UNMIK/PR/1435
Monday, 24 October 2005
SRSG addresses the United Nations Security Council
PRISTINA _ SRSG Soren Jessen-Petersen today addressed the UN Security
Council meeting in New York. Following is the text of his address:
Excellencies,
For the past 12 months this Council has been noting positive developments in
Kosovo, including improvements in security and in the field of standards
implementation, but the Council has also underlined the need for further
progress. A fortnight ago, upon receipt of Ambassador Eide’s report, the
Secretary-General recommended to the Council that the process of settling
Kosovo’s future status should begin “very soon”.
The start of this process will be a galvanising moment in Kosovo. And though
its ultimate outcome cannot be known, I am confident that the resolution of
Kosovo’s status can have only a positive effect on the wider region,
including on Serbia, in terms of political stabilisation, reconciliation,
and economic growth. So while the way ahead will no doubt be difficult, it
must nonetheless be clear to all of us that continuing with the status quo
is not a viable option.
Mr President, I know that the Prime Minister of Kosovo has transmitted to
you a letter for circulation in the Council. In the letter, the Government
commits itself to move forward, addressing with determination those
obstacles still in the way of Kosovo’s journey towards fulfilling its
aspirations and towards a future in Europe.
As Prime Minister Kosumi notes in his letter, forward movement is needed as
much outside the status process as it is within it. By this, I mean that
political life in Kosovo cannot be consumed entirely by status talks – vital
as they will be. There is a huge amount of work to be done even as talks
proceed.
With this in mind, UNMIK has identified six priority areas on which we will
concentrate over the coming months. You will note a strong commitment by the
Prime Minister in his letter to continue working hard to deliver results in
the pursuit of these priorities.
The first priority is to continue apace with the implementation of
standards. The PISG and UNMIK have reviewed the Kosovo Standards
Implementation Plan with a view to reinforcing progress on those actions
which will do most to improve the living conditions of minorities in Kosovo
and to promote a multi-ethnic future. Freedom of movement and returns are
two key areas. On the latter, we must continue working hard to reassure, and
improve the living conditions of, those Kosovo Serbs living in Kosovo, while
at the same time promoting the conditions for sustainable returns of those
still displaced. I don’t expect major returns before status is clarified,
but to reassure Kosovo Serbs of their future in Kosovo and to promote
returns we need a constructive engagement of Belgrade and the direct
involvement of the Kosovo Serbs.
As the Standards Implementation Plan is reinforced, we are working with the
PISG and the European Commission to integrate it and Kosovo’s European
Partnership Action Plan, so that progress on Standards may be linked to
incentives through synergy with work on moving Kosovo toward the European
future it shares with all the Western Balkans.
One of the key standards relates to the economy. Privatization,
modernization of publicly-owned enterprise management and development of a
market-oriented legal regime are all laying a groundwork for eventual growth
of Kosovo’s economy, and prospects for a better future for all its people.
The IMF is, as we speak, in Pristina working with the PISG and UNMIK to
reinforce Kosovo’s fiscal management programs and create the basis for a
major donor support conference in December that can ease the tight budget
constraints and allow more development in turn to spur growth. However,
without clarity on status, progress will be limited, as foreign direct
investments and access to loans will remain hugely problematic. In this
context, I would add that economic opportunities for all can act as a key
source of reconciliation, whereas continued stagnation and lack of economic
prospects will continue to be a key source of instability.
The second priority is to support the PISG in pursuing a comprehensive
reform of local government. In order to ensure that Belgrade is able to
inject its thoughts into the debate on a comprehensive reform, I informed
President Tadic and Prime Minister Kostunica during my recent visit to
Belgrade that the PISG is ready to build on the recent meeting in Vienna
between the Serbian minister responsible for local government and his
Kosovan counterpart. Such direct dialogue might initially focus on the issue
of competencies of local self-government, an issue of crucial importance to
assure the minorities that their future should be anchored on meaningful
local government and authority within a centrally managed Kosovo process.
Comprehensive reform to benefit all communities is now on the agenda and,
following the successful implementation of three out of five pilot projects,
I believe achievable in parallel with status talks.
Third, we will continue to pursue a comprehensive security agenda, including
the transfer of competencies from UNMIK to two new PISG ministries of public
order and justice by the end of the year. Rule of law, with effective
delivery of justice and the continued combat of organised crime are key
requirements for any viable society. We still have some way to go but I
believe that transfer in the areas of justice and police is crucial in order
to prepare for status. We are very conscious as we do this of the
sensitivity of these sectors, as also flagged by Ambassador Eide, and we
have made it clear that transfers in these areas will be gradual, phased and
dependent on transparency and non-politicization at each prior stage. We
will also be looking beyond the immediate requirements of these two
Ministries to the wider field of security by pushing forward a comprehensive
Internal Security Sector Review. This process, which includes dialogue with
all communities in Kosovo, is intended to help formulate a sense of the
challenges which face Kosovo in the security field and thereby to assist in
the design of its future internal security architecture, to be implemented
when status has been resolved.
Fourth, PISG, UNMIK, and donors must strengthen efforts in the field of
capacity building in order to ensure that, regardless of the outcome of the
status talks, Kosovo’s institutions will be fully capable of taking on the
responsibilities that flow to them. A lot of progress has been made over the
last 12 months with the ongoing transfer of competencies from UNMIK to
central and local PISG authorities. The PISG has committed itself to
establish an Action Plan in the very near future, which will contain an
overview of capacity needs and how to address them, targeted towards
managing post-status Kosovo. This will allow for co-ordinated and strategic
planning on the part of the Kosovo Government – including all its line
ministries - and also for donors, who can support the identified needs.
Fifth, we will continue to restructure UNMIK throughout the coming period
with a view to having the optimal setup throughout the status process. At
the same time, we are co-operating with our international partners – such as
the EU, OSCE, and NATO – to develop a phased and well-managed transition to
eventual future arrangements following – but without prejudice to – the
outcome of status talks. We have begun a process of informal dialogue with
key partners to identify those areas where there may be needs for a
continued international presence and support to the authorities and citizens
of Kosovo.
Finally, and through close collaboration among KFOR, UNMIK, and KPS and
increasingly with the central and local authorities in Kosovo, we will
continue in our efforts to ensure the maintenance of a safe and secure
environment for everyone in Kosovo. The security environment in Kosovo is at
the moment stable, but isolated recent incidents remind us that, with the
difficult status process about to begin, there is no cause for complacency.
That process, and possible provocations from all sides, will undoubtedly
test our ability to maintain the secure environment that has, by and large,
prevailed in Kosovo during the last 18 months. The Commander of KFOR, to
whom and to whose troops I pay tribute, and I are confident that we are well
equipped to respond to any threat that may aim at stopping Kosovo´s way
forward.
Indeed, the forthcoming status process presents risks and confronts
political leaders with difficult choices. But it represents a huge
opportunity for Kosovo. It is an opportunity for the Kosovo Albanian
leadership to show true commitment and action and take more decisive steps
towards building the kind of multi-ethnic, democratic, and tolerant society
that will undoubtedly bring them closer to realising their dreams and goals
when status is decided. I believe the status process also presents a chance
for Belgrade and most importantly for Kosovo’s Serbs to engage. The coming
months will provide a singular opportunity for them to define their role and
position in Kosovo’s future. It is vital that they are able to seize this
chance and ensure that their voice is heard in both the status talks
themselves and the institutions of Kosovo while those talks proceed.
I hope that Belgrade will see this opportunity to finally make it possible
for Kosovo’s Serb community to take their seats in the Assembly and in
Kosovo’s provisional institutions at all levels so that they can play an
active part in designing Kosovo´s future.
Let me emphasize a point that should not go unstated: the status process is
a process in which the voices of civil society and all the people of Kosovo
must be heard and respected. Kosovo’s Turks, Bosniaks, Gorani, Roma,
Croats, Ashkali, Egyptians have as much claim to our consideration and to
the future of Kosovo as its Serbs and Albanians. Kosovo’s diversity is in
fact its treasure.
Mr. President, we all know that the positions of Belgrade and Pristina on
the issue of Kosovo's status are far apart. But it will remain so until and
unless it is resolved by an internationally managed process, and the sooner
that is done, the better for the citizens in Kosovo and in the region. After
more than six years of UN involvement and investment in Kosovo, we now have
the chance and the challenge to support the citizens to leave the painful
past behind and build a peaceful and prosperous future.
The Security Council has played a key role in getting us this far, and I
know that I can count on the continued support and active engagement of
members of this Council now and in the next and decisive phase of
implementation of UNSCR 1244.
Thank you, Excellencies, for your kind attention
Serbian News Network - SNN
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