October 24, 2005

KiM Info Newsletter 24-10-05

SRSG addresses the United Nations Security Council

UNMIK/PR/1435
Monday, 24 October 2005

 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

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