Kosovo
Albanians, Serbia still ‘diametrically opposed’
on province’s future – Annan
30 November 2006 – Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian Government
and Serbia remain “diametrically opposed” in their
views of the future status of the Serbian province, which that
the United Nations has run ever since Western forces drove out
Yugoslav troops in 1999 amid ethnic fighting, according to Secretary-General
Kofi Annan’s latest report on the issue released today.
Independence and autonomy
are among the options for the province, where Albanians outnumber
Serbs and others by 9 to 1, but Serbia rejects independence.
A UN proposal for the future status, which was to have been
submitted this year, has been postponed until after Serbia’s
parliamentary elections on 21 January.
“High expectations on
the part of Kosovo Albanians, coupled with recent speculations
about a possible delay in the process, have led to a feeling
of uncertainty as to the way ahead and are likely to be a source
of instability if momentum slows,” Mr. Annan tells the
Security Council in the report.
“There is a widespread
feeling among them that a tangible delay in the process would
entail high political and economic costs. Fringe groups and
extremists on all sides stand ready to exploit more widespread
frustration. Uncertainty and frustration are also prevalent
among the Serbs and other minority populations, raising the
potential for instability pending a political solution,”
he warns.
Mr. Annan notes that only
uneven progress has been made in the status talks between the
Kosovo Government and Serbia in talks that began this year under
the sponsorship of his Special Envoy on the issue, former Finnish
President Martti Ahtisaari, with only agreement on some specific
elements. “Overall, the positions of the parties in each
of the areas discussed remain far apart,” he writes.
On a more positive note, he
welcomes the Government’s commitment throughout 2006 to
the implementation of the standards, eight overall targets that
include building democratic institutions, enforcing minority
rights, creating a functioning economy and setting up an impartial
legal system.
But he calls for further steps.
“Progress will be achieved by demonstrating through actions,
not words, that everyone has a future in Kosovo. It will be
important that substantive actions take precedence over symbolism
with the aim of promoting confidence and stability.”
The return of hundreds of
thousands of Serbs who fled after the withdrawal of Serbian
forces in 1999 is seen as major element in establishing the
UN goal of a pluralistic multi-ethnic democracy. But only some
15,600 returns of Serbs and Roma have so far been registered
out of the estimated 250,000 who fled. It is estimated that
only 1,173 minority community members returned from January
to September 2006.
“The primary factors
affecting returns continue to include lack of economic opportunities,
uncertainty about the future status of Kosovo, and, to a much
lesser degree than in the past, security,” Mr. Annan says.
He denounces the violent attacks
that continue to be made by a few in an attempt to effect political
change. “I am resolute in condemning such violence and
call upon the people of Kosovo to help their institutions defeat
it. Political developments and timelines will not be dictated
by the streets, and violence will not be tolerated.”
Just two days ago, 2,000 pro-independence
Albanians attacked UN personnel in the capital, Pristina, pulling
down a 4-metre high concrete barricade outside UN headquarters
and hurling concrete blocks and an incendiary device at police
officers within.
Mr. Annan also reiterated
his frequent past criticisms of Kosovo Serbs for boycotting
the provisional government. “This is a disservice to their
community,” he writes. “I once again call on the
Belgrade (Serbian) authorities to remove all impediments to
Kosovo Serb participation in Kosovo institutions, and on the
Kosovo Serb leaders to engage with the Provisional Institutions.”
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Kosovo:
pro-independence protesters attack UN headquarters; no injuries
29 November 2006 – Some 2,000 members of a pro-independence
ethnic Albanian group in Kosovo attacked United Nations personnel
yesterday in the Serbian province’s capital, Pristina,
pulling down a 4-metre tall concrete barricade outside UN headquarters
and hurling concrete blocks and an incendiary device at police
officers inside.
Police responded with tear
gas to disperse the Vetëvendosja (self-determination) protesters,
who broke over 20 windows and threw glass bottles of red paint
onto police and security staff and the building, UN Interim
Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Police spokesman Thomas
E. Lee told a news briefing in Pristina today.
Police quickly gained control
of the situation and there were no reports of injuries to police,
protestors or bystanders. Increased security operations remains
in effect in the Albanian-majority province, which the world
body has run ever since Western forces drove out Yugoslav troops
in 1999 amid ethnic fighting.
Two weeks ago, Secretary-General
Kofi Annan’s Special Representative Joachim Rücker
warned against “unilateral actions” as the UN prepares
to submit a proposal early next year for the future status of
the province, where Albanians outnumber Serbs and others by
9 to 1. Independence and autonomy are among the options but
Serbia rejects independence.
“It is really a sad
reflection of the mentality of a very small section of the population
that does not seem to understand the political process –
its importance and implications of their own actions –
that does not seem to appreciate the hard work that has been
put in by their leadership and institutions in bringing Kosovo
so far, and that still seems to be looking for a ‘language’
to express themselves,” UNMIK Spokesman Neeraj Singh said
of the violence.
In a related development,
Mr. Singh reported that from June 1999 almost 43 million square
metres of land has been cleared and 73,737 mines and unexploded
ordnances (UXOs) have been destroyed. During that time 111 people
were killed and 418 injured by mines or UXOs, mainly in 1999
and 2000. So far in 2006 there have been 10 injuries and one
death.
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Kosovo:
UN envoy urges leaders to avoid ‘unilateral actions’
after delay on final status
13 November 2006 – Just days after a United Nations proposal
for the future of Kosovo was postponed, the top UN envoy there
warned its leaders against talk of “unilateral actions”
in the Albanian-majority Serbian province that the world body
has run since Western forces drove out Yugoslav troops in 1999
amid ethnic fighting.
“It is paramount that
all Kosovo leaders continue to fully subscribe to the Guiding
Principles set out by the Contact Group in November 2005,”
Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Representative
Joachim Rücker said after meeting with Prime Minister Agim
Çeku and the commander of the international KFOR force
Lt.-Gen. Roland Kather.
The Guiding Principles agreed
to by the Contact Group (France, Germany, Italy, Russia, the
United Kingdom and United States), which is seeking to resolve
the issue, stress that a settlement must conform with international
standards of human rights and democracy and contain constitutional
guarantees for the full participation of all ethnic groups.
Independence and autonomy
are among the options for the province where ethnic Albanians
outnumber Serbs and others by 9 to 1, but Serbia rejects independence.
“Any statements that
allude to Kosovo taking unilateral actions are in contradiction
to the Contact Group’s Guiding Principles,” Mr.
Rücker said. “Such statements can undermine support
for Kosovo at this crucial time.
“It is important that
Kosovo leaders continue to reach out to the minority communities
and work to promote reconciliation and dialogue. All communities
should exercise restraint and show understanding at this sensitive
stage of the status process.”
On Friday, Mr. Annan’s
Special Envoy for Kosovo’s future status process, Martti
Ahtisaari, who had been expected to present his proposal for
Kosovo’s future to the parties soon, announced that he
would now not do so until after Serbia’s parliamentary
elections on 21 January.
Since his appointment a year
ago, Mr. Ahtisaari has been holding talks with Kosovo and Serbian
delegations in Vienna but these have not progressed beyond technical
issues such as the decentralization of municipalities, dashing
his hopes that the process would be completed by the end of
this year. A major issue is providing sufficient security to
encourage Serb refugees to return.
In his latest report in September
Mr. Annan said he was disappointed that little common ground
had emerged between the Serbian and Kosovar delegations, noting
that they remain “committed to ‘substantial autonomy’
and ‘full independence’ respectively, with minimal
space for negotiation.”
In early 1999, the province
was the scene of atrocities and the forceful displacement of
hundreds of thousands of ethnic Albanians. After a three-month
intervention by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO),
culminating in the arrival of troops, most of the Albanian population
returned to their homes within days.
But only some 15,600
returns of ethnic Serbs, Roma have been registered out of the
estimated 250,000 who fled after the withdrawal of Serbian forces
in 1999.
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Kosovo:
UN envoy puts off presenting final status proposal till after
Serb poll in January
10 November 2006 – A United Nations proposal for the future
status of the Albanian-majority Serbian province of Kosovo,
which the world body has run Western forces drove out Yugoslav
troops in 1999 amid ethnic fighting, will not be presented until
after Serbia’s parliamentary elections on 21 January.
Secretary-General’s
Special Envoy for Kosovo’s future status process Martti
Ahtisaari had originally been expected to present his proposal
to the parties soon, but he announced the new date today after
consulting with the so-called Contact Group – the United
States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Russia –
who have been helping to seek a solution for the province where
outnumber Serbs and others by 9 to 1.
Independence and autonomy
are among the options but Serbia rejects independence.
“There are many compelling
reasons to come to clarity on Kosovo’s status as soon
as possible,” Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special
Representative Joachim Rücker said of Mr. Ahtisaari’s
decision. “Therefore I look forward to the presentation
of the status proposal.
“I will continue to
work closely with the Contact Group, the Special Envoy and the
parties on preparing Kosovo for final status and on ensuring
a smooth transition to the future authorities as well as to
the future international presence,” he added.
Since his appointment a year
ago, Mr. Ahtisaari has been holding talks with Kosovo and Serbian
delegations in Vienna but these have not progressed beyond technical
issues such as the decentralization of municipalities, dashing
his hopes that the process would be completed by the end of
this year. A major issue is providing sufficient security to
encourage Serb refugees to return.
In his latest report in September
Mr. Annan said he was disappointed that little common ground
had emerged between the Serbian and Kosovar delegations in the
discussions, noting that they remain “committed to ‘substantial
autonomy’ and ‘full independence’ respectively,
with minimal space for negotiation.”
In early 1999, the province
was the scene of atrocities and the forceful displacement of
hundreds of thousands of ethnic Albanians. After a three-month
intervention by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), culminating
in the arrival of troops, most of the Albanian population returned
to their homes within days.
But only some 15,600
returns of ethnic Serbs, Roma have been registered out of the
estimated 250,000 who fled after the withdrawal of Serbian forces
in 1999.
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