UNMIK/PR/1316
Pristina - SRSG Søren Jessen-Petersen this afternoon [Kosovo time] presented the Secretary-General’s quarterly report on Kosovo to the Security Council at UN Headquarters in New York. This is the text of his statement.
“Mr. President,
The three months since my last report to the Security Council have been marked by a positive trend in what is a crucial year for Kosovo – and for the region. The challenges ahead of us in the coming months are however considerable.
Let me first say a few words on the progress made.
Security situation
Mr. President, the security situation continues to improve based on a strong daily co-operation between UNMIK, KPS, and KFOR, to whose Commander and forces I would like to pay tribute. Levels of serious crime are low – indeed, not higher than comparably populated areas of Europe – and the trend is positive. Crime rates are showing no evidence of ethnic bias in policing and judicial processes. Community policing initiatives and the on-going successful transition of policing responsibility to the Kosovo Police Service are helping to bring policing closer to all the people of Kosovo. Where additional security measures are required for particularly vulnerable areas, these are taken. Two recent trips by the Prime Minister and by the President of Serbia passed off without incident and confirmed the professionalism and good co-operation between KFOR, UNMIK Police, and the KPS.
While we have made progress, Kosovo’s security environment does however remain fragile. I therefore welcome the recent decision by NATO to maintain KFOR’s operational capabilities in this crucial year.
Members of minority communities continue to feel insecure. Kosovo’s Serb community is regrettably often the victim of misinformation that is disproportional to the facts on the ground. Fears – whether fuelled by misinformation or intimidatory acts, and even when not borne out by facts – translate into largely self-imposed limits on freedom of movement and, thereby, limits on access to employment, healthcare, electricity, justice and education. These perceptions of insecurity also prevent many displaced Kosovo Serbs from returning to their homes. The Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, has set an example to political leaders and officials, and to the people of Kosovo, by continuing to reach out to Kosovo Serbs and other minorities through repeated, inclusive public statements and through visits to Municipalities, where he has met with returnees. It is important that other political leaders and citizens follow his example.
Standards implementation
The new two-party coalition government has, since taking office on 3 December last year, undertaken a sustained effort to accelerate Standards implementation on the basis of a number of Priority Standards Goals and indicators to measure progress, agreed between the Government and UNMIK. As you know, Priority Standards Goals are those central to the improvement of the rights and living conditions of minority communities and to the building of a multi-ethnic, democratic, and stable Kosovo.
The conclusions of the Technical Assessment before the Council are clear: the Provisional Institutions have made tangible progress, but there is further to go to ensure that the positive processes are translated into action on the ground. The new Government is aware of this and continues to be committed to delivering Standards as their first priority. Leadership by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet are creating both ownership and accountability. Marking a key step forward in the building of democratic institutions in Kosovo, I am pleased to report to the Council that President Rugova, in accordance with the Constitutional Framework and fulfilling his commitments to me and to representatives of the international community, has announced his resignation from the position of President of the political party he helped found, the Democratic League of Kosovo.
In recognition of the central role of Municipalities in delivering the most essential Standards, the Prime Minister wrote to the Presidents of all the Municipal Assemblies asking them to target their efforts directly on a number of immediate priorities – including use of languages, equal employment, property rights, and returns – agreed between the Government and UNMIK, and setting clear deadlines for action. This initiative by the Prime Minister has resulted in considerable efforts and the beginning of results in many Municipalities. The full extent of the efforts and results will be reported in my next Technical Assessment.
All these elements of institution-building on which Standards implementation are based are important and will help the institutions of Kosovo better serve all the people of Kosovo in the future.
Reconstruction
The Government has undertaken the reconstruction of almost all properties damaged or destroyed last year in March – nearly 900 houses in all, plus several schools – and has provided cash grants to returning families. The Government and UNMIK are committed to achieving progress in reconstruction of the Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries. The Provisional Institutions have transferred 4.2 million euros into the 2005 budget to finance the reconstruction of religious sites. Progress has regrettably been blocked since last September by a senior figure in the Serbian Orthodox Church. However, the Holy Synod has now decided that the Serbian Orthodox Church will re-engage constructively on the basis of the earlier agreement, a decision that opens the way to progress on church reconstruction.
Decentralisation
The Government is moving on the devolution of authority to the local level to realign centralised structures from the past to European standards of local self-government. This is a complex and difficult exercise anywhere, and Kosovo certainly is no exception. Nevertheless, we detect a welcome degree of interest on the part of local authorities, transcending ethnic division to implement this process as it offers tangible benefits to all. This process, to succeed, must be aimed at bringing municipal authorities closer to the citizens. It must be an essential element in the process of integration and, if successfully implemented, will defeat the forces of division and, once and for all, do away with parallel structures.
The Government has just agreed on five pilot municipalities, two of particular interest to the Kosovo Serbs. The next step will be to define the exact nature of additional municipal competences, with particular attention to areas such as policing, justice, education, and health. As we move forward on this delicate and difficult process, it is important that all political parties at central and local level, as well as all communities, are involved and that a Kosovo-wide consensus on the way ahead be pursued.
Transfer of competences
Over the last six months, we have accelerated the transfer of competences from UNMIK to the PISG in areas not related to sovereignty. Three new ministries – Communities and Returns, Local Government Administration, and Energy and Mining – have been created and are now becoming operational. In the field of the economy, significant transfers are taking place. We are looking at transferring further responsibilities in the areas of justice and police. These transfers go hand in hand with an emphasis on accountability, including the availability of corrective measures if officials block progress. The Prime Minister has already demonstrated readiness to deal with non-performing officials. In order to ensure that competences can be exercised efficiently, we are also encouraging donors to co-ordinate and target their efforts better to help the PISG build capacity across all areas.
Economy
Economic stagnation remains a serious concern. Unemployment is rampant, the social safety net is non-existing, and the social and economic hardship could at any moment turn into a threat to political stability. The EU pillar of UNMIK, under new leadership, is making some progress, and we are giving privatisation an added impetus. However, it is clear that we will not find miracle solutions. Real progress on the economy requires certainty on status combined with a healthy environment for investors and a functioning market economy. At present, we are focusing on short-term job generation, micro-credit schemes, and other measures providing some degree of hope, in particular to the young, to pre-empt dramatic expressions of frustration.
The Government is engaged in developing a comprehensive Kosovo development plan comprising different sectors of the economy, including energy, to help chart the road in the medium and long term.
The full receipt of telecommunications revenues would give an important boost to the economy in Kosovo. In this context, I am pleased that a study group of the International Telecommunications Union, ITU, has just concluded that there is no obstacle to the allocation – on a temporary basis and in accordance with UNSC 1244 – of a dialling code to UNMIK in line with our request. We trust that the ITU will now rapidly allocate such a code, as requested by the UN, and thus help stimulate the economy.
Census
Work is proceeding on a census of the population of Kosovo, which will include IDPs in Serbia and Montenegro. This is needed as a basis for important activities, including the development of economic strategies and the reform of local self-government. We are looking at best practices from recent similar exercises in the region. The Provisional Institutions will present its project document to a donors’ meeting on the Census next month.
Dialogue
As we move forward, dialogue remains essential at various levels, including local dialogue between majority and minority communities.
Regrettably, Kosovo Serbs are still staying outside most political and democratic processes following their election boycott last October. There is some progress – a Kosovo Serb recently joined the government as Minister for Returns and Communities, and Kosovo Serbs have participated in some talks on decentralisation. However, it is my impression that many Kosovo Serbs are frustrated and are waiting for more positive signals from Belgrade. They know that their future lies in Kosovo – as confirmed by President Tadic of Serbia during his recent visit – and they need to take part actively in the democratic process to help shape that future.
Mr. President, I am pleased to inform you that Direct Dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade is about to resume after 12 months of boycott by Belgrade. It is now confirmed that the Working Group on Missing Persons will resume on 10 March with the International Committee for the Red Cross as Chair. I hope that this Working Group will make a significant contribution to an early resolution of one of the most painful legacies of the war. We are discussing other areas of dialogue and I am hopeful that the recent more positive signals from Belgrade will result in an intensification of the Direct Dialogue.
Regional dialogue with Tirana, Skopje and Podgorica continues to develop in a variety of fields, including in the economic one. We expect shortly high-level visits to Pristina from both Skopje and Tirana.
Finally, in the international field, UNMIK, KFOR, and the Kosovo provisional institutions are maintaining close and frequent contact with the Contact Group – meeting about every six weeks in Pristina – and with our close partners NATO, the EU, and the OSCE. We also have frequent and continuous dialogue with UNESCO and the Council of Europe among others. Last Monday, I had the opportunity to brief the EU foreign ministers on the situation in Kosovo and the way ahead, and stressed the key role that the EU must play, in close co-operation with the members of the Contact Group and, of course, with the UN.
Progress – but problems remain
So there is progress, but at the same time problems do remain. Much more has to be done to reassure the minorities that they have a future in Kosovo, to guarantee freedom of movement for the minorities, and to speed up the process of returns of displaced persons. There is constant pressure from our side for progress, and we are holding the PISG fully accountable to continue making progress in line with the promising start of the Government. At the same time, improvement of the economy in the short term, pending outcome of status discussions, must receive – and is receiving – constant attention and action.
The way ahead
Mr President, following my next Technical Assessment in May, a comprehensive review of standards is planned to take place in mid-2005. Should that review conclude that sufficient progress has been made, the international community should be prepared to embark on the process leading to status talks. My evaluation is that we have good chances of keeping this timetable and that the process leading to status talks could therefore begin in the second half of 2005. At the same time, we must also understand that, in moving towards the status process, tensions may rise. The Kosovo Albanians who want to enter that status process have understood that violence will be a major setback. On the other hand, those bent on derailing the process may see violence as their only means to do so. The message must be clear: provocations and violence cannot be allowed to stop progress towards a stable, multi-ethnic society.
I will not comment today on the principles that will guide status talks, with one exception. As I mentioned when I addressed the Council last November, partition of Kosovo is simply not a realistic option as we move forward. The society we are trying to build in Kosovo must have space for all communities as a stable, tolerant, multi-ethnic democracy. As such, all talk about partition of Kosovo becomes an agenda for those who may be eager to re-ignite the divisions and flames of the past. Partition would betray European values of integration and co-existence. Partition would also sacrifice the 60% of Kosovo Serbs who do not live in the north. And it would re-open many wounds that are slowly beginning to heal throughout the region.
2005 is a key year for Kosovo. There is now broad agreement on a clear way forward and a clear timetable that could lead us to the negotiations on final status in the second half of this year. To defer this process for much longer would only prolong the pain, increase the risks, and delay the day when the region will turn its back to a painful past and move forward on a common European future.
Conclusion
Mr. President, almost 14 years after the outbreak of a series of wars across the former Yugoslavia and nearly six years after NATO intervened to put a halt to gross violations of human rights in Kosovo, 2005 is the year where we must seize the opportunity to resolve one of the last conundrums of the former Yugoslavia – ensuring peaceful coexistence and mutual tolerance of all communities in Kosovo. The PISG, the institutions and the people of Kosovo have further to go in implementing the priority Standards. But initial progress, determination and effort, and accelerated pace are all tangible. I count on the Security Council to continue supporting the efforts of the institutions and the people of Kosovo to develop and shape their society and their future in Europe – a multi-ethnic, stable, tolerant, and democratic Kosovo, at peace at home and at peace with its neighbours.
Thank you.”