PRISTINA – The SRSG and Head of UNMIK, Caroline Ziadeh, addressed today’s UN Security Council session.

Referring to recent developments in Kosovo, including the new currency regulation by the Central Bank Board of Kosovo, she expressed deep concern over the impact of unilateral actions that clearly fall within the political dialogue process and its governing agreements.

“I will continue to call on both Pristina and Belgrade to engage actively, and in good faith, in the EU-facilitated Dialogue, the venue for tackling the most sensitive policy issues that affect the communities,” said Ziadeh.

Reaffirming the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring that all related actions are anchored in the principles of human rights, the SRSG reiterated that actions lacking due consultation with the concerned communities put people’s sense of safety and livelihoods at risk. “Such actions not only increase tensions but also weaken the potential for lasting peace and security across all communities in Kosovo. In the spirit of conflict prevention, more should be done to win the hearts and minds of non-majority communities,” she said.

SRSG Ziadeh noted that it is crucial that efforts towards negotiated and mutually accepted solutions do not falter and that “the only acceptable path ahead is one that is grounded in dialogue and compromise, embraces human rights and ensures the equitable application of the rule of law.”

Full SRSG Ziadeh’s statement to the Security Council is available here.