UNMIK/PR/476
PRISTINA-- Carl Bildt, Special Envoy of the Secretary General for the Balkans, winding up a two-day visit in Kosovo, told media that chances for stability in the region had improved greatly. Prior to his arrival to Kosovo he spent two days in Serbia in discussions with authorities on issues that might be essential for peace and stability in the region.
“We have now, after the changes in the region last year, the second chance for stability in Southeastern Europe,” he said.
Other positive steps he noted included the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Albania and FRY and between the FRY and Bosnia, as well as other high level consultations now underway. He said that it was up to the countries of the region to make peace with each other, and to their political leaders to someday agree on the region’s political structures.
Asked about the major impediments to stability and security in the Balkans, Mr. Bildt responded that it was the absence of a peace agreement. “The war in Bosnia ended with a peace agreement. The war in and over Kosovo ended without a peace agreement. What we have here is Resolution 1224, and that is the law of the land and the law of the time.”
On the conflict in Southern Serbia, Mr. Bildt said he had an open discussion with the Serbian deputy Prime Minister on the issue and was encouraged by measures which were being undertaken in terms of confidence-building between communities. Political initiatives, as well humanitarian assistance to people in and near the Ground Safety Zone affected by the conflict would also help sort out the security problem.
Asked when general elections could be held in Kosovo, Bildt said he could not answer until a legal framework was in place, which will define the competencies and the structures to be elected. He praised SRSG Hans Haekkerup for addressing the issue of a legal framework to accelerate the process. “What Mr. Haekkerup is doing is absolutely correct because you must know what to elect before you discuss when to elect. With this in focus, you create the possibility for accelerating the political process in Kosovo”.
On the possibility that the new US administration would reduce its military presence in the Balkans, Mr. Bildt said that he would expect the new administration to be as involved in the search for a political solution as the former one. However, he said, the primary problems in the Balkans are political not military.
“If there is a continuation of the reduction of force levels, then I would consider it as a sign of progress in the region,” Bildt said. “On the political level, it’s different, because there is no peace agreement, no stability…Many relationships need to be sorted out. I don’t think that any of this can be done without the involvement of the international community.”