UNMIK/PR/1119
Mr. President,
The week before last, I met with a delegation of families of missing Kosovo Albanians as many more stood vigil in the snow in front of UNMIK headquarters. They told me of their frustration at the slow progress on the return of the mortal remains of their loved ones from Serbia proper.
Similarly, I constantly hear about the grievances of the family members of missing Serbs who also want to know about the fate of their loved ones. Five years after the conflict, more than three quarters of the 3,566 people still missing are Kosovo-Albanians, nearly 18 percent are Kosovo-Serbs and Montenegrins. The remaining four percent belong to other communities.
Each side believes the authorities on the other side have information on the whereabouts of their loved ones. Both Kosovo Serbs and Kosovo Albanians demand that all those whose crimes resulted in the disappearance of their loved ones, regardless of ethnicity, be brought to justice.
Mr. President,
Members of the Security Council, there must be faster progress to resolve this painful issue. One way where progress can be made is in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. The issue of missing is one of the four main practical issues that are supposed to be covered initially in the dialogue.
The dialogue got off to a fitful start, due as much to disunity in the Kosovo-Albanian camp as to the general preference of politicians both in Pristina and Belgrade to give precedence to domestic political issues. Four months after the launching of dialogue at a plenary session in Vienna last October, the first two of the four Dialogue Working Groups – one on the missing persons, the other on energy, might meet in Pristina already in February. We hope that the two other Working Groups – Returns and Transport & Communications could also meet in the near future.
Mr. President,
It is the responsibility of the Provisional Institutions of self-Government, in cooperation with UNMIK, to actively and seriously engage, without further delay, in the direct dialogue with Belgrade. Dialogue constitutes a confidence building measure as well as a demonstration of good will. The participants representing Pristina understand that the dialogue is a standard that must be fulfilled before Kosovo's future status can be resolved.
Through the dialogue as well as through other channels, including possibly the High Ranking Working Group, we also hope to be able to resolve long-standing disputes with Belgrade over parallel structures in Kosovo. Unfortunately, Belgrade over the past few months has moved to extend and strengthen the presence of its parallel structures in Kosovo. Little is likely to change unless we respond to the challenge.
Another dialogue topic is the issue of returns, an issue about which the Council has regularly been informed. Suffice it to say that building on the gradual progress made in 2003, and on the substantial improvements in both the political climate and operational framework for returns, prospects for returns in the coming year are encouraging. But as 2003 also demonstrated, the situation in Kosovo remains fragile, and those prospects must be nurtured in order to flourish.
Real movement on returns in 2004 will depend both on continuing improvement in the security and freedom of movement situation in Kosovo, and on the extent to which the people and leaders of Kosovo dedicate themselves to working with the displaced to support sustainable returns. It will also depend upon the constructive position of the Belgrade authorities and the continuing commitment of the international community.
Mr President,
I want to mention another issue that is vital for progress in Kosovo.
Privatisation is moving forward in line with the guidance provided by the UN legal office last November. I continue to discuss this crucial issue intensively with the Prime Minister and the Provisional Government. I intend that the procedures for the Kosovo Trust Agency should be improved. The privatisation process is essential for economic growth in Kosovo – I am determined that it should continue.
In regard to financial irregularity and corruption that emerge from time to time, I wish to assure the Council that UNMIK gives very serious attention to these matters. The recently promulgated Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Customs Code, as well as legislation being promulgated on the prevention of money laundering and related criminal offenses, will provide new tools for tackling economic and financial crime.
Various tools and mechanisms have been set up to conduct administrative inspections and financial investigations to identify fraud and corruption. The Auditor-General’s Office is in place and operational. It will promote transparency and accountability in the management and performance of governance in Kosovo. An Investigation Task Force has newly been established, comprised of representatives of the Financial Investigation Unit, the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services and the European Anti-Fraud Office. The European Union has provided valuable financial and other support for these important initiatives.
I have repeatedly emphasized that there will be a policy of zero-tolerance in regard to fraud, corruption and financial irregularities. With the new legislations and mechanisms UNMIK is now well-equipped to address the challenges that it faces in this field.
Significant progress has been made in the area of civil aviation, which will allow for a smooth transition to civilian control. With the assistance of ICAO, a Civil Aviation Regulator Office has been established and a comprehensive legislative framework is being finalized to assure compliance with international civil aviation standards and practices. Iceland has graciously accepted to support UNMIK by assuming on UNMIK’s behalf certain essential civil aviation functions necessary for operations at Pristina Airport. I have signed an agreement in principle on this subject with Iceland last week.
A brief word on the forthcoming Kosovo-wide elections. They are envisaged to be held in October this year. Preparations are well underway with the help and under the leadership of the OSCE.
Mr. President,
The implementation of standards is the core political project for UNMIK. I am determined that Kosovo should make progress on the standards and I am confident that it will.
We now have a clear political target, set out in the document “Standards for Kosovo” which I launched with the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Pristina on 10 December last year and which was subsequently endorsed by the Security Council. What we now need to do is to reach that target.
It was clear to me when I arrived last August in Kosovo that UNMIK needed to turn over a new leaf in its relationship with the Provisional Institutions. There needed to be partnership rather than imposition. Partnership is very much the philosophy of my approach with the government on standards. The standards are for all of Kosovo. The Provisional Institutions should be in the lead with UNMIK supporting them and ensuring that the process stays on track.
Our most urgent task is to produce an implementation work-plan setting out clearly the actions necessary to reach the standards. In the working groups where the government and UNMIK are sitting side-by-side, we are working intensively to produce this work plan. It will set out in clear detail what actions need to be taken to reach the eight standards, who will take them and when these actions should take place.
This is a demanding and complex task for UNMIK and even more so for the Provisional Institutions. Production of the work plan requires consultation with many actors both inside and outside Kosovo. It is the first time a project like this is being undertaken in Kosovo, and it is a learning process for many of the ministers and officials involved. But it is well on its way. I hope that we shall very soon have a draft to present to you. I am sure you will agree that it is more important to have a high quality and effective work-plan than to rush this crucial task.
I want to say an important word about the Kosovo Serbs and their non-participation in this process. I am personally very disappointed that there continue to be no Serb representatives in the implementation working groups. My officials and I have met the coalition of Serb parties in Kosovo, the Coalition Return, on many occasions, including in the last few days. The purpose of our meetings was to underline to them that the best way to protect and promote their interests in Kosovo is to take part in the implementation process. The starting point is to take part in the production of the work-plan.
Their principal concern – that the standards process is undermining UN SC resolution 1244 and prejudging future status – is wholly unfounded. Nor are they right to fear that their concerns and interests shall be sidelined in the implementation process. UNMIK is there to ensure that the interests of all communities are fairly and fully represented. The Prime Minister has made clear his invitation to them to participate in all the working groups.
It is clear that some representatives of the Serbs in Kosovo understand and accept these arguments and are willing to participate in the working groups. But they are looking to Belgrade to endorse this view. It does not help that there is still no government in Belgrade. I hope that the Council will strongly support my view that the best way forward for all communities in Kosovo is participation by all communities in the standards process.
The standards implementation process will go ahead, as you have asked for it. Even as the implementation plan is under preparation, the real work – to turn the standards into reality – is already underway. UNMIK’s focus on this task is intense. We are working with the Provisional Institutions to ensure that they too are similarly committed. For it is the commitment of Kosovo’s leaders, in the government and down in the municipalities, that is crucial in making progress.
Mr. President,
The President, the Prime Minister and his Government are working hard to implement the standards. But I am sorry to report that some politicians in Pristina are not demonstrating the wholehearted commitment that you in the international community are hoping for. I call on them today to show that commitment, for those who are not part of the standards process are letting down the people of Kosovo and will play no part in Kosovo’s march into a better future, including paving the way for determination of its future status.
You have now endorsed the mechanism for a review of progress on standards in mid-2005. This could happen earlier if there is sufficient progress, or later if not. This was the right decision. “Standards before Status” needed a timetable. Kosovo’s undetermined status helps no one in Kosovo and it needs to be resolved sooner rather than later. It is my job to make sure that the Provisional Institutions make real progress on the implementation of tough standards that have been set in the document, “Standards for Kosovo”. The leaders of Kosovo Institutions are determined to do so, and can count on my full support.
Mr. President,
Members of the Council have received the Report of the Secretary General on UNMIK for the last quarter of 2003. It is a comprehensive account of the developments in Kosovo and the progress of the Mission in implementing its mandate under UN SC resolution 1244. It covers all aspects of UNMIK’s activities.
I would only like to emphasize one thing. Neither the Provisional Institutions nor UNMIK will be able to achieve the high goals that we have set out for Kosovo without your robust and consistent political and material support. Only through this support will we be able to attain our common objective of a democratic, tolerant, multi-ethnic Kosovo that will be at peace with itself and the rest of the region.
To achieve that objective, progress on standards is essential. And this requires above all the hard work, leadership and commitment of the leaders and people of Kosovo.
Thank you.