Today, at the biannual UN Security Council session on Kosovo, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), Caroline Ziadeh, updated the Council on the latest developments in Kosovo. The update included the recent peaceful conduct of the elections, noting an increase in women’s representation in the Kosovo Assembly without relying on the 30 per cent gender quota foreseen by the Law on General Elections. 

“Once in place, it is imperative that concrete steps will be taken to prioritize the well-being of the people of Kosovo as well as the implementation of commitments made under the EU-facilitated Dialogue, and advance on the process of normalisation of relations,” she said.

Indicating the Belgrade and Pristina agreement on the Joint Commission on Missing Persons in December, the SRSG urged all to make full use of this Joint Commission, in tandem with the existing Working Group on Missing Persons “to proceed without further delay and help families obtain clarity on the fate of their loved ones.”

SRSG Ziadeh also briefed on her most recent visit to northern Kosovo, where civil society interlocutors and political and community leaders pointed to a continued trust deficit, particularly vis-à-vis the institutions. “They lamented the unilateral actions taken by the Pristina authorities, including the recent closure of Serbia-run Centers of Social Welfare and the adverse socio-economic impact. Nevertheless, they saw no alternative to the EU-facilitated Dialogue and the need for Kosovo Serbs to reclaim a sense of agency through a self-management system within the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities,” she said. “I also reiterate my call to refrain from unilateral actions and urge outstanding issues to be discussed constructively and in good faith within the EU- facilitated Dialogue,” she emphasized.  

SRSG Ziadeh welcomed the Kosovo government's recent decision to allow residents with documents from Serbia-run institutions to register their civil status with Kosovo authorities. Noting gaps in the decision's scope and implementation, she encouraged increased outreach to concerned communities, and an extension of the 30 April deadline.

Condemning the attack on the Ibar-Lepenac/Ibër-Lepenc water canal on 29 November, the SRSG reiterated her call for a comprehensive and transparent investigation to identify and hold accountable those responsible. 

More than a year since the serious security incident in Banjska/Banjskë, SRSG Ziadeh reiterated the importance of ensuring accountability through fair and independent judicial proceedings.

The SRSG expressed deep concern about by developments involving the destruction of religious symbols, most recently against the Serbian Orthodox Church, which are incompatible with the right to freedom of religion, posing a risk of heightening religious and interethnic tensions.

Trust-building remains fundamental to fostering a stable and prosperous future for all communities in Kosovo, the SRSG told the Council, affirming UNMIK’s commitment to bridging divides. “At the core of our trust-building efforts are initiatives that uphold the rule of law, safeguard human rights, and actively promote the inclusion of women and youth in peace and security processes,” she added.

Read SRSG Ziadeh’s full statement to the Security Council here.