EU Presidency Statement - The situation in Kosovo

Mr. President,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union (Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia), as well as Cyprus, Malta and Turkey align themselves with this declaration.

I would like to begin by paying tribute to the Secretary-General's Special Representative, and to UNMIK, for the tremendous amount they have achieved in Kosovo over the last 18 months or so. When he took up his duties in Kosovo, Mr. Bernard Kouchner was confronted with a profoundly damaged and divided society, a collapsed administration, a dramatic humanitarian situation and an economy in ruins. With his team, and in particularly difficult conditions, he has relentlessly implemented the mandate entrusted to him by the Security Council. He has made Resolution 1244 come to life. We must salute his determined efforts, which are now bearing fruit.

Let us remember:

In 1999, hundreds of thousands of Kosovars had been cast onto the roads or had chosen the path of exile, far from their homes. Most have now returned to the towns and villages from which they came. One year after the exodus, it has been possible to conclude the activities of the humanitarian pillar of UNMIK.

The economy had been shattered, and many houses destroyed. This was the "year zero" for Kosovo. Nowadays, private initiatives are backing up the massive international aid effort to ensure that reconstruction is successfully completed. The European Union is playing a decisive role in this. Tens of thousands of houses have been rebuilt, outdated industries have been gradually brought up to standard, a budget for Kosovo has been established, and a suitable legal framework is promoting the recovery of economic activity. In all sectors, housing, education, health, transport and infrastructure, the results are there to see.

Administrative structures were no longer in existence. The old structures, subservient to the special interests of a regime, which had scorned the rights of its people, had melted away in the turmoil. New structures remained to be built, complying with the principles of the rule of law. UNMIK ensured that this happened. It worked methodically, setting rules and creating an administrative machinery from scratch. It made every effort to encourage responsible Kosovars, whatever their ethnic origin, to participate in this task. It did not persevere in vain.

I would like to congratulate the Special Representative on the preparations for and conduct of the municipal elections held in Kosovo on 28 October. Kfor and UNMIK have worked together in order to ensure security.

Those elections were a demonstration of the favorable developments, which had been noted over recent months. The ballot took place in an atmosphere of calm. A notable feature was the remarkably high turnout. This demonstrated the sense of responsibility of the people, who carried out their civic duty in an orderly manner, and with dignity. The administration will be closer to the people and be able to listen better to its concerns. A new and important step was taken towards the implementation of Resolution 1244, which remains the keystone of action by the international community in Kosovo.

The consolidation of democracy, the establishment of the rule of law and respect for minority rights remain amongst UNMIK's highest priorities. In connection with the local elections, we should welcome Mr. Bernard Kouchner's intention to nominate representatives of the Kosovo Serbs to certain municipal councils, and subsequently to organize partial elections. In general, any initiative launched by the United Nations mission to allow members of the Serb community and other minorities to live in their homes in peace and security should be welcomed.

However, although less frequent, signs of intolerance remain. Those who have an interest in making reconciliation between Kosovars of all backgrounds fail are continuing their provocative activities. The murder of four members of the Ashkali minority who had returned to their village is a recent odious example, which must be vigorously condemned. But impunity will not prevail: the provocateurs will not have the last word. They will be sought out, and will have to answer for their actions. In their wisdom the voters of Kosovo demonstrated on 28 October that they unambiguously reject these acts of hatred, and the ideology which underlies them.

All the inhabitants of Kosovo should be able to live together on their shared land. This means the return of the Serb and Roma refugees, and those from other minorities. A multi-ethnic, democratic and prosperous Kosovar society, united in respect for the rights and identity of all, is now, more than ever before, the confirmed ambition of the international community. Despite the obstacles which remain to be surmounted, the United Nations is resolute in its support of the Special Representative in his untiring desire to achieve this aim.

Democratic changes in the region will make progress easier. The threads of dialogue can be taken up anew between men and women of good will. Gestures of peace will be able to multiply. Ways to cooperate, which are so necessary, will be explored further. The return home of the human rights campaigner Flora Brovina is one of the first significant illustrations of these new circumstances, which will pave the way to an early solution to the issue of the prisoners and missing persons as a whole. Let us hope and pray that these encouraging developments continue. They will enable us to fulfill our ambitions and construct Kosovo on the foundations of law and justice.

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