LEADERS MUST PUT NEEDS OF KOSOVO’S COMMUNITIES FIRST, SAYS TOP UN ENVOY

Although strides have been made to consolidate stability in Kosovo, leaders in Pristina and Belgrade must give priority to needs of Kosovo's communities ahead of their own political interests, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative Lamberto Zannier said that since his briefing last July, the situation in Kosovo, which was administered by the UN after Western troops drove out Yugoslav forces amid inter-ethnic fighting over eight years ago, has remained relatively peaceful.

In February 2008, Kosovo declared its independence, in a move rejected by Serbia, and the UN has remained neutral on the issue.

While both Pristina and Belgrade have endeavoured to maintain peace in the area equally, "both have stopped short of where we need to be in order to feel confident that Kosovo is well and truly launched onto the path of lasting peace and prosperity," Mr. Zannier said at today's open debate.

He also briefed the Council on the reconfiguration of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

Last December, the European Union's Rule of Law Mission, or EULEX, successfully assumed full responsibility in that sector – which includes police and justice functions – under the overall authority of the UN.

As a result, the number of UNMIK police has decreased from 1,288 to 49, and there are no more UNMIK judges in Kosovo's courts, although the Mission remains on the ground to consult with various groups on issues, including cultural and religious ones, affecting the area's communities.

The envoy highlighted some of the challenges Kosovo faces, such as the sharp drop in the pace of the voluntary returns of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the large number of missing persons from the conflict.

Further, the issue of electric power supply "continues to plague the everyday lives of all of Kosovo's residents," and the problem is due primarily to non-payment by many consumers, including the wholesale lack of compensation by the Kosovo Serb community, he said.

The Kosovo Energy Corporation has allowed for malfunctions in the power supply to remain unfixed for periods of one week or more in a bid to receive late payment.

"Although this policy is affecting all ethnic groups to different degrees, the issue has been politicized, leading to demonstrations by angry residents of Kosovo Serb-inhabited villages, who have recently clashed with the Kosovo Police when protestors tried to block traffic on main thoroughfares," Mr. Zannier told the meeting, which heard from over one dozen speakers.

In his latest report to the Council on UNMIK, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon wrote that although there is a perception among many Kosovo Albanians that the Mission has run its course, it has stepped up the pace of its adaptation to the changing situation on the ground.

Under "significant pressure" from opposition parties, authorities in Kosovo have repeatedly said in recent months that resolution 1244, which set up UNMIK, is "no longer relevant and that the institutions of Kosovo have no legal obligation to abide by it," the publication said.

The report noted that, in line with Belgrade's official policy, many Kosovo Serbs are rejecting the legitimacy of Kosovo's authorities, although many are applying for identify cards, driver's licenses and other Kosovo documentation.

Notwithstanding these developments, Mr. Ban said that the reconfiguration of UNMIK, for which he called in response to the "profoundly changed reality" on the ground, has picked up pace.
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KOSOVO: PACE OF UN MISSION’S RECONFIGURATION PICKING UP – BAN

KOSOVO: PACE OF UN MISSION'S RECONFIGURATION PICKING UP – BAN
New York, Mar 19 2009 7:00PM

Despite a perception among many Kosovo Albanians that the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Kosovo has run its course, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon wrote in a new report that it has stepped up the pace of its adaptation to the changing situation on the ground.

Under "significant pressure" from opposition parties, authorities in Kosovo have repeatedly said in recent months that resolution 1244, which set up the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), is "no longer relevant and that the institutions of Kosovo have no legal obligation to abide by it," the publication said.

UNMIK took over the administration of Kosovo in 1999 after North Atlantic Treaty organization (NATO) forces drove out Yugoslav troops amid deadly fighting with the majority ethnic Albanian population there.

The UN has remained neutral on the question of the status of Kosovo since its declaration of independence last February, a move rejected by Serbia.

The report to the Security Council on UNMIK noted that, in line with Belgrade's official policy, many Kosovo Serbs are rejecting the authority of Kosovo's authorities, although many are applying for identify cards, driver's licenses and other Kosovo documentation.

Notwithstanding these developments, Mr. Ban said that the reconfiguration of UNMIK, for which he called in response to the "profoundly changed reality" on the ground, has picked up pace.

After almost 10 years of policing Kosovo, UNMIK has been phasing out its police component to allow the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, known as EULEX, to assume its operational functions in the rule of law sector under the UN's overall authority.

The Secretary-General said this joint effort with the UN has taken place without significant security incidents and with the support of Pristina, Belgrade and international partners. "It constitutes a major milestone in the international involvement in Kosovo, and a positive example of cooperation between the United Nations and the European Union," he wrote.

Also last November, UNMIK's head told the Council that the mission is re-orienting its field presence to concentrate in areas occupied by ethnic non-Albanians following Kosovo's declaration of independence.

"The recent actions of the institutions of Kosovo have made it no longer possible or practicable for UNMIK to function as an administrator," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative Lamberto Zannier.

"We need to be able to concentrate on the areas where we can still make a difference for good, rather than attempt to continue functions which are neither relevant nor needed," he said, noting that UNMIK would monitor the well-being of the non-Albanian communities and retain a support and mediation role.
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