YouSaid · the spoken record

Hickey

lines on the record: 466
first: 2016-02-29
most recent: 2019-08-29
sittings or episodes: 82
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

“The participation of Serb members of the Bosnian armed forces raised tensions even further and underscored the urgent need to implement the defence review. Furthermore, the continued efforts of Bosnian Croat politicians to advocate for electoral reform this year have also distracted attention from the reform agenda and much needed socioeconomic reforms. We have seen economic legislation blocked and delayed because leaders have chosen to act in the interests of one of the constituent peoples and not in the interest of all of Bosnia and Herzegovina's people. Finally, we have seen the Bosniak member of the Presidency undermine trust in the ruling coalition by unilaterally and unsuccessfully launching a revision of the legal case accusing Serbia of complicity in war-time genocide.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“Yet as the High Representative's report makes clear, narrow interests, whether personal or political, have instead set back progress this year and dampened the prospects and potential of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On too many occasions this year, Bosnia's leaders returned to the divisions ofthe past instead of delivering for the future. Those setbacks have only served to distract attention away from much needed progress on the reform agenda embodying reforms that would promote greater security stability and prosperity across the country. We clearly saw that in the celebrations in the Republika Srpska on 9 January. The referendum on the national debt was in clear defiance of the Bosnian Constitutional Court's authority and a direct challenge to the Dayton Peace Agreement.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“Let me join others in welcoming back Mr. Inzko to the Security Council and thanking him for his report (S/2017/379, annex) and briefing. He has the United Kingdom's continued support in his role as High Representative. We are grateful for all the work that he does for Bosnia and Herzegovina and its people. Looking back over the reporting period, it is clear that 2017 was full of promise for Boznia and Herzegovina. The path to accession to the European Union (EU) lay ahead - finally unblocked after years of inertia - and the reform agenda had begun to deliver the jobs and growth for which so many cried out when they took to the streets in 2014.”
2017-05-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7943 (2017) · source
“Given the pressures placed on the peacekeeping budget and Kosovo's continued move away from instability and insecurity, the United Kingdom believes that it is long past time for UNMIK to undergo some form of reconfiguration. We look forward to receiving proposals from the Secretariat in due course.”
2017-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7940 (2017) · source
“Let me reiterate, therefore, that it is long past time for the Council to decrease the frequency of these meetings. And just as these meetings must adapt, so too must UNMIK, so that it better reflects the present situation. We recognize the important work that UNMIK has done during many years for the benefit of Kosovo, and welcome its activism on the women and peace and security agenda during the reporting period. But it is time for the Mission to take a step back. As such, we are disappointed by the move to increase the budget of UNMIK this year, particularly after numerous calls at the past two meetings for a down-scaling of the Mission and especially given that additional funds are earmarked for projects that focus on issues on which the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo is already engaged.”
2017-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7940 (2017) · source
“While it was not captured in the report of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), it is important to recognize in this Chamber the progress that Kosovo has made internationally since we last met. Diplomatic relations have been established with Brunei and Samoa, and Kosovo opened its first embassy in Africa, in Senegal. And in a further sign of ever-increasing international integration, Kosovo became the 181st member of the World Customs Organization, a move that will bring economic benefits for all who call Kosovo home. This is progress that we rarely hear about in the Council. Instead, every three months, we are transported back nearly 20 years to a time of ethnic division and of fluid lines on maps, but, in truth, those lines have long since been set. These meetings do not reflect Kosovo now but as it was.”
2017-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7940 (2017) · source
“Despite the stability of the reporting period, we are concerned by the slow progress in the European Union-facilitated dialogue. We all know that the future of Kosovo will be determined in Brussels and not in this Chamber in New York. So it is vital that both sides re-engage and live up to their commitment to the dialogue following elections in Serbia and the forthcoming elections in Kosovo in June. As Kosovo prepares to go to the polls, let me say that we look forward to free and fair elections and to a Government that reflects the will ofthe people. Once it is formed, there will be plenty to do, including continuing efforts on issues such as the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities. In that effort, they will have the fullest support of the United Kingdom.”
2017-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7940 (2017) · source
“I thank Special Representative Tanin for his briefing. Let me join others in welcoming Ambassador Citaku and Minister Kuburovic' to the Council. It has been less than three months since the Council met to discuss the situation in Kosovo. As the Secretary- General's report (S/2017/387) makes clear, it has been a comparatively quiet period, one that does not warrant the Council's attention so soon after our last meeting. This period of calm is welcome. A de-escalation in tension between Kosovo and Serbia, whether in this Chamber or in the region, is something that I am sure we would all like to see sustained. We particularly welcome the withdrawal of the proposal to transform the Kosovo Security Force into an army. We encourage the Government of Kosovo to continue to engage with communities in Kosovo and NATO partners on any such moves.”
2017-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7940 (2017) · source
“It is long past time for the Council to stop contributing to the tensions in the region by holding such incendiary briefings on so regular a basis. I therefore call again for a reduction in the number of these meetings and in the number of these reports. In that spirit, let me join the United States and others in again calling for increased efficiencies to be found in the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo and for the further downscaling of the Mission, in line with its mandate. We also suppport calls for the Secretariat to present proposals for restructuring the Mission in the next report - something that we note has not materialized on this occasion.”
2017-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7891 (2017) · source
“I should like to highlight specifically the excellent cooperation between the Government of Kosovo and the Kosovo-Serb Mayor of North Mitrovica on the wall issue. Such cooperation shows that, at the local level, people want to work together to improve their lives rather than be drawn into political squabbles. It is that spirit that we all should channel here in the Security Council. It is a spirit of integration and cooperation, not division. It is a spirit of dialogue. It is a spirit that both Serbia and Kosovo claim to support in their discussions in Brussels. And yet, here in the Council today, we have witnessed yet another meeting that has descended into lengthy exchanges and unproductive statements.”
2017-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7891 (2017) · source
“At a time when both countries should be looking towards a prosperous future, we instead find ourselves here today discussing provocative acts that belong firmly in the past. At the heart of so many of these issues - whether the inflammatory train incident or the illegal wall in Mitrovica - lie narrow-minded politics and electioneering. Stirring up nationalist sentiments to advance short-term political agendas not only enflames tensions, but also distracts from the many more important issues that Kosovo and Serbia need to deal with, most particularly the implementation of important dialogue agreements. We welcome the intense engagement of High Representative Mogherini and the European External Action Service to help bring about a resolution of those disputes.”
2017-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7891 (2017) · source
“The economy is growing and some steps have been taken to deal with corruption, including with support from the United Kingdom Government, although there is still more to do. Kosovo has secured its own international dialling code, as well as recognition from Singapore and, just this morning, from Bangladesh, as Ambassador Citaku has already mentioned. I would also like to note the success of the British- Kosovo film Home, which won the award for best short film from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. It is Kosovo's first. Following the Oscar nomination of Shock last year, it is clear that Kosovo's cultural sector is going from strength to strength. But in light of the continued progress in Kosovo, we cannot help but be concerned by the heightened tension between Serbia and Kosovo over the reporting period.”
2017-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7891 (2017) · source
“I thank Special Representative Tanin for his briefing. Let me start by welcoming President Nikolie and Ambassador Citaku to the Council today. In the interests of keeping this meeting to time, and noting that we have many pressing issues to discuss in the Council, I shall keep my remarks briefthis morning. Like so many others here, the United Kingdom is committed to the stability and security of the western Balkans. A central part of that is our full support for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia and the prosperity and stability that normalization would bring for both their peoples. Since we last met on this issue (see S/PV.7811), there have been many positive steps made by Kosovo towards that goal.”
2017-02-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7891 (2017) · source
“Put simply, we will be better placed to rise to the challenge of delivering peace and security on the African continent. The United Kingdom and Spain look forward to continuing this important discussion.”
2016-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7816 (2016) · source
“We need to have more detailed discussions on how we can collective enhance the predictability, sustainability and flexibility of financing for AU-led peace-support operations that are authorized by the Security Council. Mr. Kaberuka's work is an important contribution to this debate. There will be a number of challenges for the United Nations and the AU to meet. At the top of that list are the strengthening of joint analysis and planning and compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law. We must also ensure accountability and oversight of missions' performance and financing. If we get this right, there are significant opportunities for the both the United Nations and the AU to improve oversight mechanisms and ensure high standards of performance and effective delivery of our mandates.”
2016-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7816 (2016) · source
“In that debate, many of us commented on the unique comparative advantage of the AU in tackling such threats and taking on more direct peace-enforcement activity. The AU and its member States are in many cases the ones that can respond to kinetic environments in a different way, as the African Union Mission in Somalia is designed to do in that country. For that very reason, we need the United Nations-AU partnership to continue to grow and be strengthened so that we are more than the sum of our parts. That leads me to my second point. AU member States have made a welcome commitment to offering a significantly increased financial contribution to AU peace-support operations. That development has the potential to open up new opportunities for the partnership with the United Nations in the coming years.”
2016-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7816 (2016) · source
“We need consultative analysis and joint planning that reflects our respective roles and which extends throughout the life cycle of missions. In terms of pledges, AU member States are already significant troop contributors. The United Kingdom and Spain pay tribute to their service. AU member States bring unique and diverse capabilities, and we need to move to the next phase of better matching the experience of troops and police to the areas where they are deployed. In terms of performance, it is vital to have the right sort of mission to face each challenge, which brings me to the very heart of the issue we discussed last week on how peacekeeping can evolve to work in high-threat environments (see S/PV.7802).”
2016-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7816 (2016) · source
“The United Kingdom aligns itself fully with the statement just delivered by the representative of Spain. We are pleased to make two further points on the United Nations- African Union partnership - a partnership that will remain critical for peace and security on the African continent. I will focus my comments on the United Nations-African Union partnership in respect of United Nations peacekeeping and African Union (AU) peace support operations. At the London 2016 defence ministerial meeting, the United Kingdom launched its focus on the "three Ps" of peacekeeping. That framework for improving peacekeeping is equally important in thinking about how we continue to approach the United Nations-AU partnership in terms of peace operations. We need clear planning based on sharing of information and common threat assessments.”
2016-11-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7816 (2016) · source
“If there is perhaps too little dialogue in Kosovo at the moment, there is certainly too much dialogue about Kosovo here in New York. So I call again for a reduction in the number of these meetings and a reduction in the number of these reports. This would more accurately reflect the realities on the ground in Kosovo. In that spirit, we echo calls for increased efficiencies to be found in UNMIK and for a further scaling down of the Mission in line with its mandate. We also support calls for the Secretariat to present proposals for restructuring the Mission in the next report.”
2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source
“I want to pay tribute to President Thaci and welcome his efforts to reach out to Kosovar Serbs on issues such as missing persons. I urge all parties to engage in that spirit so that together they can deal with issues of the past. Dealing with the past, however, also requires accountability. As the Secretary-General's report sets out, a number of senior political figures involved in corruption or war crimes have been brought to justice in the past few months, which is a vital reaffirmation that the rule of law applies consistently to all people in Kosovo no matter their position, and that there will be no impunity. This pursuit of accountability must continue, including through the Special Court. Coming to terms with the past is a vital part ofbuilding a future for all in Kosovo. I would like to close with a final reflection on dialogue.”
2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source
“But as the Special Representative has made clear, implementation of those commitments has slowed, which will only hold both countries back on their paths to membership in the EU. Normalization of relations is in the interests of the people of Kosovo, Serbia and the region. So let us call on all sides to redouble their efforts to deliver on their commitments. But dialogue should not just be limited to meetings in Brussels. Dialogue is also needed between Kosovo's politicians in the Assembly. Disruption and violence have no place in political discourse, and I call on the opposition and the Government to work through their disagreements in a spirit of dialogue, not confrontation. But away from the destruction in the Assembly, the latest UNMIK report (S/2016/901) also makes clear that dialogue is ongoing elsewhere.”
2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source
“Over 150 companies heard about the great potential of Kosovo, the potential of rich natural resources, the potential of unexplored reserves of lead, silver and chrome, and, of course, the great potential of the dynamic, talented young men and women of Kosovo. It is a potential clearly seen in the Trepca mines, which could bring economic prosperity to all of Kosovo. It is vital that the Government continue to consult transparently on the future of this important economic asset, and it is this spirit of consultation and of dialogue that is so necessary to the realization of Kosovo's potential. This is most clearly seen in the dialogue facilitated by the European Union (EU). I would like to welcome the commitment to the dialogue shown by both sides.”
2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source
“As the United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson saw during his visit to Pristina and Belgrade last week, the people of Kosovo and Serbia no longer live in the world we hear about in this Chamber. Instead, they live in a world where their prospects for the future matter more than the divisions of the past. It is the future that the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo both want, as they made clear to my Foreign Secretary, and it is a future that the Security Council has a responsibility to help realize. It was in that positive, forward-looking spirit that London played host to the United Kingdom-United States Kosovo Investment Forum this month.”
2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source
“I thank Special Representative Tanin for his briefing today. I welcome Ambassador Citaku and First Deputy Prime Minister Dacic' back to the Security Council and I thank them both for their statements. It has been less than three months since the last briefing on the work of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) (see S/PV.7660). In that time, a great deal has happened in the world. The United Nations chose a new Secretary- General, and the United States chose a new president. But in truth very little has happened in Kosovo that warrants the Council to spend yet another afternoon discussing UNMIK. In the last 11 weeks, we have spent more time debating Kosovo in this Chamber than we have spent discussing North Korea and its missile tests. As New Zealand and France have already said, this is clearly unnecessary.”
2016-11-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7811 (2016) · source
“Inzko continues to have our full support as the final authority in-theatre regarding the civilian implementation of the General Framework Agreement, which includes supporting the use of his Bonn powers, if the situation requires. That is because as High Representative, together with EUFOR ALTHEA, he has a vital role to play in Bosnia and Herzegovina until stability and security are firmly entrenched.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“Let us all encourage Bosnia and Herzegovina's leadership to continue making progress on that agenda, so that all of their citizens can benefit from the prosperity and security afforded by Euro-Atlantic integration. In that effort, they will have no stronger supporter than the United Kingdom. However, in order to make progress, further efforts are required with regard to registering defence property, which is needed for the activation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Membership Action Plan and for progress on the 5+2 agenda. Nevertheless, until those efforts bear fruit, we remain committed to the continuing role of the High Representative and his Office. Mr.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“It is crucial to see a renewed focus on reconciliation and the local economy, so that all citizens see a future in that municipality. For all the challenges of the past 12 months, the leaders of the country have also made reforms aimed at moving away from the rhetoric and the division. In February, Bosnia and Herzegovina applied formally to join the European Union, and in September we saw all 28 European Union Foreign Ministers agreeing to task the Commission to review that membership application. Those are significant steps forward. We should all welcome the progress made on the reform agenda. It shows what Bosnian leaders can do when they work together.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“I therefore call on political leaders of all sides and on all parties to refrain from such divisive nationalist rhetoric. It only distracts from the real issues, where progress is so desperately needed. Take Mostar, for example: for over eight years the people of that town have been unable to elect their own representatives. Instead, they have existed in a frozen stalemate where progress has been held hostage by division. Let us call on all the relevant parties to reach an agreement to allow elections to be held. I also hope that the authorities can quickly resolve the issues in Stolac, so as to allow the failed elections there to take place as soon as possible. Elsewhere, we hope that, following the election in Srebrenica, the new mayor will work for the benefit of all communities.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“It was instead a direct challenge to an integral part of the Framework Agreement. As set out in annex 4, the Constitutional Court is vital to the Agreement's implementation, and, as also set out in annex 4, the Court's decisions are final and binding. Therefore, when a decision is ignored, the legitimacy of the Dayton institutions is threatened. Such attacks are unacceptable and destabilizing, and I strongly condemn them in this Chamber today. However, it is important to note that the challenge posed by the referendum went far beyond what is set out in the Framework Agreement. It evoked dark and divisive sentiments that have not been seen or heard for many years, but that are clearly still lingering just below the surface. It evoked words of war, hatred and division that have no place in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“The united show of support for the continuation of the Mission is a clear message to the people and the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina relaying the Council's commitment to the country's stability, security and territorial integrity. Such a message comes at an important time. The past 12 months have been eventful, both for reform and the country's future in the European Union and for political upheaval, the persistence of divisive rhetoric and, sadly, challenges to the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. That was most clearly seen in the decision by the Republika Srpska authorities to hold a referendum in September, in clear Violation of the ruling of the Constitutional Court. At heart, that decision was not about a national day.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“I would like to begin by welcoming Mr. Inzko back to the Security Council and by thanking him for his report (S/2016/911, annex) and for his briefingjust now. As High Representative, he has the United Kingdom's full and continuous support in his efforts to help Bosnian authorities overcome the challenges that they face. As penholder for the Western Balkans this month, the United Kingdom warmly welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2315 (2016) today. The deterrence and security provided by the European Union-led stabilization force (EUFOR ALTHEA) are fundamental during this period of reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2016-11-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7803 (2016) · source
“Fifteen years on from the terrible events that led to international intervention in Afghanistan, it is too easy to focus on the problems the country still faces. Yes, we are still some way from shifting gears from consolidation and stability towards development and economic growth. But we cannot lose sight of how much has been achieved. With our continuing assistance and support, we firmly believe that Afghanistan will emerge from these challenging times to enjoy the peace and prosperity that so many of us take for granted.”
2016-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7771 (2016) · source
“Dialogue is important, especially at a time of heightened tension. In that respect, I want to emphasize the importance my Government attaches to an effective response to the emerging refugee crisis. We have witnessed a dramatic increase in refugee returns, flowing from Pakistan into Afghanistan. As highlighted by the Special Representative, the numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons are unprecedented, and the National Unity Government will require significant support from the international community to address the short-term requirements. It is critical, therefore, that an agreed action plan be put in place as soon as possible and that a longer-term approach be developed to address push-and-pull factors in both countries.”
2016-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7771 (2016) · source
“They are standing up to the Taliban and other groups across the country, staving off pressure in Uruzgan, Helmand, Kunduz and elsewhere, often at terrible cost. The United Kingdom is committed to help develop their capability, and we welcome the robust actions taken by Afghanistan to combat the emerging threats posed by Da'esh affiliates in eastern Afghanistan. The threats arising from those groups are very real, and united international support is needed in response. Afghanistan's regional neighbours, as well as the international community, will also have to play their part to support peace. My Government believes that a positive, balanced and equitable relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan is of particular importance. It is vital that both sides engage constructively, while recognizing each other's constraints and objectives.”
2016-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7771 (2016) · source
“While we have seen progress in some areas in the early years of the transformation decade, many things still remain to be done. That is easy for me to say in these comfortable surroundings. My Government is well aware of the challenges posed by the conflict with the Taliban and other insurgent and terrorist groups. Therefore, we firmly believe that a political settlement is the only viable, long-term solution, and the United Kingdom strongly supports efforts towards such a settlement. In that respect, we urge the Government to make every effort to create a broad base of support for constructive engagement with the Taliban. But until that peace is secured, the Afghan security forces must continue their vital work. I pay tribute to their bravery today.”
2016-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7771 (2016) · source
“And overcoming internal differences will enable the Government to deliver better services for the population at large. We recognize that steps towards reform are being taken. We welcome the Government's efforts to address violence against women and girls, and the Special Representative's reporting on the issue. The United Kingdom will continue to support initiatives that empower Afghan women. Together, we must ensure that the historic, but fragile, gains on women's rights are not lost. The upcoming Brussels Conference on Afghanistan in October will be a key moment for the Government to demonstrate its own commitment to reform. It is also the moment for the international community to renew its ongoing commitment to a more stable, secure and prosperous future for Afghanistan.”
2016-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7771 (2016) · source
“It is why we announced at the NATO Warsaw Summit in July that the United Kingdom would increase its troop contribution to NATO's Resolute Support Mission, and that is why we have committed to provide ongoing financial support to the Afghan National Security and Defence Forces through 2020. International support alone will not solve the formidable challenges Afghanistan faces. Unity of purpose and political cohesion are essential for security and stability. Let us therefore all support and encourage the National Unity Government as it pursues its ambitious programme of reform. There is much to do. Electoral reforms are critical to re-establish public confidence in Afghan institutions. Anti-corruption efforts are needed for future prosperit.”
2016-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7771 (2016) · source
“I join others in welcoming Special Representative of the Secretary- General Tadamichi Yamamoto for his first briefing to the Security Council and thank him for his leadership at the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). It is sadly apt that we are holding this debate just a few days after the fifteenth anniversary of the 11 September attacks. It was those barbaric acts of terrorism that brought the focus of the world and of the Council on Afghanistan. Just 15 years later, that focus has perhaps faded, but it is undeniable that the country has been transformed. Yet it is also clear that Afghanistan still faces enormous challenges to its stability and security. That is why, 15 years on, my Government remains committed to Afghanistan's stability and development.”
2016-09-14 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7771 (2016) · source
“Not only will that allow UNMIK to provide better substantive reporting from UNMIK, but the Council can focus on other more pressing issues. As I have said on previous occasions, we have to accept that discussions in this Chamber exist in a bygone era where Kosovo's independence, its sovereignty and its very existence are still questioned. We need only look to the Olympics to see that that era is over. Instead, ordinary Kosovars now look to Majlinda Kelmendi to begin a new golden era. Let us all help Kosovo seize that future rather than drag it back to the past here in New York.”
2016-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7760 (2016) · source
“Yet we find ourselves again in the Chamber debating an issue that has no need to be on the Council's agenda. Ambassador Citaku has already given the example of the fight that took place over a car parking space. That clearly is not a threat to international peace and security. It is not the only odd inclusion. Is a peaceful protest by taxi drivers or stone-throwing really worth reporting to the Council? While the United Kingdom has the utmost respect for UNMIK and the Special Representative, the inclusion of such low-level incidents detracts from the important reporting that UNMIK is carrying out. Therefore the United Kingdom once again calls again for a reduction both in the number of these meetings and of the reports.”
2016-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7760 (2016) · source
“It will be important to get the transition period right and to continue to build the capacity of the Kosovo authorities through focused monitoring, mentoring and advice. Challenges remain, of course. We are concerned that the dialogue has stalled. It needs new energy so that the benefits of the normalization of the relations between Kosovo and Serbia can be realized for all. I hope both sides can draw some hope from the literal bridge-building that is ongoing in Mitrovica. But for all the challenges, we also need to gain some perspective. This week, the Council has discussed the horrifying situation in Aleppo, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and yet another missile launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.”
2016-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7760 (2016) · source
“Steps have been taken in this reporting cycle to help seize that future. First, we welcome the progress made on the Specialist Chambers. Coming to terms with the past is a vital part of building a future for all in Kosovo. So we are pleased that a Registrar for the court has been appointed and that a Chief Prosecutor will be appointed soon. Secondly, we welcome the return of the opposition to the Assembly. That is an important step, one that must be met with a sustained commitment to dialogue rather than a return to tear gas and protests. Thirdly, we welcome the downsizing of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and the increasing transfer of responsibility to Kosovo for its own rule oflaw.”
2016-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7760 (2016) · source
“That shows that Kosovo is not only a real contender on the international sporting stage, but also that it is increasingly and irreversibly integrating into the international community. Kosovo's membership in the Union of European Football Associations and the Federation Internationale de Football Association only serve to reinforce that point. We should all welcome their progress. I begin with that point because I want to contrast that positive, hopeful vision of Kosovo with the negative assessments that are so often shared in the Council every three months. We often hear in the Chamber about the numbers of people protesting in the streets of Pristina, but we should also hear about the thousands who came out to celebrate Majilinda's return - the thousands who filled the streets in the hope for a better future for their country.”
2016-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7760 (2016) · source
“I thank Special Representative Tanin for his briefing. I also welcome Ambassador Citaku and Deputy Prime Minister Dacic' back to the Council again. I want to begin by congratulating the representatives from Serbia and from Kosovo on their success in the recent Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The athletes did incredibly well, securing gold medals and no doubt making the countries and the region very proud in the process. As the Ambassador has said, Rio was quite special for Kosovo. For the first time, athletes competed under the Kosovo flag at the Olympic Games. Thanks to judoka Majilinda Kelmendi, Kosovo brought home its first-ever medal, and a gold one at that.”
2016-08-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7760 (2016) · source
“Together, they can prevent the further deterioration of the security situation and help decrease human rights violations. In doing so, the deployment will help create an environment conducive to political dialogue, a goal that all of us share. But we need to recognize that today's resolution is just a starting point. We must insist on the full deployment ofthe 228 police officers authorized by the resolution, and we need to be clear that this deployment is designed to monitor the actions of all parties in Burundi, protect all Burundians and support a political solution to the crisis. But to find this solution, the Government must commit to and participate in good faith in a genuine and inclusive political dialogue. We, the Security Council, cannot let up in our calls for this dialogue.”
2016-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7752 (2016) · source
“The United Kingdom welcomes the adoption today of resolution 2303 (2016) establishing a United Nations police component in Burundi. We extend our thanks to the France for its patient efforts to try to find consensus on the resolution. We regret that not every member of the Security Council was able to support the resolution today. A united Council would have sent a clear message to the Government of Burundi to accept the police deployment. In the face of the worrying state of affairs in Burundi, the Security Council had a clear duty to act. The situation on the ground remains fragile, with a very real potential for a spiral into mass violence. The United Nations police component, working with human rights observers from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, can help stop that spiral.”
2016-07-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7752 (2016) · source
“Ultimately, however, it is the actions outside this Chamber that will speak louder than the words uttered within it - actions such as the European Commission's recent recommendation to grant Kosovo visa liberalization; UEFA and FIFA's acceptance of Kosovo into their fold; the participation of Kosovo's athletes in the Olympic Games later this year; and the entry into force last month of Kosovo's Stabilization and Association Agreement. Such actions demonstrate that the discussions in this Chamber exist in a vacuum, a bygone era in which Kosovo's independence, sovereignty and very existence are still questioned. We need only look at the news from last week to see that that era is long over. The world and Kosovo are moving on without us.”
2016-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7693 (2016) · source
“They are useful tools, but the latest one, received just over two months after the previous Council meeting, repeats a great deal of information from the previous reporting period relating to the Stabilization and Association Agreement and the protests in Parliament, to name only two issues. Reports every six months would end that repetition and give the Special Representative and his team more time for in-depth analysis.”
2016-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7693 (2016) · source
“Leaders in both Serbia and Kosovo must recognize that it is not enough just to commit to implementing agreements reached in the dialogue; they must deliver them, too, and stop putting further barriers in the way of their implementation. Let us therefore call on both sides to step up their engagement in the dialogue and start delivering for the people in both their countries. For it is Brussels, not New York, that will shape the future of Kosovo. As such, we welcome the proposed reductions in the budget and personnel of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. It is clear that the Mission should be doing less, not more. In keeping with that approach, we reiterate our view that it is long past time to reduce the frequency of these meetings. We also support a reduction in the frequency of the Secretary-General's reports.”
2016-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7693 (2016) · source
“But we should not confuse acts of criminality with a more systemic problem. We should all rather look to the future, for Kosovo and the region. Prospective membership in the European Union (EU) offers the greatest opportunity for stability and prosperity for the region. Rather than seizing on isolated incidents of ethnic tension, the Security Council would serve the people ofthe region much better by discussing the support we can offer them to help them realize their EU ambitions. Sadly, it is clear that more progress must be made on the EU-facilitated dialogue if normalized relations are to become a reality.”
2016-05-16 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7693 (2016) · source