|
UNMIK/PR/646
SRSG Hans Haekkerup gave a comprehensive address to United Nations Security Council today on recent developments in Kosovo and UNMIK, emphasizing progress in fulfilling the needs and interests of minorities and in particular Kosovo Serbs. His emphasis on the importance of Kosovo Serb participation in the
elections met with wide support from Security Council members, who also
praised UNMIK's recent moves to improve law and order in Kosovo,
particularly regulations on fighting organized crime, weapons possession
and border and boundary control. The SRSG opened his delivery with an expression of sympathy for the families of the victims of the terrorist attacks in New York. He then explained that UNMIK was working with international agencies and local figures to incorporate all communities in the political, economic and social life of Kosovo. He said that progress had been made in a broad range of areas, especially with minority communities. He said that UNMIK must be attentive to political developments in the region, and to ensure its efforts were "balanced and far-sighted" in order to avoid counter-productive developments. The SRSG stressed that UNMIK has sole responsibility for administering the province and he re-iterated his stance that UNMIK could not accept the presence of parallel administrative or security structures. He explained that the Constitutional Framework had been designed with particular attention to the needs and interests of the Kosovo Serbs and other non-Albanians. He also noted that after elections, he will hand over many responsibilities but will retain authority in key areas. "The November elections are a crucial step forwards," Mr. Haekkerup said. "UNMIK is making every effort to give Kosovo Serbs the opportunity to be represented by leaders of their own choice." UNMIK and the OSCE, in coordination with FRY officials, had succeeded in the registration of some 130,000 Kosovo Serbs. To the issue, raised by Mr. Covic and the Russian ambassador, of whether two disputed Kosovo Albanian parties-the LKCK and LPK-could stand in the elections, Mr. Haekkerup said that the Central Elections Commission holds responsibility for their certification. He assured the Security Council that no people whose names appeared on the so-called "Bush black list" could run in the election. Mr. Haekkerup also described efforts to locate missing persons and to return displaced people and detainees. He said that UNMIK, UNHCR and KFOR are involved in facilitating return of internally displaced people, and that while significant progress had been made, the process was fragile, and "we should not take counterproductive steps." "We do have the first returnees. We must go step by step. We must do it in accordance with the security we can provide," Mr. Haekkerup said. He went on to describe UNMIK's efforts to improve security in Kosovo and to ensure that the justice system was available for members of all communities. Mr. Haekkerup said he looks forward to continuing cooperation with Belgrade authorities on Kosovo Serb participation in elections; the consolidation of UNMIK administration in Northern Kosovo and full cooperation on detained and missing people. The recent dialogue between himself and Mr. Covic was important in laying the groundwork for future dialogue between FRY officials and the Kosovo Albanian representatives soon to be elected. Dialogue is the only way forward, Mr. Haekkerup said. UNMIK will continue its efforts to fully include the Kosovo Serbs, the SRSG told the Council, but the ultimate decision remains with the Kosovo Serbs and their leaders. The decision should not be about elections alone, he said, but also about "participating in the general development and creation of a future in Kosovo."
.
|