YouSaid · the spoken record

Daeic

lines on the record: 287
first: 2014-08-29
most recent: 2019-10-31
sittings or episodes: 12
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“I am convinced that if perchance found in Serbia's situation, none of the members of the Council would act differently. All of Serbia's endeavours reflect efforts to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity and, ipso facto, the authority of international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the legally binding resolution 1244 (1999), which guarantees its territorial integrity and sovereignty and underlines the unacceptability of unilateralism as a way of resolving international relations issues. I would also like to mention that for some time now we have been borne witness to Pristina's attempts to join international organizations - the most recent have been its applications to UNESCO, INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“In upholding its laws, in full alignment with international law, Serbia will not desist from prosecuting persons for whom there is evidence that they have committed the criminal offence of war crimes against the civilian population in Kosovo and Metohija. The recent decision of INTERPOL to reissue notices for a number of individuals charged with the commission of crimes in Kosovo and Metohija is very important in that regard. Serbia protects its national and State interests while fully respecting the tenets of international law, including, primarily, the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. It will continue to use all diplomatic means against Pristina's secessionist attempts, which set a dangerous precedent already embraced, as we have seen, by separatist movements in other parts of the world.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“It is a matter of grave concern for us that no indictment has yet been brought in the Specialist Chambers for crimes committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army and that the beginning of the work ofthe Chambers continues to be postponed. In his reflections on his time as Specialist Prosecutor, David Schwendiman summed up that concern well. "Haste is no friend of justice, but neither is unreasonable delay. The further things get from when crimes were committed, the less credible efforts to address them are going to seem and the weaker the perception of their efforts as legitimate is going to be".”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“In addition to arbitrary arrests, they include institutional discrimination, intimidation, failure to sanction national and religious hatred and ethnically motivated violence, personal and property insecurity and an absence of the rule of law. I reiterate that the crimes committed in Kosovo and Metohija must not go unpunished. The process of confronting the truth is the first step towards reconciliation, but it is necessary that all those who committed crimes be made to account for them. For its part, Serbia has made significant steps in that direction. Conversely, the perpetrators of crimes against Serbs and non-Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija have not been punished, even 19 years later. Positions occupied by some individuals in the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government cannot and must not obstruct the pursuit of justice.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“The recent arbitrary arrests at the Jarinje crossing provide ample evidence of the violence the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government resort to and Pristina's lack of willingness to promote genuine democracy, the rule of law and respect for basic human rights and fundamental freedoms. Most often, secret lists, compiled mainly on the basis of false reports and fabricated evidence, are used to make those arrests. They are aimed at creating insecurity and fear among the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, affect their freedom of movement and discourage the return of internally displaced persons. The number of returnees can hardly be expected to increase unless systemic solutions are introduced to address the problems that plague them every day, which make for a long and woeful list indeed.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“The report reveals that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees recorded three voluntary returns in the three-month reporting period. Council members heard that right - three internally displaced persons in three months out of the more than 200,000 expelled. Does the Council believe that that number is enough and that the international community should give up and stop creating conditions in Kosovo and Metohija to make it possible for internally displaced persons to return and realize their rights? That is the minimum we owe to all those who could not return to their homes in Kosovo and Metohija. Is the fact that only 1.9 per cent of internally displaced persons have achieved sustainable returns not a strong enough argument in favour of the continuation of UNMIK activities and of its strengthening?”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Nonetheless, potential changes must carried out under the watchful eye of the Security Council. It must be borne in mind that such changes would affect the work of other missions and that they too must change if they are to continue to function unencumbered. However, the transfer of EULEX competencies to the Provisional Institutions of Self- Government in Pristina would bring about a loss of the status neutrality of the Mission and underscore the phony statehood of Kosovo. It would be remiss of me today not to mention the 200,000 Serbs and non-Albanians who have been expelled and the great number churches, monasteries and cultural and historical monuments that have been burned or destroyed.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“We are afraid that that may very well be yet another political stratagem aimed at reducing international pressure, rather than genuine readiness to finally comply with the obligations that Pristina has assumed. It is therefore necessary that the Security Council calls in unison today for the establishment of the community of Serb majority municipalities without delay. Repeated calls to both parties to fulfil the obligations they have assumed are inappropriate since one side has already done so and the other has not. To ensure compliance with and facilitate the implementation of the Brussels Agreement, maintain stability and establish the rule of law in Kosovo and Metohija, an international presence is essential. In that regard, the current EULEX competencies must be maintained.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Statements that may be heard from Pristina's representatives, such as the most recent one to the effect that the establishment of the community of Serb- majority municipalities is contingent upon the granting of a seat at the United Nations, confirms that Pristina has no real intention to fulfil its obligations under the Brussels Agreement and that it is grossly violating it instead. It is with regret that I note that the Head of European Union Office in Kosovo has violated its mandate by expressing her support for the Pristina platform, in wanton disregard of the Agreement on which the European Union put its seal. We have reason to believe that, five years later, Pristina is being disingenuous by embarking upon that process, notwithstanding making assertions that measures will be taken with regard to the community.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“As a consequence, instead of analysing the achievements of the community over the past five years, we continue to talk about its establishment even today. The establishment of the community is of crucial and enormous importance for Serbia and Kosovo and Metohija Serbs, since it is designed to protect their vital interests, guarantee the preservation of their identity and improve their everyday life in Kosovo. Its establishment is not and must not be a gesture of goodwill, but a right achieved and guaranteed by all the signatories to the Brussels Agreement, including the European Union. It is not possible to implement agreements selectively and alter them unilaterally. The community must be established in accordance with the Brussels Agreement, its principles and implementation plan.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Five years ago I personally signed the First Agreement of Principles Governing the Normalization of Relations between Belgrade and Pristina, the so-called Brussels Agreement. As I have already said, the Agreement was not at all easy to achieve and the obligations assumed under it were not easy to implement. Yet we implemented the majority of them, including the most sensitive political ones, such as the integration of the police and judiciary. Pristina also assumed its obligations by signing the Agreement, the most important of which is the establishment of the community of Serb-majority municipalities, mentioned in as many as six provisions of the Agreement. I emphasize that that is the key part of the Agreement and the obligation that, despite repeated calls by the international community, Pristina has not implemented all these years.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“I would like to draw the Council's attention to the fact that a number of countries, EU and NATO members, have accepted the accreditation of so-called Kosovo military attaches, in violation of resolution 1244 (1999). The resolution says that Pristina may not have an army or a ministry of defence or, for that matter, military attaches. Under what provisions of the Vienna Convention has this been allowed to happen? How can military attaches exist in an entity recognized as a State that does not have an army? I would like to recall once again that Serbia is firmly committed to solving all issues through dialogue, and that we have demonstrated considerable political maturity and responsibility in the past year.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“That would not only be a flagrant violation of resolution 1244 (1999) and the Kumanovo Military Technical Agreement, it would also be a major step towards destabilizing the security situation in the province and the entire region. I would like to recall that the resolution does not provide for the establishment of a Kosovar armed force; it does, however, provide for KFOR as the only legal military force in Kosovo and Metohija responsible for all aspects of security in the province. Safeguarding KFOR's status neutrality and its undiminished presence is of paramount importance for the realization of its mandate. Let me point out that the EU and NATO have not supported Pristina's intentions to establish an army of Kosovo, and I expect that they will continue to uphold their position consistently.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“It is clear what the intention was. We support the call in the report of the Secretary-General for a thorough investigation, with corrective action in case of failures to uphold human rights. There should be great concern over Pristina's aspiration to change and expand the mandate of the so- called Kosovo Security Force. At a recent meeting in Skopje, I had an opportunity to hear Boyko Borissov, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, who holds the current EU presidency, ask Hashim Thaci if the incident had to occur in that way. Serbia responded with restraint. The aspiration to transform the Kosovo Security Force into an army should be a cause of great concern.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Threats and the use of force must not be tolerated under any circumstances; they must be clearly and unequivocally condemned by all the relevant international actors without reserve. I would also like to recall that Marko Durie came to Kosovo to talk about the political solution ofthe Kosovo problem. He did not come to spark an uprising or to do anything that was contrary to the Brussels dialogue. Has anyone ever witnessed a diplomatic representative of any State receiving the kind of treatment observed in Pristina? This is the Head of the negotiating team who, several days ago, sat at the table with the other side, the way Council members are sitting here now. I invite Council members to imagine how they would feel if they were paraded in handcuffs through the streets ofa town and then expected to talk about peace.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“The Kosovo Force (KFOR) also turned a blind eye to the actions of the Kosovo special police units, notwithstanding prior agreements, according to which it should have prevented the members of the special police units from coming to the northern part of the province, which has a majority Serbian population and which is where the sad incident occurred. I would like to recall that I signed the Brussels Agreement along with Hashim Thaci and Catherine Ashton. Before the Agreement was signed, we were at NATO headquarters in Brussels where then-Secretary- General Rasmussen took responsibility from KFOR to prevent the entry of any armed forces into a territory with a majority Serb population without approval. Why then did this incident happen?”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“The event provides eloquent proof of the instability of the situation in the province and of the speed with which peace and security fall prey to irresponsible and one-sided acts. We were shocked by what happened in Kosovo and Metohija on that day, just as we were disheartened by the absence of a proper response from the European Union, the facilitator of the dialogue. In particular, the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo is supposed to oversee the rule of law, including the conduct of Kosovo police.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“How can Mr. Duric' be expected to sit again at the negotiating table in the wake of such treatment? Pristina sought to justify that behaviour by alleging that the visit of Mr. Duric' had not been approved. That is absolutely false. Notification of the visit, in line with the agreement on the arrangement of official visits made under the auspices of the European Union (EU), was sent in time. In fact, the notification was sent long before the deadline provided for by the agreement. EU representatives are informed in detail about this. It is difficult to understand that act as anything other than provocation by Pristina. The event dealt a serious blow to the dialogue and undermines the peace and security not only of the Serbs of Kosovo and Metohija but also of the entire region.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija of the Government of Serbia, Marko Durie, other Serbian Government officials, as well as Ministers of the provisional Government of Kosovo and Metohija from the Serbian community, deputies in the provincial Parliament and other citizens, 36 in all, were injured in the raid. One Serb, a Minister of the provincial Government, was detained in hospital for treatment. Mr. Duric', the main negotiator on the Serbian side, was apprehended illegally during the technical dialogue with Pristina. He was harassed, beaten, handcuffed and eventually dragged through the streets of Pristina in an orchestrated display of mob hatred. That was an unseemly act of humiliation unrecorded in the history of diplomacy. I hope everyone saw the footage of how Pristina treats the main negotiator of the Serbian side.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Furthermore, next to nothing is known about the investigation except that no progress has been made and that, due to the complexity of the case, the investigation has been taken over by the Special Prosecution Office of Kosovo. Serbians in Kosovo and Metohija were shattered and deeply concerned by the news of the events that took place in northern Mitrovica on 26 March, when the talks under the internal dialogue on Kosovo were interrupted by a barbaric act committed by members of the Kosovo special police units. Armed to the teeth, they conducted a brutal raid on the building, using naked force against unarmed civilians. The dangerous, irresponsible and unacceptable behaviour of the representatives of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government was thrown into sharp relief.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Let me say now a few words about the current report of the Secretary-General and the events that took place during the reporting period. Those events provide telling evidence that the situation in Kosovo and Metohija continues to be unstable and that an international presence is still very much needed. Members will recall our shock at the previous meeting (see S/PV.8176) at the brutal murder of Oliver Ivanovie, the leader of the Civic Initiative "Freedom, Democracy, Justice" and one of the most prominent Serbian politicians in Kosovo and Metohija. The Pristina representatives vowed to leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators were brought to justice. The perpetrators have not been brought to justice.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“That is why I call on members to look at the broader picture and support our efforts to arrive at a lasting solution together. Calls for downsizing UNMIK, reducing its budget, changing its mandate and reducing the frequency of Security Council meetings on the subject fall far short of contributing to the creation of a climate conducive to the achievement of those goals. They only add to the existing rifts both among the members of the Security Council and between Belgrade and Pristina. At this moment we do not need a back-and-forth on whether the Security Council should devote three hours every three months - 12 hours per year - to this topic. What we need is to implement all agreements without adding conditions and to find solutions to all unresolved issues exclusively through dialogue.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Although we have faced substantial problems in the implementation of the agreements by Pristina from the very beginning, we continue to believe that the only way to find a long- term sustainable solution is through dialogue, and that it must be resumed. I therefore believe that it is a duty and an obligation of the Security Council to help find such a solution and normalize the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, which is - we must not forget - important for the stability of the entire region as well. Much effort has been made to stabilize the situation throughout the past years, and, only if we continue to address all open questions peacefully, can we expect to normalize the situation in the province. We therefore must not allow all our efforts made thus far to be placed in jeopardy through hasty or unnecessary actions.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Have internally displaced persons been allowed to return? Regrettably, the answer to all of those questions is "no". I will discuss the report before us and the events that took place during the reporting period in due time. Prior to that, however, I will point out several important facts that should be borne in mind by all of those calling for the termination of the Mission or decreasing the frequency of our meetings. UNMIK has been present on the ground for 19 years and has done much to change the situation in Kosovo and Metohija. A great job has been done, but it has not been completed. A long road has been traversed since 1999. Much time was needed to bring the representatives of Belgrade and Pristina to sit at the same table and begin negotiations. The first agreements were not easy to achieve, but they were achieved nonetheless.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“We understand some of those arguments. The Security Council agenda is congested, and the crises in Syria and Yemen are incomparable to the situation in Kosovo and Metohija. Yet I call on Council members to listen to my arguments and consider them as well. The situation in Kosovo and Metohija has changed since 1999, but it is far from ideal. Clearly, based on all prior reports, Kosovo is neither the young democracy or the multi-ethnic society facing occasional challenges that some purport it to be. The reports raise very important questions, as does the situation on the ground. Has genuine reconciliation among communities occurred in Kosovo and Metohija? Have the perpetrators of all crimes been punished? Are the basic human rights of minority communities respected in Kosovo and Metohija?”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“Mr. Daeic' (Serbia) (spoke in Serbian; interpretation provided by the delegation): I thank Secretary- General Guterres and his Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Mr. Zahir Tanin, for the report (S/2018/407) on the work of UNMIK and their committed engagement to the implementation of the mandate conferred upon the Mission by the Security Council under resolution 1244 (1999). I will be open and straightforward in my statement. For some time now, while some members ofthe Security Council have called for decreasing the frequency of reporting periods and meetings on this topic, others have proposed a closed format for the meetings. Other radical ideas that have been put forward have included that the Mission be terminated and transformed into a political one.”
2018-05-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8254 (2018) · source
“What I have spoken about today is a testament to the reality that there are many problems, that the security situation is volatile and that commitment, patience and hard work will be required for us to be able to communicate a different reality to the international community from this same Chamber in three months from now. For its part, Serbia is looking forward to the future and ready to invest all its resources to make a contribution towards achieving those goals.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“Lastly, I would like to call on all members of the Security Council to focus together on finding a compromise and sustainable solution to this decades- long question and fully support UNMIK in the meantime, as its unimpeded presence in Kosovo and Metohija is key to building lasting peace, stability and security, as well as confidence among communities, and solving the problems facing the members of the Serbian and other non-Albanian communities in the province. In that context, I would point out the importance of maintaining UNMIK's financial and personnel capacities, which will allow the Mission to meet the complex demands of the implementation of its mandate.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“In that regard, I would like to thank once again those States that have not recognized the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo for their consistent support and principled respect of the Charter of the United Nations and resolution 1244 (1999). At the same time, I call on those States that have done so to reconsider their decision and accordingly encourage both sides to find a mutually acceptable solution through dialogue.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“I would also like to remind Council members that for a decade - that is, since Kosovo declared independence by a unilateral act - Serbia has patiently, dedicatedly and responsibly apprised the international community of the apparent danger resulting from unilateral acts and admonished that the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo is a very dangerous and unacceptable precedent that, as we have witnessed, has already emboldened other separatist and secessionist movements all over the world. As in the past, Serbia continues to take measures to protect its national and State interests, with full respect for the basic principles of international law - primarily the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity as universal values reasserting freedom and equality among States and peoples.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“I take this opportunity to express special gratitude to all the countries that, with regard to that issue, support Serbia and, at the same time, insist, together with Serbia, on principled respect for universally accepted norms of the contemporary international order as it relates to upholding consistently the principles of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“In addition, we have witnessed for some time attempts by Pristina to become a full-fledged member ofinternational organizations despite the opposition ofa considerable number of countries, including even some of those that have recognized the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo. The most recent instances of such efforts were Kosovo's attempts to become a member of UNESCO, INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization. All those attempts, let me point out, run contrary to the basic principles of international law and are detrimental to - while needlessly politicizing - the work of international organizations.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“To achieve that goal, genuine commitment and determination on both sides are needed in order to build very necessary trust and respect. To that end, I would like to point out that the inappropriate and disconcerting statements made by some leaders of Albanian political parties do not contribute to the creation of a constructive atmosphere for the achievement of a historic agreement. Let me emphasize in particular that Pristina's one-sided acts, as well as each and every attempt to solve problems unilaterally, are entirely unacceptable to Serbia. I underscore that Serbia is firmly opposed to Pristina's intention to form a Kosovo army. Those and other similar attempts are very dangerous and could threaten not only the security of the province and the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, but also the stability of the entire region.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“Serbia continues its internal dialogue to which President Vueie called its citizens. A working group has been established to support the dialogue. It is conducted at a number of levels and with the participation of all the relevant social groups. I assure the Council that Serbia wants to make a serious and responsible contribution to the stability of the region, political cooperation, understanding and economic progress. We want to offer a solution that would provide an opportunity for a historic agreement with the Albanian community in Kosovo and Metohija and will not cause new divisions, misunderstandings, instability and conflict. The solution must honour the interests of Serbia and the needs of the Serbian community in Kosovo and Metohija.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“In his report the Secretary-General mentions the continued lack of progress in implementing the ruling of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo in favour of the Visoki Decani Monastery in a case of disputed land ownership, I would also like to underscore that the protection of the historical, cultural and religious heritage of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, which is at the same time an important part of European and world heritage, is a priority for the Republic of Serbia. There are harmful institutional attempts to conceal the true identity of Serbian heritage in the province, which is frequently designated as medieval Balkan or Byzantine. However, such designations continue to be omitted from crucial Serbian heritage. A responsible, realistic and rational approach is needed in the relations with Pristina.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“On one hand, that statistic is shocking; on the other hand, it is understandable and raises the question of who wants to return to a place to suffer discrimination every day; where nationalistic and religious hatred is not punished; property is not protected; jobs are few; people are exposed to intimidation, arbitrary arrests and ethnically motivated violence; the grave sites of their forefathers cannot be visited; and where the rule of law is implemented by institutions that have not brought a single legally valid decision for the killing of a large number of Serbs since the end of the conflict? I pose the question again: Who would want to return to that situation? Before those problems are resolved structurally and institutionally, regrettably, the number of returnees will regrettably only be lower.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“In ajoint communique, the Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States in Pristina expressed deep concern about the decision taken by Hashim Thaci to pardon the criminals. There is no need for me to assure the Council that the decision sparked concern among the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. I recall that, in addition to approximately 16,500 internally displaced persons in the province, more than 200,000 continue to reside outside Kosovo and Metohija in central Serbia more than 18 years after the arrival of the international presence. Only 1.9 per cent of them have achieved sustainable returns, to which UNMIK should pay additional and maximum attention. It is noted in the report that the lowest number of returns since 2000 was recorded in 2017. Regrettably, only 498 people returned to the province.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“In that regard, we were concerned about and disappointed in INTERPOL's recent decisions to remove international arrest warrants for a certain number of persons from Kosovo and Metohija from its list, including Hashim Thaci and Ramush Haradinaj. Let me state unequivocally that such decisions set a precedent that is at variance with the rules of the organization. Regrettably, the so-called President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, pardoned three KLA members sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing all five members of the Albanian Hajra family near Glogovac in August 2001. The victims included 3-year-old Adelina and 9-year- old Mimoza. According to the EULEX report, their father, Hamsa Hajra, was a member of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia and the entire family was killed as an act of KLA retaliation.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“I would like to assure the Council that Serbia is ready to provide the evidence it possesses on the commission of brutal crimes, which have no statute of limitations and must not be forgotten. In accordance with its laws and with international law, Serbia will continue to prosecute those for whom there is convincing evidence that they have committed criminal offences ofwar crimes against the civilian population in Kosovo and Metohija. The positions held by some individuals in the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government cannot and must not deter us from achieving justice. They do not release those individuals from criminal responsibility for perpetrating the offences.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“Those statements are clear evidence that the international community does not share the views of those who are behind the initiative, and that it believes that the heinous crimes committed against the Serbs and other non-Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija reported by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Special Rapporteur Dick Marty must not go unpunished and cannot be relativized or justified. Mindful of the moral responsibility towards the victims and their families, we believe that the establishment of criminal responsibility in an impartial and credible way and the punishment of criminals will have a measurable impact on the fight against impunity and demonstrate that justice is achievable for all victims.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“He states that it is a step backwards in one of the most important areas, and strongly calls on Pristina to demonstrate its commitment to justice and the rule of law. United States Ambassador Greg Delawie stated that any initiative to change the law governing the Specialist Chambers will have a profound negative impact on Kosovo' future in Europe and its relations with the United States. The head of the European Union Office in Pristina, Nataliya Apostolova, stated that she was shocked by the Kosovo Assembly initiative to revoke or abrogate in any way the law governing the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor's Office. German Ambassador Christian Heldt warned that the decision on the decision to establish Specialist Chambers could affect relations between Kosovo and its friends abroad.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“The tragic event proves that the overall security situation in the entire province is very serious, volatile and sensitive, and that the presence of the international community is required. The reality on the ground is also that, at the end of last year and at the start of this year, the power structure and the political parties and leaders of Kosovo and Metohija tried to revoke the Specialist Chambers law intended to conduct trials for crimes allegedly committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). There is no need to assure the Council of Serbia's concern about the situation because Council members were themselves surprised and concerned about the developments. In his report the Secretary- General expresses deep disappointment.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“It was rejected by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Kosovo and Metohija, which insisted that the investigation be conducted exclusively by the investigation authorities of Kosovo. However, three weeks after the murder, we have no information whatsoever except for statements by Pristina representatives that the settling of scores with local mafias was involved and that the murder was not ethnically motivated. Such statements have served only to obfuscate Pristina's inability or its lack of readiness to conduct an investigation into the gruesome crime. I emphasize once again that bringing those who ordered the crime to be committed and its perpetrators to justice, as well as establishing the motives of the crime, are of vital importance to maintaining peace and trust among the people of Kosovo and Metohija.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“My country's responsible approach to the situation was confirmed on 21 and 22 January when the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vueie, visited the Serbs in northern and central Kosovo and Metohija, and called on them to maintain stability, peace, calm and dignity, while emphasizing that all problems must be solved peacefully through dialogue. Aware of the seriousness of the situation, Serbia sent correspondence to UNMMIK and the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), requesting that its State organs take part in the investigation of the murder, convinced that their participation would help to quickly and efficiently establish the truth. The request was reiterated by President Vucie in his telephone conversation with Hashim Thaci.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“We welcome the reaction of Special Representative Tanin, who condemned that gruesome act and called for a speedy and resolute investigation, providing assurances that all international agencies will support the authorities and help them arrest those responsible for the crime. The murder of Oliver Ivanovie is a senseless terrorist act that threatens the stability not only of northern Kosovo and Metohija, but also the entire region. Serbia's political leaders and State authorities called for a calm and stable situation in the province.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“I emphasize, once again, that Serbia is ready to continue engaging in dialogue; however, it is questionable if a new agreement would have any meaning at all, given that four and a half years after the signing of the Brussels Agreement we continue to be saddled with a lack of indications as to when and how it will be implemented for the establishment of the community. The reality on the ground is that Oliver Ivanovic', the leader of the Civic Initiative "Freedom, Democracy, Justice", was shot dead in Kosovska Mitrovica on 16 January and his murder has dramatically jeopardized security in Kosovo and Metohija.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“I would also like to remind members on this occasion that Serbia's participation in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina was both dedicated and responsible, and that, irrespective of the hurdles and challenges, my country approached it with the strong conviction that there is no alternative to such an approach and that only within a status-neutral framework is it possible to contribute to regional peace, security and stability, as well as the realization of conditions for the Western Balkans unimpeded progress towards European Union membership. Convinced that this approach has no alternative and that all issues must be resolved peacefully through dialogue, for its part Serbia has fulfilled its obligations consistently and in good faith.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“In the meantime, 30 non-permanent Member States have been in and out of this esteemed organ, and each and every one of them called on Pristina to fulfil its obligations. Unfortunately, rather than forward, the movement thus far has only been backward. In his report, the Secretary-General notes that "There was no progress towards the establishment of the community/association of Serb majority municipalities in Kosovo No indications were provided about when and how steps towards the establishment of the community/association might be taken." (S/2018/76, para. 21) That is the reality on the ground.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“The reality on the ground is that the First Agreement of Principles Governing the Normalization of Relations was signed as early as August 2013, and that Agreement provides for the establishment of a community of Serb-majority municipalities. I would like to remind those present that I signed that Brussels Agreement together with Hashim Thaci and Catherine Ashton, the latter on behalf of the European Union. As members of the Council know very well, the establishment of the community is a question of crucial and enormous importance for Serbia as it aims to ensure and protect the vital interests of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and improve their everyday lives. For four and a half years now, Serbia has been waiting patiently for Pristina to fulfil its fundamentally important obligation.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source
“Some members of the Security Council suggested before this meeting that, in the delivery of our statements, we stick to the topic of the meeting, demonstrate constructiveness, maintain calm and avoid all provocations and confrontation. Just as I did in my previous statement (see S/PV.8100), I shall focus on the current situation in Kosovo and Metohija and the developments that took place in the preceding quarter, as well as on the report ofthe Secretary-General. I hope that the representative of Pristina will also honour those recommendations and that she will not, as she did in the past, hold a history lesson full of falsehoods, unfounded accusations and unwarranted embellishments of the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, disregarding, all along, the report of the Secretary-General and the realities on the ground.”
2018-02-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8176 (2018) · source