The importance of open approaches and respect for hard-won agreements forged between Pristina and Belgrade within the EU-facilitated dialogue was underscored by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Caroline Ziadeh at the biannual UN Security Council session on Kosovo today.

SRSG Ziadeh updated the Council on developments during the reporting period, including the recent agreement by chief negotiators to establish a working group to facilitate entry of certain perishable products, as well as the advancement of energy interconnection.  “Intensifying efforts to achieve concrete results from the EU-facilitated dialogue is essential. This dialogue, which we strongly support, remains central for resolving outstanding issues, including the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities,” she said.

“I believe both sides recognise that meaningful progress toward decisive political outcomes must be built upon the confidence gained from achieving attainable goals.”

The SRSG also highlighted the move by Kosovo authorities to lift the ban on the entry of goods from Serbia earlier this month, accompanied by consensus on the Central European Free Trade Agreement procedures, resulting in nine agreements aimed at boosting regional economic prosperity. She highlighted the necessity for the current bottlenecks to be expeditiously addressed.

SRSG Ziadeh briefed on her most recent visit to northern Kosovo, where civil society organisations, political actors, and residents voiced serious concerns about the adverse impact of recent unilateral actions affecting their economic, social and political rights, including the recent closures of Post of Serbia branches and municipal offices run by the Government of Serbia that have limited access to key services, in particular for the Kosovo Serb community.

One year on from the serious security incident in Banjska/Banjskë, SRSG Ziadeh reiterated her calls for timely accountability for perpetrators, through thorough, fair, transparent and independent judicial processes, which are essential for fostering stability. “Such violence is unacceptable and should not be repeated.” she affirmed.

The SRSG also referred to the findings of a recent UNMIK-supported Trust Index report that underscored the lack of confidence in institutions and increasing pessimism about the future of inter-communal trust. Most Kosovo Albanian and Kosovo Serb respondents said reconciliation was essential for a better future. “Accordingly, our mission remains dedicated to fostering efforts on the ground that aim to build trust across communities, including in the areas of Human Rights, Rule of Law, Women, Peace and Security and Youth, Peace and Security,” she stressed.

In conclusion, SRSG Ziadeh urged all parties to heed the Secretary-General’s call for responsible leadership and to ensure shared values of promoting peace, sustainable development and human dignity are upheld.

“Such values are at risk if actions that threaten rights, freedoms, and livelihoods among its diverse communities, are taken,” she said. 

Read SRSG Ziadeh’s full statement to the Security Council here:
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