EU Presidency Statement - The situation in Kosovo

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, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, the associated countries of Cyprus, Malta and Turkey and Iceland and Liechtenstein, EFTA countries belonging to the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

Mr. President,

I should first like to thank the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Mr. Hans Haekkerup, for his comprehensive and regular briefings. We should also like to congratulate him for the scope of the work he has carried out with the men and women of UNMIK in order to implement resolution 1244, and we would reassure them of our support in their coming tasks.

The European Union will indeed continue to assist UNMIK in its efforts to develop effective, multi-ethnic and democratic Provisional Institutions of Self-Government, which meet the European Union's standards, particularly as regards human rights and good governance. The same applies to everything concerning the implementation of law and order by strengthening the police force and developing an effective and objective judicial system. Finally, it will support UNMIK's efforts in setting up the foundations for sustainable economic development in the context of a market economy.

Mr. President,

Amidst these important aims, recent developments concerning the preparation of the elections on 17 November obviously draw our attention. The European Union welcomes the registration of a considerable number of Serbian electors in Kosovo over recent weeks. Allow me to emphasize yet again the importance we attribute to massive participation in the ballot by all the communities in Kosovo to ensure that they are suitably represented in the new democratically elected institutions. We also welcome the certification of the "Return" coalition of Serbian political parties for the future elections. The positive role played by Belgrade in the registration of electors and political parties should now be followed by a clear appeal to the Serbian community in Kosovo to take part in the elections.

Lastly, Mr. President, sustained attention and collaboration of all the parties are still necessary to resolve the issues of security, missing persons and the return of displaced persons. As the Secretary?General's Special Representative said at his last briefing, considerable progress has been made in this area, despite the problems that persist. Close collaboration between Belgrade, UNMIK and KFOR remains vital in this regard.

Mr. President,

The situation of Mitrovica is still of the utmost sensitivity. We would encourage the Albanian political leaders to take all the confidence-building measures possible to allow the return to Mitrovica of the non-Albanian communities. We would likewise encourage the Serbian political leaders to take similar confidence-building steps to enable Albanian families to live and work in peace in the north of Mitrovica and the north of Kosovo. Generally speaking, and to avoid any fresh misunderstandings, the European Union recommends that the important decisions directly affecting the population of Mitrovica and northern Kosovo be accompanied by an intensive media campaign.

Mr. President,

We hope that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continues, for its part, to take decisive steps towards the national reconciliation of all its communities. The Security Council, in its resolution 1371, has associated itself with the efforts made by the Member States and international organizations concerned to support application of the Framework Agreement and, in this respect, has energetically supported the establishment of a multinational security presence. The European Union would encourage the Parliament and all the democratic forces of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to continue to commit themselves to the further legislative work needed to implement the Framework Agreement. The European Union would point out that full and fair implementation of the Framework Agreement by all the parties concerned is the only guarantee of a return to peace, of national reconciliation and of rapprochement with the European Union.

Mr. President,

The deadline of 17 November will soon be upon us. These elections, and the democratic institutions to emerge from them, will provide impetus for the advancement of implementation of resolution 1244. Even if, over a few weeks, our attention is mainly drawn to this event, it is nonetheless only one stage in a process, which will require even closer attention on the part of the international community. More than ever, collaboration, cooperation and partnership will be the watchwords for our future endeavors. The European Union is making these its priorities.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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• EU Presidency declaration - Election in Kosovo (6/3/2002)
• EU humanitarian assistance to FYROM and Kosovo (24/1/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - Security Council on the situation in Kosovo (21/1/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - Kosovo and FYROM (28/8/2001)
• EU Presidency declaration on visit of Kosovo Special Representative to Belgrade (4/6/2001)
• EU Presidency Statement - Kosovo (9/4/2001)
• EU Presidency Statement - Kosovo (16/3/2001)
• EU humanitarian aid to Kosovo (15/2/2001)
• EU Presidency Statement - The situation in Kosovo (18/1/2001)