SRSG’s New Year’s Address

It is my pleasure tonight to congratulate you on the New Year. I hope that this New Year finds all of you well, in good health and in good spirits.

I have only spent part of 2004 with you, after coming to Kosovo in August. But I want to thank all the people of Kosovo that I have met and worked with for making this such a good and positive experience. And I look forward to continuing to work with you in the New Year.

I would like to take a few moments to look back over 2004, and discuss the good prospects facing Kosovo as we head into 2005.

Certainly as you know, 2004 was marked by a tragic low point in March. The riots were a grave setback for Kosovo, and also for UNMIK and KFOR. But together we have turned this crisis into an opportunity to find a new determination to move forward. We are now addressing everything that went wrong in March and putting Kosovo on a path that can enable its status to be resolved.

A high point was marked in October when Kosovo took a major step forward with its second general election. The voting was well conducted and praised by all observers as free and fair. Clearly it was unfortunate that Kosovo Serb participation was low. But we are now reaching out to all those who voted – and those who did not – to make sure everyone’s voice is heard, as we move forward.

Following the elections, we have a new government – and an opposition for the first time. I am working closely together with everybody in true partnership. And we have seen the first results of our continuing dialogue. We have agreed on the priorities for the way forward, and we have and we will be taking steps to give even more responsibilities to the new Government.

Next year, I expect that together we will make rapid progress because the time is short. Our joint priorities are clear: rule of law, protection of minorities, freedom of movement, return of the displaced persons and decentralisation. These are the areas where Kosovo must demonstrate clear progress so that in 2005 we can begin to address the important issue of status.

While we move on these priorities, we will also try to speed up progress on the economy. The voice of the voters was clear: you need jobs and you need a better future for Kosovo. The politicians must earn their trust.

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As we start this New Year, I would like to ask that together we make a resolution for 2005. Let us take this moment to reflect on our hopes and resolve to believe that what we aspire to is possible.

The next year must be a year of unity for Kosovo. Every day in our work, in our families, in our communities, we must bring people together and foster the kind of harmony that Kosovo needs and that its people want. Let us put the division of Kosovo behind us, and the integration into Europe in front of us. The time has come to create new bonds between towns and villages, north and south, east and west, majorities and minorities.

In this New Year we must do everything we can to break down the isolation in which too many in Kosovo live. There must be no places where people feel forced to live behind barricades and surrounded by barbed wire. 2005 is the year we can solve this problem, if we believe, if we work together, and if all sides show goodwill.

There can be no doubt that Kosovo must be a good neighbour in the region, and a civilised part of Europe, now and in the future. The road ahead leads clearly in that direction: the path to a society where everyone has a personal and a common perspective of security, prosperity and freedom. Let us resolve to believe in this future – and to do all we can to make it a reality. With my colleagues in UNMIK, I will work hard to achieve these goals. I know that I can count on you to do the same.

Happy New Year to all of you!