UNMIK/PR/1720
PRISTINA – Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kosovo (SRSG) Joachim Rucker today addressed the recently inaugurated Assembly of Kosovo in Pristina. Following is the text of his address.
Mr. President,
Dear Mr. Chairman,
Distinguished Members of the Assembly,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear guests!
It is an honour and a pleasure for me to be present at this very important session of the new Kosovo Assembly, which was inaugurated last week. I congratulate all of you on your election to this house.
In particular, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. Jakup Krasniqi, and all the members of the Presidency, on your elections which we just witnessed.
All of you here will be following in the footsteps of a highly successful Assembly which oversaw significant developments within Kosovo’s institutions and in the Status process.
And I would like to use this opportunity to express my gratitude to the previous Assembly, to its President Kole Berisha, and to the members of the Presidency.
Kosovo’s institutions have reached a high degree of maturity.
In this context, I would also like to thank the Central Election Commission and the OSCE. It is no coincidence that the international observers stated that the November elections, which for the first time saw Kosovo Assembly, Municipal and Mayoral elections all held at the same time, were in line with European and international standards.
I would also like to thank the political parties for running their campaigns concurrently with the Status negotiations, without diminishing their contributions to either.I would particularly like to acknowledge their firm adherence to the agreement to campaign in a tolerant and in an ethical manner.
The Ahtisaari process is behind us, with a plan on the table, and the negotiations on Kosovo's status led by the Troika are over.NATO has expressed its intent to stay engaged in Kosovo. The EU has expressed its readiness to set up a European Security and Defence Policy mission and to contribute to an International Civilian Office here. The UN Security Council has discussed Kosovo as recently as 19 December.
There is broad agreement that UNMIK has achieved what is achievable under the present circumstances and that the status quo is untenable.
There is also broad agreement that Kosovo’s political status needs to be resolved as soon as possible.
There is also broad agreement that the next steps require continued close coordination with the International Community, they require a very high degree of responsibility.
I am very confident that this Assembly, and the people of Kosovo, will act accordingly.
Today, I also want to warmly welcome the formation of a new, broad based Government, including representatives from minority communities, to be presented and voted upon in the next agenda item.
And I take this opportunity to congratulate the outgoing Government and Prime Minister Agim Ceku for their dedicated and successful work which has brought Kosovo forward.
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is not exaggerated to say that today the world is watching you. International attention is focused on Kosovo and following today’s formal endorsement of the Presidency of the Assembly and the upcoming election of the President and of the new Government, I am confident that all Institutions will be fully functional,not only with regard to the status process.
There are serious economic and social challenges affecting the daily lives of Kosovo’s citizens, which need to be addressed.
The people of Kosovo will also look to the Institutions to lead the fight against corruption and to strengthen the rule of law.
And the people of Kosovo, as well as the International Community, will look to the Assembly and the Government when it comes to a set of new laws that will also further improve the rights of minority communities.
For a number of reasons, Kosovo Serb participation in the past elections was regrettably low, but there is plenty of room for active participation in the Government, in the Assembly and its Committees.
I am confident that this Assembly and the emerging Government will embrace the contributions offered by representatives from all of Kosovo’s communities.
The greatest challenge for us all will be to ensure that political decisions do not undermine peace and stability in Kosovo and beyond.
As members of the highest body of the Provisional Institutions of Self Government, you have a very important responsibility not only to your voters, but also to Kosovo as a whole,with regard to getting the next steps right.
In this context, I would like to assure you that UNMIK and the International Community stands ready to support you.
Thank you for inviting me to speak, and I wish you a successful term in office!
Thank you.
