UNMIK/PR/1738
PRISTINA – Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG), Lamberto Zannier, today held a townhall meeting with UNMIK’s staff on the reconfiguration process, and explain how it will affect the Mission and its work.
“After nine years, the situation in Kosovo has changed and that means UNMIK too has to change,” SRSG Zannier said.
He added that the present reconfiguration is one of a series throughout the Mission’s life. Past reconfigurations have included the loss and addition of Pillars, and as competencies previously carried out by UNMIK have been taken on by Kosovo authorities as, for example, in policing where the Kosovo Police Service has come to the forefront in serving the people of Kosovo, and in the management of elections, further solidifying democratic developments.
UNMIK will retain key functions given by to it by UN Security Council resolution 1244, including political reporting and facilitating a dialogue on practical issues between Pristina and Belgrade.
Additionally, UNMIK will maintain, as needed, its field presence through its office in Mitrovica and three smaller field offices in other parts of Kosovo. It will also further strengthen the interaction with the OSCE Pillar.
SRSG Zannier made it clear that Kosovo’s minority communities will continue to be a strong focus of UNMIK's future work.
The reconfigured UNMIK will be smaller in staff size. As UNMIK will be downsized, the SRSG recognized the needs of the Mission’s dedicated staff.
“Substantial numbers of staff, local and international, will leave between now and the end of the year. We are doing our utmost to find them jobs elsewhere, including in other UN peacekeeping missions,” SRSG Zannier said.
