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The head of the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) said that it was “crucial” that the upcoming elections succeed in “delivering viable local authority” adding that full participation was encouraged, particularly in the northern municipalities, where local authority has “long lingered in dispute and controversy.” UNTV
 
Description

STORY: UN / KOSOVO
TRT: 2.25
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 29 AUGUST 2013, NEW YORK CITY

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Shotlist

RECENT – 2013, UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations Headquarters

29 AUGUST 2013, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council meeting
3. Med shot, video monitor with SRSG
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Farid Zarif said Special Representative of the Secretary-General, United Nations Assistance Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK):
“It is crucial that elections succeed in delivering viable local authority which can properly represent and defend the interests of local communities, as foreseen in the agreement. To this end, it is important that full participation in this election is encouraged, particularly in the northern municipalities, where local authority has long lingered in dispute and controversy. To achieve this result, steadfastness and flexibility will be required from each side, in particular to address effectively the concerns of the local population and overcome the uncertainty which currently prevails in the North.”
5. Cutaway, delegates
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Farid Zarif said Special Representative of the Secretary-General, United Nations Assistance Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK):
“It is essential for the parties to keep their focus on the implementation of what has been agreed, without introducing additional fundamental issues which are, at present, outside the agenda of the political dialogue. Doing otherwise may put at risk the progress achieved thus far. Of equal importance for success is a sustained effort to improve confidence and promote progress in inter-community reconciliation. This is a shared responsibility of political leaders at all levels, and will also require continuing international support.”
7. Cutaway, delegates
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ivan Mrkic, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Serbia:
“The implementation of the agreements may not be possible without an active participation by the United Nations. Firmly resolved to prove that Serbia is up to the challenges and tasks that it presented with, we also need a guarantor that the other side will not undermine the agreements already reached. In view of the enormous efforts invested by the Republic of Serbia so far in finding solutions acceptable to all sides. We would like to see –which we don’t- the other side investing efforts to bring about very necessary changes in the field.”
9. Cutaway, delegates
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Enver Hoxhaj, Representative of Kosovo:
“There is no doubt that UNMIK has played an active role in stabilizing Kosovo between 1999 and 2007. Now it is important to acknowledge that UNMIK no longer has a role to play in Kosovo. It is the time for this Council to consider transforming the UNMIK mission into a United Nations political office which would coordinate all UN agencies, funds and programmes. In this regard the most important function that UN could play in Kosovo is to support us in preparation for admission into the United Nation.”
11. Cutaway, delegates
12. Wide shot, Security Council

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Storyline

The head of the United Nations (UN) mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) said that it was
“crucial” that the upcoming elections in November succeed “in delivering viable local authority."

Addressing the UN Security Council today (29 August), Farid Zarif said that “full participation” in the local elections was encouraged, particularly in the northern municipalities, where “local authority has long lingered in dispute and controversy.”

Earlier this year (19 April) an agreement was brokered in Brussels by the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton. The agreement represented a first step toward normalization of relations and contained provisions allowing ethnic Serbs living in Kosovo's north access to their own police and appeals court.

The agreement also envisaged holding of local elections this year in municipalities of northern Kosovo with the facilitation of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Zarif said it was “essential” that the parties kept their focus on the implementation of what had been agreed “without introducing additional fundamental issues which are, at present, outside the agenda of the political dialogue.”

He also warned that “doing otherwise may put at risk the progress achieved thus far.”

Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Mrkic told the Council that the implementation of the agreements “may not be possible without an active participation by the United Nations.”

Noting the “enormous efforts” invested by Serbia in finding solutions acceptable to all sides, Mrkic said “we would like to see –which we don’t- the other side investing efforts to bring about very necessary changes in the field.”

The representative of Kosovo Enver Hoxhaj said that it was important to acknowledge that UNMIK no longer had a role to play in Kosovo, adding that it was time for the Council to consider transforming the UNMIK mission into a UN political office which would coordinate all UN agencies, funds and programmes.

He also said that the most important function the UN could play in Kosovo was “to support us in preparation for admission into the United Nations.”

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008 following years of ethnic tensions, but Serbia has not recognized the declaration. Since then, the European Union has been facilitating dialogue between the parties on a range of practical matters.

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Production Date
Creator
UNTV
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MAMS Id
U130829d