Good evening,
I left Sarajevo five years ago. I am now excited to
be back in the region - and here in Kosovo. The hard times are not yet
over. But I will do my best to help. I know I have a lot to learn. I
promise to listen and try to learn fast.
Let me tell you: it is good to be with you.
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Kosovo is a resourceful, young and dynamic society.
You, the women and men of Kosovo, have started to rebuild your lives.
You should be proud of the energy with which you have rebuilt your houses
and reopened your shops.
The same energy and resourcefulness should now be
used to put in place a functioning government.
Kosovo needs these institutions. Institutions that
can act in the interests of its people. We cannot wait too long anymore.
Therefore, I have had a first round of discussions with the political
leaders. I can say there is some progress. But we need further consultations.
I know it is very difficult. But I also know it is
possible to solve the political stalemate. If your leaders have the
courage to overcome narrow party interests. And if they show the political
will to act in the interest of Kosovo. Then I can help.
When the Kosovo institutions are in place, they will
have to produce results. Of course, they will make mistakes in the beginning.
But this is a risk worth taking.
UNMIK with its dedicated staff will help make the
transition so that the people of Kosovo are in charge of their own destiny.
My friends in KFOR, who have been so crucial from
the beginning, will continue to provide a safe and secure environment.
General Marcel Valentin and I are determined to carry out this mission
jointly.
Dear Kosovans,
I see three key challenges ahead of us. The first
is laying the foundations for economic success: education, jobs, income
and enterprise. The second is beating crime and violence and removing
fear. And the third is creating a fair society and a safe home for all.
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First challenge: Jobs are what Kosovo needs most.
The private sector will be the primary motor for creating jobs and income.
It will need fresh ideas, technical expertise and skilled managers.
Much greater investment in training and higher education is vital. The
young women and men of Kosovo are its greatest capital.
Property reform and privatisation will have to be
tackled. Every house, every shop and every inch of land should have
a clear owner. Valuable assets should be developed. Otherwise, they
just remain dead capital. Despite all the legal obstacles, I will present
a proposal to the UN in New York on how this process can be carried
out.
And we all need more electricity. However, the plain
truth is that there are no quick fixes. But my EU Pillar will increase
investments. We will work with others to improve regional exchange.
And if you play your part and pay your bills I am confident that we
will see improvements - even if it takes longer than we would hope.
My second goal is to beat crime and violence. I know
that you all share this concern. Insecurity is felt throughout Kosovo
society, and there are many who are threatened or intimidated by criminals.
Some still fear for their lives.
You should not be afraid to express your political
views. You should not have to seek protection for your businesses outside
the official structures. Your neighbours must not have unfair advantages
resulting from political patronage.
And you should feel safe on the streets of Kosovo wherever and whoever
you are.
We will continue to arrest and bring criminals to
justice. As the trial of Slobodan Milosevic demonstrates, no one is
above the law. Guilt or innocence can only be decided in a court of
law, not on the streets.
You must support your police - UNMIK and the Kosovo
Police Service - to uphold the standards of justice. I expect the people
of Kosovo to condemn violence and extremist acts. Anyone who stands
against fair judicial process is really saying that he is against integrating
Kosovo into the European institutions. Anyone who is against the rule
of law is against Europe.
I will take a similar message to Belgrade. It is inadmissible
that there are still prisoners from Kosovo being held in Serbian prisons
from the period of the conflict. I will insist on their swift return.
The third key goal is a fair society for all, and
I expect the elected representatives of Kosovo to rise to this challenge.
I know there are wounds to heal. But I also know Kosovo will be judged
by the world on how it treats its non-Albanian communities, particularly
the Serb community.
In the nineties the Albanian population in Kosovo
experienced repression in a fundamentally unfair system, finally culminating
in war crimes. Clearly we cannot compare the situation today. But it
is a fact that the Serbs of Kosovo are deprived of full freedom of movement,
are deprived of access to their properties and are deprived of security.
At the same time, UNMIK's authority must be recognized in all of Kosovo,
including Mitrovica. A precondition for discussions about Kosovo's future
status will be a fair and just society, with dignity for all.
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Kosovo's future is Europe. I will be traveling to
key capitals to lobby for you. The world may be distracted with Afghanistan
and other places at the moment, but I will seek to maintain their engagement
until the job is done and Resolution 1244 is fully implemented.
But international support and European integration
does not come for free. There are conditions that must be fulfilled:
full respect for the rule of law, functioning institutions, a democratic
political culture, a free press and sound economic practices.
Dear Kosovans,
It is now also time to look beyond Kosovo. This is
necessary both politically and economically. Kosovo is not an island
in the ocean. It can only prosper if the neighbourhood prospers. It
is time to talk to Skopje and Tirana but particularly to Belgrade. I
will encourage Kosovo's elected representatives to engage with us in
the talks with Belgrade on issues that matter to you.
You, the voters did your job. Now it is up to the
politicians to do theirs. Kosovo needs a government.
After two years we also need to renew the mandates
of the municipal governments. After consultations I have therefore decided
that municipal elections will take place on the 21st of September this
year. But this will only happen if a Kosovo government is formed very
soon. The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Foreign Minister Jaime Gama
will be here tomorrow to discuss this in detail.
There is much to be proud of in Kosovo and much to
build on. You are now on the path to a normal life. I hope that you
can allow old wounds to heal and even enjoy life. I know that you and
your children will have a secure future in Kosovo. In a Kosovo in the
middle of Europe. In a Kosovo where everyone can earn a decent living.
And in a Kosovo where no one has to live in fear.
We will not achieve everything at once. We will have
setbacks. But if we work together, we can take Kosovo forward.
Thank you.