Summary: March 27, 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 meeting of the Security Council on the situation in Kosovo (New York)
Mr. President,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The countries of Central and Eastern Europe associated with the European Union: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia; the associated countries Malta, Cyprus and Turkey; and the EFTA countries belonging to the European Economic Area Iceland and Liechtenstein, align themselves with this statement.
We welcome the participation of Dr. Nebojsa Covic, Vice Primer Minister of Serbia, in today's meeting of the Council.
Mr. President,
The European Union welcomes the election by the Kosovo Assembly of the President of Kosovo, Mr. Ibrahim Rugova, and the establishment of a Government, which mark an important step forward in the implementation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999). The Union trusts that these newly established institutions will take on in full the functions assigned to them by the Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Government. We congratulate SRSG Steiner for his success in brokering an
agreement on the formation of the government, and support his intention to hold municipal elections on 21 September.
We look forward to a resolution of the question of participation of the Coalition Povratak (KP) in the Government. Povratak has a crucial role to play in shaping Kosovo's new institutions.
The EU concurs with SRSG Steiner's objective to tackle the challenges of laying the foundation for economic progress, establishing a political culture based on the rule of law, including the fight against crime and violence, and building a fair and just society with dignity for all. The EU calls on all the parties to co-operate fully with UNMIK and KFOR in pursuing these objectives.
The fight against organised crime and violence continues to be of the utmost importance to the European Union. Freedom from fear is a basic condition for democracy to take root in Kosovo. We support all steps towards the eradication of organised crime and violence and welcome the recently adopted regulation to enhance the investigation of criminal activities. We also look forward to upcoming regulations to tackle the economic crime that is hindering progress in the establishment of a
functioning economy.
The EU continues to support the full implementation of the Common Document for cooperation between UNMIK and the FRY signed last November, and expects significant progress in all areas within its framework. We welcome the announcement that all Kosovo Albanians detained in the Republic of Serbia were returned to Kosovo. It does indeed constitute a good example of the efficacy of that cooperation.
We also expect cooperation between the elected representatives of the people of Kosovo, UNMIK and Belgrade to be instrumental in creating the conditions of security and freedom of movement for all communities necessary to ensure an increase in the return of displaced Serbs to Kosovo.
The EU reiterates the need to fully respect the border agreement between the FYROM and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia signed in February 2001, and welcomes the decision of SRSG Steiner and the President of FYROM to set up a joint committee to deal with practical problems on the ground that can derive from its implementation. We look forward to further measures to enhance police cooperation between UNMIK and FYROM in fighting organized crime.
Mr. President,
We have reiterated that the main perspective for the people of Kosovo is integration in the European Union. But if it is to have a European future, it must be a Kosovo with a democratic multi-ethnic society based on the rule of law, and dignity and freedom of movement for all communities. We encourage the newly established provisional institutions as well as community leaders to do their utmost to achieve these goals, with the assistance of UNMIK, the European Union and the international
community at large.
The EU remains indeed committed to providing economic and political support to Kosovo. We are by far the biggest contributor to the reconstruction of the province, where we provide assistance in areas such as economic, fiscal and monetary policy and management, and the building of local capacity.
Mr. President,
We take this opportunity to welcome progress made in FYROM in the implementation of the Framework Agreement, as well as the success of the Donors' Meeting organised earlier in the month in Brussels by the Commission of the EU and the World Bank.
The EU firmly believes that concentrating the energies of the region on economic development, institutional reform and European integration is the best way to bring about stability and overcome conflict. We remain committed to continuing our economic assistance under the Stabilization and Association process, in conformity with the existing policy of conditionality based on the achievement of European standards.
Thank you Mr. President.
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