UNMIK/PR/1175
Mr. President, distinguished Members of the Assembly,
I feel honoured to address the Parliamentary Assembly today. It gives me a great pleasure to be with you, and to personally express appreciation for the Council of Europe’s strong commitment to Kosovo and consistent support to UNMIK. This is a crucial moment for Kosovo. Let me share with you our assessment of the violent events in March, the lessons learned and the political way ahead.
Let me begin with a look back. Six weeks ago, Kosovo experienced its worst wave of ethnic violence since 1999. A total of 19 people were killed, hundreds injured, 730 houses – overwhelmingly Serb-owned, were damaged or destroyed, as were Serbian Orthodox churches, monasteries, and facilities such as schools, post offices and clinics. 4,000 Kosovo residents were displaced. That is more than the number of displaced who returned to Kosovo in 2003.
The violent, ethnically motivated attacks on the Kosovo Serb, Ashkali and Roma communities on 17-18 March and the attacks on the international community represent a huge setback to the stabilization and normalization trends of past years. But we are aware that the violence was mainly the result of the deeds of extremists who do not represent the people of Kosovo.
The crimes will be punished. UNMIK is currently identifying and bringing to justice those directly involved. We will also identify the leaders and backers of the violence. In this, we are supported by the vast majority of moderate people of all ethnicities both in Kosovo and the region.
Mr. President,
The main challenges now are bringing to justice those responsible, reconciliation, reconstruction and re-embarking on the political processes in place before the violence began.
The Government of Kosovo has committed itself to finance the reconstruction effort. UNMIK fully supports this initiative. The reconstruction effort must be comprehensive and fully satisfy the needs of the affected communities. At the same time, we are engaged, under the lead of UNESCO, to assess the damage caused to cultural sites with a view to restore Kosovo’s rich cultural heritage.
The reconstruction effort led by the PISG is the cornerstone of a reconciliation process that must be genuine and sustainable. I welcome the letter calling for reconciliation signed by Kosovo leaders and published on 2 April. It is an important first step. But much more remains to be done to rebuild trust and confidence among all Kosovo’s communities. Kosovo Albanians must actively engage in a genuine effort of reconciliation with minority communities and isolate those who promote violence.
The Standards for Kosovo as endorsed by the Security Council are more important than ever to guide a political process which includes all communities. The Standards describe a democratic society under the rule of law. A society which protects all its citizens, with the aim to create stability and prosperity, offering a decent life for all.
Three weeks ago, only a few day after the violence, I launched together with Prime Minister Rexhepi the Kosovo Standards Implementation Plan. It offers a detailed road map for the implementation of Standards. The Plan adds new tough priority actions to be fulfilled by Kosovo’s institutions in the key Standards of Returns and Freedom of Movement, including the sanctioning of civil servants and party leaders who failed responding to the violence, and public condemnation of hate speech.
Kosovo’s institutions need the full support of the International Community to meet the Standards. We are therefore strengthening our partnership with the institutions. This partnership is crucial in all areas of our work. Without it, we will all fail. The partnership will include all communities. There can be no truly multiethnic Kosovo without the Kosovo Serb community. This is why all efforts must be made by Kosovo’s leaders to reach out to the Serbs. In return, the Kosovo Serbs must rejoin the institutions and engage in the political process. The only way ahead is integration, not segregation.
Mr. President,
The violent events we witnessed in March require a substantial additional effort if Standards are to be fulfilled. The violence put our common project of a multiethnic Kosovo at risk. Confidence and trust among the communities must be rebuilt. All communities should join in a common vision of a Kosovo where they all feel at home. A place where they decide on their daily life affairs, and where local government is close to the citizen. It is therefore imperative that Kosovo’s communities engage in the reform and strengthening of local self-government without delay, so that municipalities can effectively address the concerns of their inhabitants.
The reform of local self-government in Kosovo is a key task. The challenge is to strike a viable balance. We must strengthen local self-government providing for the security and economic sustainability of all communities of Kosovo. At the same time, we must make sure that local government is firmly embedded in a multiethnic Kosovo as a single political unit.
The recommendations of the Council of Europe on Reform of Local Self-Government and Public Administration in Kosovo provide invaluable guidance for the way ahead. UNMIK would welcome the Council of Europe’s continued support on local government reform.
Mr. President,
Another key challenge ahead of us are the Kosovo-wide elections to take place on 23 October. These elections might prove to be more difficult than we had expected before the March violence. Before the elections, we want to see that the political parties encourage reconciliation between communities. They must refrain from engaging in politics that would encourage inter-ethnic hatred. After the elections, it will be the newly elected leaders of Kosovo who will lead Kosovo to the most crucial test for its future.
The Council of Europe has provided us a highly valuable service in sending observation missions to the three elections Kosovo has had so far. We commend the Council of Europe’s involvement in the 2004 elections.
Mr. President,
The Council of Europe has a high profile in Kosovo. Your projects such as the reform of local self-government or strengthening the role of professional and independent media today are more important than ever.
UNMIK and the Council of Europe are together working on arrangements with a view to extend the benefits of key CoE Human Rights Conventions to Kosovo. This work is of particular importance in the light of the recent violence. It will enhance respect for human rights and facilitate the achievement of the Standards as required by the International Community.
This and the coming year will be decisive for the future of Kosovo and the region of the Western Balkans. Kosovo’s provisional institutions and its political leaders, with the full support of the International Community, must live up to their tasks. The challenge for Kosovo is to become part of an integrated, stable and prosperous Europe, living in harmony with its neighbours. This vision can become reality only when government, political leaders, and the civil society of Kosovo at large remain genuinely engaged in the path of attaining the Standards.
To achieve our goals, we count on the continued support of the International Community. The European Institutions, including the Council of Europe, are our key partners.