Summary: January 21, 2002: Statement by H.E. Mr. Inocencio F. Arias, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations, on behalf of the European Union at the public meeting of the Security Council on the situation in Kosovo (New York)
Mr President:
It is for me an honour to intervene on behalf of the EU. The following countries also support this statement: Bulgaria, Cezch Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta, Turkey, and Liechtenstein.
Mr President,
Today is the first time that the Security Council is dealing with Kosovo in 2002. The beginning of a new year is a good opportunity to take stock of the events of the last few months, especially in view of the moste recent replacement of the Special Representative of the Secretary General. The EU wishes to take advantage of this opportunity to express its high appreciation for the work carried out by Mr Hans Haekkerup in 2001 and for the impetus he has been able to give to institutional
development and consolidation of democracy in Kosovo. We wish him every success in his new tasks.
The EU is glad to see that Mr. Michael Steiner has been appointed Special Representative of the Secretary General. We are sure his broad experience in the Balkans will prove most useful in his new endeavour, and offer him the full support of the EU in the discharge of his duties.
2001 has been marked by two events of special importance: the promulgation of the Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Government and the successful holding of the Assembly elections on 17 November with the participation of all of Kosovo's communities.
The signing of a Common Document between UNMIK and the FRY, which marked a new relationship between UNMIK and Belgrade and led to the FRY and Serbian Governments urging the Kosovo Serbs to participate in the elections, has also been very important.
The establishment in May of a new Police and Justice Pillar in UNMIK has significantly enhanced Kosovo's law and order structures.
Mr President,
The beginning of the year is also a time to look to the future and set priorities for 2002.
There is no doubt that 2002 will mark a new stage for Kosovo. The inauguration on 10 December of the Assembly of Kosovo was an historic moment for the province. In the words used by the Secretary General that day, it was a "milestone on the road to democracy". The EU congratulates all members of the Assembly on taking up their seats, as well as Nexhet Daci on his election as President of the Assembly, and urges them to work, within the framework of resolution 1244 and the Constitutional
Framework, for the benefit of all the people of Kosovo.
The inauguration of the Assembly has set in train the process of provisional self-government and paved the way for the transfer of authority from UNMIK to the new institutions. This will without doubt be for the benefit of all communities and of stability of the province, in accordance with resolution 1244, which remains the basis for building Kosovo's future. The EU is concerned at the delay in the election by the Assembly of the President of Kosovo, and the consequent delay in the
establishment of the institutions of provisional self-government and in the transfer of authority from UNMIK to those institutions. We call on all the elected representatives to demonstrate responsibility and leadership so that self-government for the benefit of the entire population can become a reality.
UNMIK will continue to play an important role in Kosovo. The EU encourages UNMIK to continue to work actively in the areas where power remains the reserve of the Special Representative of the SG, as well as to ensure full compliance by the provisional institutions of self-government with resolution 1244, the Constitutional Framework and other relevant UNMIK Regulations.
The EU welcomed with great satisfaction the fact that the Serbian community finally decided to participate in the November elections. We are confident that the Kosovo Serb coalition, as the third largest force in the Assembly, will become involved in the political life of Kosovo, and participate fully in the functioning of the provisional institutions.
The EU welcomes progress made so far by UNMIK and the Belgrade authorities on the commitments made in the Common Document. They must press on with its application and with efforts to ensure that cooperation is maintained and consolidated. The new provisional authorities in Kosovo must also demonstrate their commitment to this process and we look forward to participation of their representatives in future meetings of the High-ranking Working Group, which should serve as a useful instrument to
promote political dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade.
As the SG indicated last 10 December in his address on the occasion of the inauguration of the Assembly, it is time to overcome the legacy of the past and establish a political culture of tolerance, mutual respect and constructive compromise. UNMIK and KFOR will have to remain vigilant in ensuring the security conditions necessary so that those who are already in Kosovo feel sufficiently protected and able to live in dignity, and that internally displaced persons feel in a position to
return.
The number of returnees during 2001 has been particularly discouraging. Less than 1000 IDPs returned to the province. Encouraging minority returns needs to be a priority for all in Kosovo. We look forward to the Framework for 2002/2003 that the newly established Office of Returns and Communities within the Office of the SRSG is working upon in consultation with the authorities in Belgrade and throughout Kosovo. The International Community will also need to provide support to this process if
significant numbers of displaced persons are to be able to return to Kosovo.
The issue of the Kosovo-Albanian detainees in Serbia is still one of particular concern for the EU. Much has been done during the last two years and out of 2000 original detainees approximately 1800 have already been released. Some 160 prisoners remain in detention in Serbia. We urge UNMIK and the FRY Government to agree on rapid review of all cases involving Kosovo Albanian detainees held in Serbia for offences they are alleged to have committed in Kosovo. Those found not guilty should be
released immediately. The EU urges both Belgrade and UNMIK to make a concentrated effort to resolve this issue, under the auspices of the Common Document, in the first quarter of this year.
We agree with the Secretary General's assessment that security and freedom of movement for Kosovo's minority communities remain a serious concern, in spite of the slight improvement in the last months. We encourage UNMIK and KFOR to continue to do their utmost to improve security, as much as we urge all political leaders in the province to do everything they can to end violence.
Organised crime and extremism continue to pose a significant threat to Kosovo, as well as to the stability of the wider region. The EU commends UNMIK for progress made to strengthen law and order structures but notes that a considerable amount needs to be done if organised crime and extremism are to be addressed effectively.
The EU strongly condemns the murder last Thursday 17th of the Kosovo Assembly member Ismael Hajdaraj, and urges all members of the Assembly to show a mature spirit of responsibility facing this new episode of violence. The provisional institutions of self-government shall share with UNMIK a special responsibility in facing the continuous scourge of political and ethnic violence, which is obstructing the path towards a multiethnic Kosovo.
A new spirit of cooperation has to be shown in this field and in the fight against organised crime and terrorism, which are priority sectors of concern for the EU in the province as well as in the broader region.
Mr President,
The Stabilisation and Association Process, that the EU has launched, and the Stability Pact aim both at enhancing regional ownership and to promote regional cooperation. The EU attaches enormous importance to its own efforts to support democracy, ethnic coexistence, peaceful relations among neighbours and regional cooperation. We firmly believe these shall be goals that we all aim at in the Balkans.
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