UNMIK/PR/576
PRISTINA - SRSG Hans Haekkerup today refuted reports published in the Belgrade media that the Legal Framework document had been completed and that all demands of the Kosovo Albanians had been accepted, while those of the Kosovo Serbs rejected.
Speaking to journalists today, Mr. Haekkerup said “I saw some of the comments in the press from Belgrade this morning. I don’t think they reflect the reality… We cannot say that there is no movement and we will certainly do our best to make sure that things move in the right direction.” He stressed that he would like to include some of the Serb-proposed recommendations in the final document.
Over the last few days, Mr. Haekkerup has been meeting continuously with Kosovo political representatives and members of the international community on the Legal Framework. The Serb media reports of recent meetings give the impression that he has finalized the Legal Framework, suggesting that there is no further room for compromise. The SRSG maintained that this is not the case: “By the end of the week, we will take stock of where we are and then finish the work,” he said.
UNMIK has worked hard to provide guarantees in the document that ensure the protection of minority interests. “We have been building a lot of guarantees for minorities and groups so that it will be difficult for a majority to overrule a minority in a non-acceptable way,” Mr. Haekkerup said.
He stressed that the Legal Framework will be an important step toward self-government, but that it will not deal with the final settlement, on which he said, the document is “neutral.” However, the document should facilitate the process toward a final political settlement, he said.
“The people of Kosovo will have to deal with day to day questions that concern the majority…In creating the legal framework UNMIK’s expectation is to take a step back and give more responsibility to the Kosovars.”
With the Legal Framework, Kosovars will have an elected assembly which will make decisions and pass laws in fields as varied as social welfare, health, education, environment, agriculture, industry and trade. During this interim period, the tasks will contribute to the development of a political culture in Kosovo.
“Whatever is the final arrangement”, Mr. Haekkerup said “this is a necessary step to get there”.
He said that he expected that the Kosovo Serbs would participate in the elections to be held later this year.
Other outstanding issues include the title of the document, a constitutional court, a president, a referendum and the definition of the Kosovo Protection Corps.
Mr Haekkerup has worked to ensure that the process of writing the Legal Framework has been an inclusive partnership. Asked why he didn’t sign the document now, as the final authority, Mr. Haekkerup responded that “as long as there is a possibility of reaching a consensus or getting closer to each other, I will continue talking to them because I think it is important that they accept as much as possible of the document.” However, if the differences on some points remain unresolved, he would take the final decision, he said.