YouSaid · the spoken record

Guehenno

lines on the record: 1,147
first: 2000-11-14
most recent: 2011-05-12
sittings or episodes: 58
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

“As a final note on the question of the mandate, I believe that we should learn from the UNAMSIL experience that peacekeeping operations should always take into account the possibility of the worst-case scenario happening. Certainly, peacekeeping often requires that we take calculated risks, but planning and adequate resources take into account these risks. (Spoke in English) The early gaps in UNAMSIL's strength and capacity deserve close attention. Initially, UNASMIL was particularly short on troops with significant capacity for self-sustainment and had to rely on troops with some relative limitations in training and equipment. For example, at one point, the Mission was joined by four battalions having only one truck and four jeeps per 800 soldiers.”
2002-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4577 (2002) · source
“If I may be frank, I believe in the previous period there had been some hesitation about the meaning and interpretation of UNAMSIL'S mandate and rules of engagement, some hesitation among actors in the field, in New York, and even among States concerned. But sustained efforts were made at that time to ensure that all key players had the same understanding of the mandate. I believe that this bore fruit and that there is here a basic lesson for peacekeeping operations. Unity among the key actors is a sine qua non for the success of any complex operation. This in fact translates into clarity of objectives, and clarity of objectives means also the clarity and efficiency in the operational activity of a mission.”
2002-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4577 (2002) · source
“The new mandate provided the basis necessary for a robust peacekeeping force. The necessary resources were then put in place to carry out the mandate, and we are grateful to those Member States which heeded the United Nations call. This allowed the Mission to follow a two-track strategy: political engagement of the RUF, on one hand, while denying any military option, on the other. It should be noted that that strategy was possible because the Council, the United Nations Secretariat and the troop-contributing countries demonstrated their unity and thus established absolute clarity concerning the implications of the new mandate and rules of engagement.”
2002-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4577 (2002) · source
“It is all the more remarkable, therefore, that today, the fundamental lesson we can draw from that experience is that, with the necessary resolve, the Council, the troop- contributing countries, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations were able to work together to turn the situation around. The Council recognized that the credibility of the United Nations was at stake and that UNAMSIL could not be allowed to fail, or Sierra Leone be abandoned to the crisis. Of course, the challenges we have still to meet are formidable, but Sierra Leone is now on the path towards peace and stability. How did this turnaround of the situation occur? The resolve of the Security Council to strengthen UNAMSIL's mandate, to build up troop levels and the Mission's structures, was a central factor.”
2002-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4577 (2002) · source
“While all the lessons of such a complex operation cannot be captured in my short briefing today, I believe that the key ones can be found if one looks closely at three aspects of the experience: the adjustment of the UNAMSIL mandate; the provision of the means to achieve the new mandate; and the management of the Mission to implement the mandate and consolidate the gains made. (Spoke in French) When the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) precipitated the crisis of May 2000, many observers thought at that time that UNAMSIL had suffered grave setbacks from which it could not recover.”
2002-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4577 (2002) · source
“Mr. Guehenno: I am very pleased indeed to participate in this workshop and I should like to commend the President of the Council for this important initiative. But before turning to the lessons learned from the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), let me first say in the presence of the Foreign Minister of Sierra Leone that Sierra Leone is today moving away from war and towards peace because the largest share of the achievement belongs to the Sierra Leone Government and people, whose efforts are the foundation of any success that the United Nations may claim there. The Secretary-General has already given a broad overview of the recent experience in Sierra Leone. I hope to provide some further detail in this meeting, particularly regarding the United Nations response to the grave challenge that UNAMSIL faced in May 2000.”
2002-07-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4577 (2002) · source
“In that respect, I would like to say that if we want to be successful in one of the goals of the Mission - such as the issue of returns and reintegration - we will have to continue to address a wide range of issues, from security to a growing and vibrant economy, as well as areas such as housing and property directorates, as mentioned by the Ambassador of Norway. We will have to tackle a very large number of issues, and that will require not only the political support of this Council, but also the financial support and attention of the international community. I am encouraged by the support that the mission finds in the Council.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“Mr. Guehenno: I will make just two brief observations at this late hour. First, I would like to say that I do, indeed, agree with the comments by several members of the Council with regard to the approach taken by Mr. Steiner on benchmarks. If I may, I will not only share those comments with Mr. Steiner, but also inform other missions of that approach, because I believe - as many members of the Council have said - that providing greater transparency and, therefore, more accountability will help to ensure a better relationship between the Council and the Mission, as well as helping other missions, especially those that have a wide-ranging mandate, to be more focused and therefore more effective. My second observation relates to what the Ambassador of Yugoslavia said. He reminded us that if much has been achieved, a lot remains to be done.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“Respect for the rule of law is part of the process of normalization, and it is this process that will lead Kosovo towards becoming a fair and just society embracing all communities in its political, institutional, economic and social life.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“Continued support for UNMIK's fight against crime through criminal investigation leading to arrests, building the capacity of the local police and judiciary, and improved gathering of information about crimes and better cooperation by the people in bringing to the police useful information on crimes - all this will benefit the people in Kosovo. I also wish to emphasize in this connection that crime knows no boundaries and that regional cooperation plays an important role in the fight against crime. Only by working together in a regional context to promote cooperation, coordination and dialogue will law and order be enhanced in Kosovo.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“Recent UNMIK measures have included doubling the number of UNMIK police in northern Mitrovica, supported by an increase in the KFOR presence, launching a public campaign promoting Serb participation in the Kosovo Police Service, and discussions with the Kosovo Albanian leaders to ensure their support. President Kostunica and Foreign Minister Svilanovic have expressed to Mr. Steiner their support for a policy of zero tolerance for crime in all of Kosovo, including northern Mitrovica. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that the recent arrest of suspects in cases pending from June 1999 and June 2000 illustrate UNMIK'S zero tolerance for crime and are a clear sign that no one is above the law. Crime in Kosovo hurts not only the victims directly but Kosovo as a whole.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“This branch of the American Bank of Kosovo will operate predominantly in euros, although it will also have facilities dealing with Yugoslav dinars. The Microenterprise Bank plans to open automatic cash dispensers in some minority enclaves. With regard to the situation in Mitrovica, UNMIK remains fully committed to implementing a reunification policy for the town. The Special Representative made this clear in public statements during his recent Visits to both the northern and southern parts of Mitrovica. UNMIK and KFOR have continued to implement a series of initiatives to meet the needs of Kosovo Serbs for security and services which a unified city should provide, without having parallel structures.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“I have a few comments on relaunching Kosovo's economy. The regulations establishing the Kosovo Trust Agency and the associate special chamber of the Supreme Court were signed into law on 13 June. The new Agency will be able to sell commercial assets currently held by collectively owned enterprises to new owners through transparent procedures and to hold the proceeds in trust until creditor claims are settled through a judicial process. The Kosovo Trust Agency will also assume control over some State-owned enterprises and public-utility service providers. In the economic sphere we also see that there has been significant improvement in the range of banking services available in Kosovo, including in minority areas. On 15 June the first bank branch to be located wholly within a Kosovo Serb area was opened in Zvecan, in the Mitrovica region.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“Steiner organized a meeting with representatives of the families of the missing Kosovo Serbs and Kosovo Albanians. Despite the obvious difficulty of such a meeting, both sides agreed to cooperate, to help each other. UNMIK will continue to hold such inter-ethnic meetings on this issue, which profoundly touches both communities. UNMIK has also begun preparations to exhume Victims' gravesites in Kosovo in order to attempt to identify the remains. Such preparations are also under way in Serbia proper. The number of identifications in Kosovo in the first months of 2002 has already exceeded the number made in all of 2001, and this was the result of enhanced cooperation between the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Committee for Missing Persons, as well as of a restructuring of UNMIK operations in this area.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“The Albanian Government took a unilateral decision to ease the border controls on Kosovo residents, which means that they can now go overland to Albania with an UNMIK identity card instead of a national passport, or with travel papers issued by UNMIK. It is also a matter of note that the Government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia decided to abolish the visa requirement for those holding travel documents issued by UNMIK. I would also like to make some observations about the missing. The Special Representative, Mr. Steiner, has promoted continued dialogue between associations of the missing in Kosovo and in Serbia proper, which is considered essential for further progress in this very sensitive area. Therefore on 22 June Mr.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“(spoke in French) I would now like to deal with issues relating to freedom of movement. Another outcome of the meeting of the High-Level Working Group on 31 May was the conclusion of a technical agreement between UNMIK and the Serbian rail network for the extension of the network between Belgrade and Kosovo. The first rail link between Lesac - the first station that is encountered upon entering Kosovo from the north - and Belgrade will open on 27 June. The practical implementation of this agreement could improve the freedom of movement of Serbs in Kosovo, as well as help in Kosovo's long-term economic development. Freedom of movement in general has been strengthened as a result of decisions taken by neighbouring States.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“Steiner in late May, UNMIK has increased grass-roots efforts to support minority returns. Municipal working groups on return have been established in 24 of 30 municipalities, marking an improvement in the awareness of the returns issue on the part of local authorities. UNMIK has also worked with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia/ Serbia Coordination Centre and other actors to reach internally displaced persons in Serbia proper through public meetings and Internet-based information systems. The use of the media for outreach to internally displaced persons was also facilitated by agreements reached during a two-day conference on bridging the information gap, which took place in Pristina on 28 and 29 May, with media representatives from Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia and other parts of the region.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“At the end of May, the Senior Adviser on Returns joined the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General following his nomination which I mentioned earlier - by the Kosovo Serb Return Coalition. He resigned his seat in the Kosovo Assembly to assume that position. Working within UNMIK and the Government, respectively, both the Senior Adviser and the Inter-Ministerial Coordinator for Returns will seek to assist in fostering returns and in stabilizing the minority communities in Kosovo, thus stemming their outflow. It is also hoped that their presence in UNMIK and in the Government will strengthen the credibility of the returns programme in the eyes of internally displaced persons and refugees. Following the release of the concept paper on the right to sustainable returns by Mr.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“UNMIK has also initiated negotiations with the relevant authorities in Albania and Montenegro in order to further develop regional police and justice cooperation. During the South-East European Cooperation Process meeting in Belgrade on 19 June, Mr. Steiner proposed the establishment of enhanced regional cooperation mechanisms to fight organized crime and terrorism in the region. His proposals were well received by the participants. I would now like to turn to the very important issue of sustainable return. Spontaneous returns have occurred in various locations in Kosovo, bringing the total number of returns to 874 in the first five months of 2002, 43 per cent of them being Kosovo Serb returns.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“The Gate 1 checkpoint used by the UNMIK customs, UNMIK police and KFOR, which is located at the northernmost point of Kosovo, was moved closer to the administrative boundary in order to eliminate the use by illegal traders of the no-man's-land along the boundary. Within the framework of the High-Ranking Working Group, on 31 May UNMIK signed a Protocol on Police Cooperation with the Governments of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia as part of its strategy to combat organized crime and terrorism. The Protocol will facilitate information exchange between the UNMIK police force and its Serbian and Yugoslav counterparts and will provide for enhanced cooperation in relation to the policing of returns, movement across administrative boundaries and the identification of missing persons.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“Hundreds of Kosovo Albanians have demonstrated over the past few days in Djakovica and Decani. In one case, KFOR anti-riot and quick reaction units were deployed to calm the situation down. In another, KFOR had to fire warning shots to disperse an aggressive crowd. Comments received by Mr. Steiner from the audience during a local television talk show seemed to indicate general support for UNMIK's recent actions aimed at upholding the rule of law. In the same vein, a number of successful anti- smuggling operations have taken place during the reporting period. UNMIK police and the Kosovo Police Service have seized substantial quantities of gasoline, alcohol and cigarettes at border points. An illegal cigarette factory in Kosovo was raided, yielding more than 20 tons of tobacco and counterfeit cigarette cartons.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“On 20 June 2002, an international judge opened an investigation into all six suspects in connection with these charges, and ordered that they be detained for 30 days. UNMIK has also convened a panel of international judges to hear any appeal which the suspects might make against the judge's orders. I must point out that, contrary to allegations from the head of the Kosovo Protection Corps that UNMIK police used unnecessary force in the arrests, internal investigations suggest that the operation was carried out in a professional manner with a proportionate use of force. In contrast to the widespread protests that were triggered by the arrest on war crimes charges of three former KLA members at the end of January, these recent arrests have thus far generated only a localized public reaction.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“The following day, a further two former KLA members handed themselves in to UNMIK police, and all six were brought before an international judge. Three of the six are active members of the Kosovo Protection Corps, and one is currently suspended from it. The six men are charged with unlawful detention and causing serious bodily injury in relation to an incident in June 1999 during which they are alleged to have beaten and tortured five other former KLA members as a punishment for defection to a rival command, and in relation to a noted incident in June 2000, in which they are alleged to have broken into a house and participated in an exchange of gunfire with persons in the house.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“UNMIK has focused efforts on ensuring the participation of all communities in the upcoming elections. The prospects for multi-ethnic participation are encouraging, as UNMIK has so far received a high number of applications from minority community political parties seeking certification for the municipal elections. By 14 June, the mid-point in the certification process, more than 40 per cent of all applications received had been submitted by minority communities. It should be noted that in the 2000 municipal elections, only 26 per cent of those running for election were from minority communities. The Mission has taken further steps to strengthen the rule of law in Kosovo. On 18 June, UNMIK police arrested four former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“The Economic and Fiscal Council, under the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, has been constituted and already plays an important role in coordinating policy between UNMIK and the provisional institutions on economic and fiscal issues. The Council has held its first two meetings, discussing such topics as the Kosovo Trust Agency, the Kosovo Pension Savings Trust and draft legislation on public financial management and accountability. I would like to say a few words about municipal elections. Preparations continued for the municipal elections scheduled to take place on 26 October. On 10 June, Mr. Steiner promulgated regulation 2002/11 on the municipal elections in Kosovo, which defined a four-year mandate for Municipal Assembly members.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“The guidelines were provided to the Kosovo Government in order to ensure that actions by the Kosovo governmental authorities are in compliance with the basic laws governing Kosovo and duly take into account the reserved responsibilities of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. The liaison offices of States and offices of international organizations in Kosovo were also requested to ensure that their actions vis-a-vis the Kosovo provisional institutions were in accord with these guidelines. At the same time, UNMIK and the provisional institutions of self-government have enhanced their consultations during the reporting period.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“On 12 June, all members of the Government swore an oath of office, pledging their commitment to work for the benefit of all communities in Kosovo. The oath-taking ceremony marked the third anniversary of the arrival of the international community in Kosovo. The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) has continued to work with the provisional institutions of self-government to ensure that those bodies respect the division between reserved and transferred responsibilities. As external relations and foreign policy are powers reserved to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Steiner has issued guidelines for agreements of the provisional institutions of self-government with Governments of States and with international organizations.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“Mr. Guehenno: I am pleased to provide an update of developments in Kosovo since I briefed the members of the Council on 16 and 24 May. First, I would like to speak of the establishment of inclusive provisional institutions of self- government. A welcome development since the Security Council was last briefed has been the completion of the Kosovo Government, following the nomination at the end of May by the Kosovo Serb Return Coalition of Kosovo Serb representatives for the positions of Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development and Inter-ministerial Coordinator for Returns in the Office of the Prime Minister. The assumption of office by the Kosovo Serb representatives coincided with the Government's first 100 days in office.”
2002-06-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4559 (2002) · source
“That is where an example of working side by side for the good of Kosovo should be set. It is therefore essential that before any more time is lost, the Kosovo Serb representatives take up their rightful places in the Government. All sides need to help one another to find common ground solutions so that many of the complex situations Kosovo faces - requiring concessions on all sides - can begin to be tackled in a way that will prove effective and sustainable. The meeting rose at 10.25 am.”
2002-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4533 (2002) · source
“One person died and more than 100 people were injured. The Kosovo Protection Corps, which in the anilane region now has seven members from minority communities, responded swiftly and effectively. More than 100 of its members were directly engaged, working together with UNMIK and KFOR. An inter-municipality committee was set up to coordinate the responses of the four municipalities most affected, and an emergency fund was established, for which 500,000 euro has been allocated from the contingency fund of the Kosovo consolidated budget. That response is a good example of every level, both local and international, pulling together for the benefit of those affected in all communities. That example of pulling together for the benefit of all communities is one that we would like to see in the provisional institutions of self-government.”
2002-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4533 (2002) · source
“In Kamenica, in the anilane region, Kosovo Serb physicians participated in a "go and see" visit to the anilane hospital with a View to working there at least once a week. Efforts have continued to determine the fate of the missing of all communities, which, as members know, remains one of the major obstacles to reconciliation. At the beginning of May, a group of international forensic experts began work at the former morgue run by the International Criminal Tribune for the former Yugoslavia in Orahovac, with the aim of identifying the remains of approximately 1,250 people by the end of the year. Finally, I would like to report on an event that took place on 24 April and that therefore could not be included in the last briefing: an earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale hit Kosovo, causing particular damage in the anilane region.”
2002-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4533 (2002) · source
“He made statements of support for the right of all internally displaced persons to return to their places of origin and called for the removal of enclaves. For the first time, a Kosovo Albanian representative took part in a "go and inform" visit to internally displaced persons in central Serbia. At the same time, there were again acts of intimidation and violence against members of the minority communities, including the stoning of nuns from the Decani Monastery and the desecration of several graveyards during the Orthodox Easter period. There have been several recent indications of a desire on the part of members of Kosovo's non- Albanian communities to integrate into municipal life: several groups have begun Albanian language lessons, including the monks in the Decani Monastery, in the Pee region.”
2002-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4533 (2002) · source
“(spoke in English) On the issue of returns, UNMIK, together with Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), briefed donors on 7 May on the principles guiding the returns process and outlined the financial requirements for 2002, which amount to over 16 million euro. The aim is to achieve increasing returns this year in order to create momentum for more significant numbers of returns during 2003 and 2004. In its draft programme, the Government of Kosovo has committed itself to demonstrating its willingness to address the wishes and concerns of internally displaced persons and refugees. Mr. Rexhepi, the Prime Minister, attended Serbian Orthodox Easter celebrations in the Pec' Patriarchate, spoke with Ashkali families that had returned to Vucitrn and visited the mixed municipality of Strpce.”
2002-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4533 (2002) · source
“An agreement was also reached on holding a follow-up conference in Zagreb in September that will also include the participation of representatives responsible for the implementation of the Stability Pact. On 29 April, UNMIK's Institution-Building Pillar published its fourth review of the criminal justice system in Kosovo. The report concluded that, while areas of concern remain, the foundations of a sustainable system based on human rights and access to justice have been laid. Outstanding areas of concern include the independence of the judiciary, conditions of detention and mental health issues.”
2002-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4533 (2002) · source
“On 10 May, UNMIK hosted a regional ministerial conference in Pristina on cigarette smuggling that was attended by representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia, and by the Minister for Finance of Kosovo's provisional institutions. In the Pristina declaration issued at the end of the conference, the participants agreed, among other things, to pursue their efforts to harmonize excise rates, to establish greater coordination of efforts to regulate the movement of goods in the region through improved exchange of information, and to a common approach to improve the collection of customs fees and various taxes.”
2002-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4533 (2002) · source
“Also, another panel of international judges recently handed down a 15-year sentence to a Kosovo Albanian for the murder of an elderly Kosovo Serb woman in Prizren. Effective maintenance of law and order requires UNMIK to look beyond the boundaries of Kosovo. It is for that reason that, at the end of April, an agreement was reached with the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and of Serbia on a draft agreement on police cooperation that lays out an effective framework for a more systematic sharing of information on a range of law enforcement issues.”
2002-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4533 (2002) · source
“This year's municipal election will provide an opportunity for those communities that boycotted the 2000 elections, particularly the Kosovo Serb community, to participate. The aim is to have all municipal assembly members elected, not appointed as in some cases, for the next mandate period, which will be four years. (spoke in French) Turning now to rule of law issues and public order, I would like to inform the Council that a panel of international judges in Pristina handed down the first sentence on terrorism-related charges on 10 May. The defendant, who was charged with the murder of the head of the Yugoslav passport office in Pristina last April, was sentenced to 23 years' imprisonment.”
2002-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4533 (2002) · source
“I would now like to turn to the municipal elections, which, as the Council knows, were originally scheduled to take place on 21 September. Due to a delay in approving the election budget - which was approved by the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on 19 April - the elections will now take place on 26 October. An important element of this year's election is the increase in responsibilities undertaken by the local electoral bodies. For example, the municipal election commissions have assumed responsibility for appointing and training some 8,000 polling station committee members, and work has begun to establish the provisional electoral management body.”
2002-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4533 (2002) · source
“He drew the Assembly's attention to some of the critical remarks made by members of the Council during the last meeting - regarding, for example, the lack of a multi-ethnic civil service and the unacceptable living conditions of minority communities - and asked the Assembly to focus on those areas. I can report that the situation in Mitrovica has now calmed down somewhat. UNMIK is continuing its dialogue with local representatives in northern Mitrovica and with Belgrade and is working closely with KFOR to maintain calm. Regarding the border with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, UNMIK is working in the Joint Expert Committee to find practical arrangements that will allow Kosovo Albanian farmers access to their lands on the border with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.”
2002-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4533 (2002) · source
“For example, on 9 May the Assembly debated two issues that lie within the responsibilities reserved for the Special Representative: the security situation in Mitrovica, and the border demarcation agreement between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Intervening in that debate, Mr. Steiner recognized the natural desire of the elected representatives to discuss issues important to them. In order to uphold the division of responsibilities outlined in the Constitutional Framework, the issues were discussed in an informal session of the Assembly. At the same time, Mr. Steiner underlined that such discussions should not sidetrack the Assembly from focusing on the many urgent matters for which it does have responsibility.”
2002-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4533 (2002) · source
“Unfortunately, the Kosovo Serb Return Coalition - known by its initials, KP - has not so far put forward candidates for the three government posts allotted to it. Although three names appeared in the local press on 7 May following a KP meeting in Leposavic, it appears that the issue of candidates has become stuck in Belgrade. This is regrettable. First, it means that the Kosovo Serbs are still not part of the decision-making process and did not participate in the talks on the government programme. Secondly, it tends to undermine the KP Assembly members. As was to be expected, the division of responsibilities between the provisional institutions of self-government and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) under the Constitutional Framework is causing some friction.”
2002-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4533 (2002) · source
“Mr. Guehenno: I am pleased to provide an update of developments in Kosovo since the members of the Council were last briefed by Mr. Steiner on 24 April. Let me begin with the provisional institutions of self-government. On 9 May, the Kosovo Government submitted to the Assembly its draft programme, which is based on the agreement of 28 February that formed the Government. Priorities highlighted in the programme include consolidating democratic structures, improving education and health care and promoting economic development. It also focuses on the protection of the rights and interests of communities - including the right to return - and regional integration, including meaningful dialogue with the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.”
2002-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4533 (2002) · source
“We expect the new Special Representative to focus a lot on the reshaping of UNMIK in a number of areas from an executive role to an advisory role, thus rebalancing the various pillars to address the remaining priorities of the Mission. The restructuring will certainly affect pillar III and, eventually, pillar IV, as it has affected pillar II. So I see the internal organization of the Mission as certainly being one of the important tasks of the new Special Representative. I think, given the lateness of the hour, that I will end by emphasizing that a lot has been accomplished, but that a lot remains to be done. At the moment, the strategy is really to test the will of the Kosovar people by engaging them, so that the provisional institutions organized last year can function.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“In close cooperation with KFOR, we will continue to develop the effort to reassure the people of Kosovo that law-abiding persons, who are the vast majority of the people of Kosovo, feel secure in Kosovo. Beyond the issue of security, as UNMIK focuses on its key functions and some key targets to provide for a good political environment, in the course of the next 12 months UNMIK will have to address the issue of its reshaping. Already we see that pillar II, the civil administration pillar, has witnessed a significant reduction in its personnel while pillar I is being strengthened precisely to strengthen the rule of law and the provision of security and a functioning judiciary, which is a key political concern.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“Another important area in the provision of security is of course the control of borders, to which the Russian representative referred. It is indeed close to impossible to hermetically seal any border, but I want to report to the Council that UNMIK and KFOR are making every effort to control Kosovo's borders and boundaries. Search operations continue along the borders and boundaries, targeting extremists, organized crime and weapon-smuggling. In that respect, I would like to mention a major operation that took place on 1 December 2001, when KFOR and UNMIK police launched the largest simultaneous weapons-search operation thus far. That operation involved 3,000 soldiers from all the multinational brigades. The operation resulted in some arrests and the seizure of an assorted range of weaponry.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“Another area that is a key concern of the Mission in the field of security is, of course, the security of Assembly members. The Kosovo Police Service (KPS) has already trained 96 officers to provide close protection to Assembly members. That division of the Kosovo Police Service will be expanded in 2002 to provide security service to all the ministries of the provisional institutions. The first KPS close protection teams will be operational next month, with a target of 180 close protection officers by the middle of this year. There is an urgent need to incorporate at least 20 international close protection officers into the UNMIK Close Protection Unit to strengthen the effectiveness of that Unit and to provide for the freedom of movement of Kosovo Serb Assembly members.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“I would like to stress the five priorities in the fight against organized crime that have been defined by the Mission: fighting against prostitution and trafficking, against money-laundering and economic crimes, against racketeering and extortion, against terrorism, and against the illegal possession of weapons and trafficking in weapons and ammunition. This fight against organized crime is a key priority for pillar I of the mission. It will include the further development of further legislative and institutional tools, in addition to what has already been developed. The anti-economic crime unit in the economic reconstruction pillar will work closely with pillar I to address the economic crime issues, which are very much linked to the sustainability, so to speak, of crime activities.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“There is the need to build capacities, but there is also the need for the Mission to focus on some key priorities that are of the essence for the success of the political strategy. In that respect I would like to say a few words on another item that was raised by several delegations, namely, the issue of security. Indeed, security in Kosovo remains a concern. We are not satisfied with incidents like the one reported in paragraph 23 of the report, when individuals are arrested in possession of weapons, for instance. Unfortunately, that is still a regular occurrence in Kosovo. The Mission is working hard to address the security issues. It is working hard to address politically motivated crime, as well as organized crime.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“I would like to say that significant efforts have been made for the transfer of authority to the future Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. The present transitional Education Department is recruiting staff from all communities for the future Ministry. We understand that it is important that all communities - including, of course, Kosovo Serb students - have access to higher education, and I think an understanding has been reached in that respect with the authorities in Belgrade. At the same time, we do not believe that a parallel education system should be developed. This has to be an integrated policy. I would also like to inform the Council that the transitional Education Department is working on the development of a multilingual curriculum, which will have to be finalized with the Kosovo Assembly.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source
“How can one envisage any final status if the Kosovars cannot agree to make provisional institutions work? It is therefore very important that they deliver on that. No scheme devised in an international conference will work if the people on the ground do not have the right mindset to implement whatever scheme is agreed. In that respect, the top-down approach has to be complemented by a bottom-up approach. For UNMIK and for Mr. Steiner it means that the programme of work will indeed be quite heavy in the month to come. It is necessary to engage the leaders of Kosovo and the communities at all levels so that they address the practicalities of the future of Kosovo. There is the need to build capacities in Kosovo. Some members of the Council have stressed the importance of education in that respect.”
2002-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4454 (2002) · source