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UN Special Representative for Kosovo Zahir Tanin said the situation there remained “dominated by frequent adversarial actions on the ground” adding that actions which attempt to “pre-empt” an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina “are not conducive to achieving political compromise.” UNIFEED
Description

STORY: UN / KOSOVO
TRT: 2:52
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / SERBIAN / NATS

DATELINE: 14 NOVEMBER 2018, NEW YORK CITY

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Shotlist

FILE - NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, UNHQ exterior

NOVEMBER 2018, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Zahir Tanin, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo, United Nations:
“The political talks in Brussels took place against a situation still dominated by frequent adversarial actions on the ground, many of which carry real consequences for the populations. Actions which attempt to pre-empt agreement are not conducive to achieving political compromise. Whether on larger or smaller issues, one-sided actions carry the constant potential to influence the situation on the ground.”
4.Med shot, Citaku at Security Council
5. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Ivica Dacic, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Serbia:
“I have to admit that I do not understand how this situation can be characterized as stable by anyone. Or perhaps a stable situation implies that Serbs are fair game, that attacks on them are normal, that they did and will occur and that they do not merit attention and response.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Ivica Dacic, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Serbia
“I can agree that the situation in Kosovo is significantly different than it was in 1999 or in 2009, but the Mission is different from what it used to be at that time as well. To allege, however, that the Mission is not needed and that it has fulfilled its purpose is far from reality.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Vlora Citaku, Kosovo’s ambassador to the United States:
“Ladies and gentlemen, let me be clear. No other state, spare Kosovo, no other citizens, but the ones of Kosovo, have veto power over the establishment of our armed forces. This issue is a matter of sovereign decision, one which Kosovo shall conclude soon. And again, allow me to be completely candid, this is not something which we will ever dialogue with Serbia about.”
10. Wide shot, Security Council
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Vlora Citaku, Kosovo’s ambassador to the United States:
“This dialogue is not about debating Kosovo’s right to exist as a free nation under the sun. This dialogue is principally and exclusively about peace, reconciliation, and mutual recognition. As such the dialogue will only have meaning and produce results if we decide to speak in earnest with our domestic audiences about the process in Brussels.”
12. Wide shot, Security Council

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Storyline

UN Special Representative for Kosovo Zahir Tanin said the situation there remained “dominated by frequent adversarial actions on the ground” adding that actions which attempt to “pre-empt” an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina “are not conducive to achieving political compromise.”

Addressing the Security Council today (14 Nov), Tanin said the political talks between Presidents Aleksander Vucic and Hashim Thaci in Brussels confirmed their mutual intention to continue the dialogue but took place against “adversarial actions” many of which carry “real consequences for the populations.” He added, “Whether on larger or smaller issues, one-sided actions carry the constant potential to influence the situation on the ground.”

Tanin said Kosovo’s announcement of a ten percent tax on imports of Serbian and Bosnian good increased tensions between the two side and created instability for businesses and people. He noted that the recent approval by the Assembly of Kosovo of three draft laws on the Kosovo Security Force that aim to significantly enhance the strength and responsibilities of the Force, has also caused renewed tensions. He stressed that this issue must be handled with utmost care, to ensure that steps taken are the result of a fully inclusive, fully representative political process respecting relevant legal frameworks.

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said while the conflict was far behind the parties, the situation was far from stable in Kosovo. He expressed Serbia’s opposition to the formation of a Kosovar armed forces adding that unilateral decisions were unacceptable while dialogue was being conducted aimed at finding solutions. He said Kosovo violated the 2013 Brussels agreement with the visit of its president to the Gazivode hydro-electric plant adding that Pristina intended to take over the energy infrastructure in northern Kosovo. Dacic added that attacks continued on Serbs and their property in Kosovo, siting a OSCE report which said that the number of incidents against members of non-Albanian communities rose almost 20 percent from January to June 2018 compared to the previous six months.

SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Ivica Dacic, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Serbia:
“I have to admit that I do not understand how this situation can be characterized as stable by anyone. Or perhaps a stable situation implies that Serbs are fair game, that attacks on them are normal, that they did and will occur and that they do not merit attention and response.”

The Serbian Foreign Minister turned to the request by the United States to the UN Secretary-General to initiate a strategic review of the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). While he agreed that the situation in Kosovo is “significantly different than it was in 1999 or in 2009”, Dacic said the UNMIK was also different from what it used to be at that time as well. He added, “To allege, however, that the Mission is not needed and that it has fulfilled its purpose is far from reality.”

Kosovo’s ambassador to the United States Vlora Citaku said UNMIK was no longer a peacekeeping mission as Kosovo had moved on from its war-torn past and was now an independent country. She said Kosovars believed that the UN’s resources could be put to much better use in offering solutions to more troubling problems.

Citaku said Kosovo was not engaged in building an army with the intention of threating anyone rather it was transforming the mandate of its existing security force to contribute to regional and global security to the full extent of its potential. She said, “No other state, spare Kosovo, no other citizens, but the ones of Kosovo, have veto power over the establishment of our armed forces. This issue is a matter of sovereign decision, one which Kosovo shall conclude soon. And again, allow me to be completely candid, this is not something which we will ever dialogue with Serbia about.”

The Kosovar representative said dialogue was the only path forward for the two sides but stressed that dialogue was “not about debating Kosovo’s right to exist as a free nation under the sun.” She said dialogue was “principally and exclusively about peace, reconciliation, and mutual recognition.” Citaku said the dialogue would only have meaning and produce results if “we decide to speak in earnest with our domestic audiences about the process in Brussels” adding that it was essential that Serbia acknowledge Kosovo’s inalienable rights and freedoms.

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