kosovo’s “ultimate objective of becoming a UN member”, which he considered a natural step after the International Court’s ruling.

British Ambassador Philip Parham noted that the United Kingdom’s support for Kosovo’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity “remains as strong as ever”, and he welcomed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice

Parham said that Kosovo was a “unique case” and that it did not provide a template for secessions else where as Serbia said.

Following Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence in February 2007, so far 69 of the 193 UN member states have recognized Kosovo.