UN Security Council on new Kosovo report

Source: Tanjug

NEW YORK -- PM Ivica Dačić has said that any debate referring to potential change in the scope and mandate of EULEX should not bypass the UN Security Council.

(Beta/AP, file)

This is "having in mind that UN serves as an umbrella organization for the international presence in Kosovo and Metohija," he said during a meeting to discuss UN chief Ban Ki-moon's regular report on Kosovo, held at UN Headquarters in New York.
"I believe that today's meeting is the right opportunity for us to initiate talks on a reconfiguration of EULEX, as UNCS is the only adequate forum for an agreement on changes at Kosovo and Metohija that will lead to a permanent and stable progress in the field," Dačić told members of the UN Security Council.

He stressed that the elections in northern Kosovska Mitrovica will be held and that a mayor will be elected, although the murder and the arrests of mayoral candidates contribute to the atmosphere of fear and insecurity.

After the mayor is elected, formation of the community of Serb municipalities (ZSO) will commence and the drafting of its statute is already underway, added Dačić.

Dačić warned that Priština did not prepare the legal framework for an effective realization of authorities of the future ZSO as envisaged in the Brussels agreement, and is not showing the political will to implement that part of the agreement.

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci assessed the situation as much more positive, and noted that significant progress has been made in Kosovo over the past three months, citing as examples the holding of municipal elections across the entire territory for the first time, formation of local municipalities in the north, the EU integration process and the results of normalization of Belgrade-Priština relations.

Head of UNMIK Farid Zarif underlined that major progress has been achieved through the Brussels agreement, adding that new steps should now be encouraged. This is the year of great changes and political progress, especially related to the historical document signed in April, Zarif said via video link from Priština, noting that the Brussels agreement strengthens the confidence and communication in the field.

Ambassadors of UNSC member states voiced different opinions on the situation. Russia's Ambassador Vitaly Churkin stressed that his country supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia, while U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power welcomed the recognition of Kosovo's independence by more than one hundred states.

The U.S. representative congratulated Kosovo on successful holding of the second round of local elections, and supported the continuation of dialogue between ethnic communities.

The Russian ambassador said that he shares the concern expressed by outgoing Prime Minister Ivica Dačić regarding the position of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, and reiterated his country's support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia. Churkin added that UN Security Council Resolution 1244 is tied to the legal solution of the Kosovo issue and that Russia opposes the diminishing of UNMIK's role.

Russia pointed to the need to protect the minorities in Kosovo and Metohija, while the U.S. called for the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo.

Ambassadors of the U.S. Samantha Power and United Kingdom Sir Mark Lyall Grant also proposed to lengthen the period between the UNSC meetings on Kosovo, which would allow more time for the two sides to negotiate.

China's representative Li Baodong pointed out that UNCS Resolution should remain the legal foundation for a solution acceptable for both sides, and encouraged Belgrade and Priština to continue their practical and constructive dialogue, strengthening the results achieved so far and contributing to the peace and stability in the Balkans and the wider region.

The progress in the dialogue and the need to implement the achieved agreements were also stressed by other ambassadors of member states of the most powerful UN body.

The UNSC meeting included presentation of the regular three-month report on the situation in Kosovo and Metohija by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Head of the EULEX Mission Bernd Borhart.