October 8^th 2003

SRSG Harri Holkeri Statement on Dialogue

There are a lot of misperceptions about what direct dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade means.

Dialogue is not a new concept. All the friends of Kosovo who intervened in 1999 and undertook the work of rebuilding Kosovo always knew that dialogue with Belgrade would be a crucial stream to cross.

Talking with Belgrade was one of the eight benchmark standards endorsed by the entire international community – including the UN Security Council, NATO, the United States and the European Union.

All these institutions have specifically endorsed the dialogue process planned to commence next week in Austria: the UN Security Council, NATO, the European Union, OSCE, and the USA, amongst others. Their representatives will participate in the dialogue.

Kosovo’s leaders committed themselves to dialogue at the Thessalonica summit in June. Since my arrival, I have discussed this issue extensively with Kosovo’s leaders.

We all recognize that dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade is in the direct interest of Kosovo’s people and institutions.

The issues to be discussed are the issues that matter to the daily lives of Kosovans.

If, and only if we talk, can we make progress on resolving the fate of missing persons.

If, and only if we talk, can we help Kosovo’s economy by solving outstanding problems in the sectors of energy, transport and communications.

If, and only if we talk, can we facilitate the return of displaced persons and work towards the multiethnic society to which we have all committed ourselves.

Dialogue is a way to generate both political and economic capital. It is a critical step, an absolutely imperative step, towards the kind of future that Kosovo deserves.

As Kosovo moves towards its European future, its leaders must be ready to talk with their neighbors – all their neighbors. This is what leaders do.

Recently the world’s attention has been diverted to other global issues. Dialogue has refocused the attention of the international community. The world’s eyes are on Kosovo for the first time in a quite a while.

This makes the upcoming dialogue a unique opportunity to burnish Kosovo’s image.

Indeed, by engaging in dialogue with their Belgrade counterparts on a single platform and in a statesman-like manner, Kosovo leaders will demonstrate to the world the maturity of Kosovo’s institutions.

Dialogue is not about status. It is not about politics. It is about making concrete progress on practical issues.

UNMIK and the international community are partners with Kosovo. UNMIK and the international community will support the Kosovo delegation at every stage in the process.

We all want dialogue to be a success so we can move forward to address Kosovo’s remaining challenges.