YouSaid · the spoken record

Jeremie

lines on the record: 122
first: 2008-03-11
most recent: 2012-02-08
sittings or episodes: 6
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 judges' work should be allowed to run its course unhindered by political pressures, such as further recognition of the UDI. It is deeply regrettable that in recent months a couple of States have chosen to do this anyway, reportedly under foreign pressure, which amounts to disregard for the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Once the International Court of Justice reports back to the General Assembly, an unprecedented opportunity will be created to build momentum for achieving the ultimate goal: a strategic compromise between Serbs and Albanians. There is no doubt that the roots of the many problems we face in Kosovo are buried deep in history. Those problems are made even more difficult by the consequences of unilateral action.”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“Despite recent setbacks on the ground, I believe we are approaching a new, more promising moment on Kosovo. In the time ahead, we should concentrate our efforts on coming together to find a solution through dialogue. In October 2008, the General Assembly tasked the International Court of Justice with determining whether the UDI conforms to international law. Late last year, a crucial stage in the judicial process - oral hearings - came to an end, with a record number of countries presenting their views, including all five permanent members of the Council. That has made it the largest case in the history of the Court. The Court is close to completing its deliberations and we all have an obligation to take that fact very seriously.”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“Thanks to the constructive role played by UNMIK and especially the EU, it appears that a status-neutral solution is being worked out. I come to the matter of the Kosovo Force (KFOR). Its unique ability to bridge existing communal divides and maintain peace and stability on the ground remains acknowledged by all. The Republic of Serbia will continue to work with our partners to ensure that KFOR's role is not diminished, especially in the context of safeguarding Serbian patrimony. We believe that proposals to hand over operational jurisdiction for guarding a number of these sites to local police units would not contribute to improving the fragile security situation. This is especially important given the opposition to such plans clearly expressed by the affected monastic communities.”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“Serbia is encouraged by early signs of accomplishment. For example, Ambassador Moschopoulos has been able to convince the local ethnic Albanian authorities in the municipality of Vucitrn to redress a terrible wrong. For a decade, the Church of Saint John the Baptist in the village of Samodreza had been used as a garbage dump by the nearby elementary school. This shrine is particularly important for the Serbian people, as it was built on the foundations of the church in which the martyrs of 1389 took communion before going into the historic battle of Kosovo. I would like to express cautious optimism that issues related to the supply of electricity for Serbian communities throughout the province will be resolved in the near future.”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“Information is exchanged on a regular basis, and technical discussions in a number of important competency areas have proven to be useful to both sides. Close working relationships have developed, leading to increased understanding of the needs and priorities of everyone concerned. I would like to salute the international community's indispensable role in protecting Serbian cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo. A positive development that took place during the reporting period was the status-neutral appointment by the European Union of the head of Greece's liaison office in Pristina, Ambassador Dimitris Moschopoulos, to the position of facilitator for the protection of Serbian heritage in the province. We have already begun to work with him in accordance with Council resolution 1244 (1999) and the Secretary-General's six-point plan.”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“We greatly appreciate UNMIK's concerted efforts to, in the words of the report, "decrease tensions and focus on common needs" (S/2010/169, para. 12) in north Kosovo. Its irreplaceable role in resolving practical problems is very welcome, as is the offer to chair a number of multi-ethnic task forces composed of representatives of north Kosovo institutions and local ethnic Albanian authorities. We also support the European Union's (EU) enhanced status-neutral presence in north Kosovo and look forward to European Union House beginning to function at full capacity in the near future. I am pleased to underline that day-to-day cooperation between Serbia and the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) on issues of police, justice and customs has also continued apace.”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“The Republic of Serbia nevertheless continues to be dedicated to finding a way to overcome these and many other concrete challenges in status- neutral ways consistent with Council resolution 1244 (1999). In this context, I should like to underline that an understanding was recently reached with UNHCR to establish three specialized offices in central Serbia that will enable IDPs to receive Kosovo Property Agency decisions. We hope this will pave the way for more than 40,000 claims by Serbs to be finalized, leading to the recovery of illegally seized property without further delay, after more than a decade of prevarication. The Republic of Serbia has continued to work with the international community in a number of other important areas of mutual concern.”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“The well-respected Minority Rights Group International has gone further, saying in a recent report that since UDI the situation for Kosovo Serbs and other non-Albanians has worsened, and that this is forcing them to leave Kosovo "because they face exclusion and many instances of discrimination". Notwithstanding numerous statements by the province's ethnic Albanian authorities that have claimed the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to be a priority, the reality on the ground is that in the past year, only a few hundred Kosovo Serbs have returned to their homes. That amounts to less than one half of one per cent: a staggering figure. It represents a failure of monumental proportions that must urgently be addressed.”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“For instance, the reconstructed village of Zac was repeatedly attacked over several months: homes were vandalized, power lines were cut, car tyres were slashed and children were stoned. As a result, most of its inhabitants decided to leave Kosovo. And just three days ago, one of the returnees who chose to remain was shot at by an unknown assailant while he sat in the tent in which he lives. Senior UNHCR official Eduardo Arboleda has stated that "the return of displaced persons has literally stopped". This has been echoed by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which has written that local authorities in Kosovo "have done little to encourage displaced persons to return".”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“Inexplicably, it continues to remain silent on the lack of progress in reversing the outrageous decision to pave over with concrete the remains of the twice- destroyed Serbian church in the centre of Djakovica. Serbia is today raising for the fifth time in the Council the fact that nothing has been done to reverse that awful act of cultural cleansing. These illustrative examples are not isolated incidents. They cause, result in and reinforce each other, all at the same time. They are an integral part of the post-UDI reality on the ground that directly affects the return of the 205,835 expelled Kosovo Serbs registered by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Especially in south Kosovo, the police seem unable to prevent acts of intimidation and violence against Serbs exercising their right of return.”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“We must make sure this sort of unilateralism does not happen again. In this context, I would like to welcome the statements by UNMIK and EULEX that disassociated them from the controversial strategy for northern Kosovo. This unilateral scheme was sponsored by the so-called International Civilian Office. Its intent was to forcibly implement the delegitimized Ahtisaari proposal, in Violation of resolution 1244 (1999). The precarious state of Serbian patrimony remains a deeply troubling part of the reality on the ground in Kosovo. The report of the Secretary-General highlights a number of disturbing incidents, including church vandalism, graveyard desecration, the looting of icons and other relics, and the denial of property rights.”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“He was charged with crimes related to organ harvesting committed on ethnic Serb civilians in the well-known "yellow house" in neighbouring Albania. Several Serbian officials, including Minister Goran Bogdanovie and his deputy, were illegitimately expelled by Pristina under armed escort, despite being legal residents of the province. At around the same time, unilateral force was used by a Kosovo special police unit on Serbian mobile and fixed telephony, disrupting the ability of Kosovo Serbs to communicate beyond their enclaves - a serious breach of contemporary humanitarian norms. No warning was given. It was quick and Violent, apparently catching many international actors in Kosovo off guard. Thankfully, the situation on the ground is improving and the technical damage is being repaired.”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“More recently, EULEX Acting Chief Prosecutor, Johannes van Vreeswijk, stated that Pristina's so-called Minister of Transport and Telecommunication, Fatmir Limaj, together with a tight-knit group of associates, has been under investigation since May 2009 for "money- laundering, organized crime, misappropriations of office, fraud in office and soliciting bribes". The EULEX Acting Chief Prosecutor has also suggested that the so-called Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, along with other Pristina-based figures, have strongly discouraged him from moving forward in his work. In another high-profile case, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) War Veterans Association made threats against EULEX after the recent arrest of former KLA commander Sabit Geci.”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“The international community's executive authority has yet to be used to put this breakthrough into effect and thereby pave the way for a constructive dialogue on the matter of customs. Instead, these two areas of shared interest - integral parts of the 5 Secretary-General's report - remain open to the detriment of the Kosovo Serb population in particular. Regrettably, the Secretary-General's report downplays a number of growing challenges in Kosovo, from organized crime and corruption to police misconduct and judicial dysfunctionality. The European Commission's most recent progress report, on the other hand, paints a more realistic picture. It states that organized crime and corruption continue to be issues of "serious concern" and affirms that the judicial system is "weak, vulnerable to political interference and inefficient".”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“Disagreements on status must not impede our ability to act in concert on resolving practical issues. As a result of this approach, the unstable equilibrium on the ground has been largely kept in check. This has ensured that the overall situation in Kosovo remains "relatively calm but fragile", to quote the report. Kosovo's ethnic Albanian authorities have on numerous occasions failed to embrace pragmatic, status-neutral engagement, notably in the rule of law area. For instance, the 2 March visit by the head of EULEX, Yves de Kermabon, to Belgrade resulted in an agreement on how to move forward rapidly on the judiciary issue, in particular as it affects the North Mitrovica courthouse. Despite having been duly apprised of its contents beforehand, Pristina publicly rejected the terms after they were embraced by Belgrade.”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“We will continue to vigorously defend our position in a non- confrontational manner, using all diplomatic means at the disposal of a peaceful sovereign State. I would like to extend a warm welcome to Special Representative Lamberto Zannier and thank him for his work. The United Nations remains an indispensable actor in Kosovo. It is therefore critical that the Council keep supporting the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) as a crucial pillar of peace and stability. We deeply appreciate the constructive approach of the United Nations and organizations that operate under its overall authority, such as the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX). They have set the stage for responsible stakeholders to work together on improving the lives of ordinary people irrespective of their ethnicity.”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“Pristina's UDI has clearly divided the world and brought into question the fundamental tenets of the contemporary international system. It has neither contributed to Balkan stability nor enhanced regional cooperation. A substantial majority of United Nations Member States and of those seated today on the Security Council have stood firm against efforts to impose the forcible partition of my country. They have continued to respect our sovereignty and territorial integrity. On behalf of my nation, I would like to 10-36420 reiterate our deep gratitude for their support as we seek to resolve Kosovo's future status through patient diplomacy. Before turning to the Secretary-General's report (S/2010/169), I want to emphasize that the principled position of Serbia's democracy remains set in stone. We will never yield and recognize UDI.”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“In 1947, then-President of the General Assembly Oswaldo Aranha of Brazil eloquently defined what he termed the principal mission of the United Nations - to unveil the truth and to face reality in all its complexity, enabling our actions to be properly guided in the maintenance of peace and security of all peoples. As we gather here for another meeting of the Security Council, in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999), we should remind ourselves of his words. With all due respect to differing points of View, when it comes to Serbia's province of Kosovo and Metohija, a manifest truth is that its status remains bitterly disputed more than two years after its ethnic Albanian authorities attempted secession through a unilateral declaration of independence (UDI).”
2010-05-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6314 (2010) · source
“Regretfully, this has not yet been attempted. A world leader said: "All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort - a sustained effort - to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children and, choose the right path, not just the easy path." Taking the right path will not be easy. Unfortunately, there are those who are not yet ready to begin the journey towards compromise. But we must not be discouraged. We must cease pushing each other apart. We must find that common ground. The Republic of Serbia has taken the first step. The next one, we cannot take alone. We wait patiently for a partner to join us in turning away from the painful past and towards a hopeful future.”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“We have demonstrated time and again, through concrete deeds and under difficult circumstances, our determination to become a member of the European Union. This remains our central strategic priority. We therefore welcome the conclusions reached on 15 June by the EU Foreign Ministers. The decision to commit to placing the Western Balkans States on the white Schengen List rescinds at last the final vestiges of the 1990s. The Security Council must continue to play a key role in the Kosovo dispute. We believe it would be beneficial for the Council to visit Serbia: Belgrade, Pristina, North Kosovo and the enclaves in order to see first-hand how much work still needs to be done on the ground, within the framework of resolution 1244 (1999). The only conclusion that I believe could be drawn is that coming to an agreement is the way forward.”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“KFOR's status-neutral presence in the province is still required in order to satisfy the legitimate security needs of the local population, irrespective of ethnicity. We believe that, under the present circumstances, a troop reduction would be counter-productive. We will continue to be a reliable partner of KFOR, in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999) and the Kumanovo Military Technical Agreement. The so- called Kosovo Security Force is an illegal paramilitary organization. Its existence and activities, present and future, constitute a direct danger to the consolidation of peace and stability in the Western Balkans and it must be disbanded immediately. Serbia's democracy is secure, our society has grown strong and our values are safely entrenched in law. We strongly believe in the shared destiny of all European nations.”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“Serbian officials must be able to visit churches and monasteries, assist in the return of IDPs to reconstructed homes, provide food and medical aid, help maintain educational standards and engage on a whole host of other similar activities. The assignment of operational responsibility to EULEX was welcomed on the presupposition that EULEX would make use of its executive functions when required. Now is such a time. We demand that all necessary measures be taken to swiftly resolve this issue of paramount importance. Before coming to the end of my remarks, I would like to acknowledge the useful role played by the International Security Force in Kosovo (KFOR) in Kosovo. It had the responsibility to protect our enclaves and holy sites from potential threats, incursions and attacks.”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“It is clear that a more active role by EULEX, consistent with its mandate, will be required, as will closer coordination with UNMIK. I would like to draw the attention of the Security Council to a critically important issue, namely facilitating the entry of Serbian officials into the province. That question has, unfortunately, been accumulating ill will for several months and threatens to derail constructive efforts on all other fronts. It is difficult to imagine how we can positively contribute to developments on the ground if our ability to work closely with the Kosovo Serb community throughout the province is hindered.”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“On customs, preliminary meetings have taken place, resulting in certain technical progress on that delicate matter. Resolving it will require enhanced coordination and a renewed dedication to work together on achieving acceptable operating modalities, such as co-location and the distribution of revenues. That brings me to the Central European Free- Trade Agreement, CEFTA. The success of that important regional trade agreement depends on the consistent application of unanimously agreed rules. UNMIK is a signatory to CEFTA, as the report plainly states. The introduction of new customs stamps by the so-called Kosovo Customs Director-General has regretfully politicized that commercial issue. We very much hope that, in the months ahead, we will be able to arrive at a set of practical arrangements acceptable to responsible stakeholders.”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“Those include organized crime and smuggling and build upon the best practices of our long-standing cooperation with UNMIK police on those matters. On the courts, some progress has occurred. Unfortunately, some of the broader issues have not yet been resolved, including the appointment of local judges and prosecutors in accordance with procedures consistent with resolution 1244 (1999). The question of the territorial jurisdiction of the northern Mitrovica courthouse remains unanswered, as does the applicability of UNMIK law only. On the other hand, partial progress has been achieved. Urgent cases are being processed. Some trials have been concluded, and cooperation between EULEX prosecutors and Serbia's Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor has been established.”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“That is due in part to the reluctance of Pristina to accept that the infamous Ahtisaari Plan was not endorsed by the Security Council, thanks, in large part, to the principled position of the Russian Federation. I turn to a brief discussion of the six points and related practical issues. Regarding the police, the question of senior positions for qualified Kosovo Serbs has not yet been resolved. That has left hundreds of ethnic Serb officers in the province feeling that they would return to a hostile work environment. At the same time, EULEX police and the Serbian Ministry of the Interior have begun to work successfully together in addressing a number of technical matters related to cooperation across the administrative line.”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“That report affirms that EULEX will fully respect resolution 1244 (1999) and operate under the overall authority and within the status-neutral framework of the United Nations. Since that time, the Republic of Serbia has engaged with EULEX and UNMIK on a whole host of practical issues of common concern within the parameters welcomed by the Security Council. The Secretary-General's six-point arrangement (8/2008/354, annex I) must be applied in full. Some progress in that direction has been achieved, although "comprehensive or long-term solutions have not yet been agreed" (S/2008/300, para. 43). We deeply regret that more has not been accomplished to date.”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“Sadly, the UNMIK- administered Kosovo Property Agency has ceased to exist. We urge the international community to embrace the initiative of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to get UNHCR to take over the functions previously performed by the Kosovo Property Agency. Through its Office in Belgrade and others in Serbia that United Nations agency can serve as a focal point of our engagement. On 6 April, the European Union announced that EULEX had reached full operational capacity, following the visit to Belgrade by the head of EULEX, Mr. Yves de Kermabon. While the United Nations has not transferred all rule of law functions to the European Law and Order Mission in Kosovo, it has adhered to the assumption by EULEX of operational responsibility within the parameters set out in the Secretary-General's report (S/2008/692).”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 200,000 Kosovo Serb IDPs have not returned to the province. Last year, only around 500 returned; and, during the latest reporting period, no more than 30. That is a failure of monumental proportions. Kosovo Serb IDPs want to exercise their right of return, and we must do everything to bring them back home. That means improving conditions on the ground to make them feel safe. Few destroyed houses have been rebuilt, and most remain empty. That is not, however, where the biggest problem lies. More than 40,000 claims have been filed by Kosovo Serb IDPs for the return of illegally seized private property, and they have not had any response. The first step, therefore, is to make sure that those claims are delivered. Right now, that is impossible.”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“Some countries have recognized the unilateral declaration of independence. Others have not. We all have our constraints, and they should be respected. Let the Court do its work, while we focus on improving the lives of citizens instead of making them the Victims of our disagreements. Let us engage with each other so as to rebuild holy sites, alleviate poverty, create jobs, provide health care and education, reduce crime and improve public security. Working at cross purposes should stop. Let us create new opportunities for achieving practical results by engaging with one another on a whole host of questions. I propose that we begin with the central humanitarian issue of internally displaced persons (IDPs).”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“It is therefore vitally important that the legal process be allowed to run its course, free of political interference. We should all respect the fact that the Court is deliberating on the issue. Therefore, new recognitions of the unilateral declaration of independence should not be encouraged, and multilateral bodies should refrain from extending membership to the secessionist authorities in Pristina. Once the ICJ hands down its opinion, we will have cause to look again into the issue, informed by the findings of the Court. In the meantime, we should find the strength to put our differences on status to one side for the sake of peace and stability and for the residents of the province. This is a time for leadership and working together, armed with prudence and strategic Vision. Let us not increase the divide.”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“On 8 October 2008, the General Assembly approved, by an overwhelming margin, resolution 63/3 to refer the unilateral declaration of independence issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The judicial proceeding has begun, and it marks the first time that the ICJ has been asked to consider the legality of a unilateral attempt by an ethnic minority to secede from a United Nations Member State, in defiance of that State's democratic constitution and the will of the Security Council. The case has attracted attention across the globe, as the active presence at the Court of representatives of countries from all continents to participate in the unilateral declaration of independence hearings makes clear. The ICJ conclusions will have far-reaching consequences for the international system as a whole.”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“We will continue to defend our integrity in a non-confrontational manner, using all peaceful means at our disposal. As a result of our measured response to the unilateral declaration of independence, the unstable equilibrium on the ground has largely been kept in check. We have sought to contain flashpoints despite numerous provocations, such as the targeted power cuts, pressure to sign loyalty oaths and the construction of new, unauthorized housing settlements. Kosovo should not stand outside the rules of the international system. It is no exception, not a unique case, nor is it sui generis. As a result of the unilateral declaration of independence, that declaration has become a test of global significance. Should it be allowed to stand, a door would open for challenging the territorial integrity of any United Nations Member State.”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“As the Secretary-General's report makes plain, the ethnic Albanian authorities in Kosovo asserted that "they had no legal obligation to abide by it" (ibid., para. 2). No one should be permitted to ignore the decisions of the Security Council. I therefore urge the Council to insist that all parties uphold the commitments that arise from resolution 1244 (1999). It was passed under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, which binds all to respect its provisions in full. This is our common legal imperative and our moral obligation. Serbia will never, under any circumstances, implicitly or explicitly recognize the unilateral declaration of independence by the ethnic Albanian authorities of our southern province. On this issue, we will not yield, come what may.”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“09-37195 At the very beginning of my remarks, I would like to express my country's deep gratitude to the vast majority of Member States, which respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia. The solidarity we have received from all over the globe encourages us to persevere in our efforts to resolve the future status of Kosovo in a way that is acceptable to all responsible stakeholders. It is my sincere hope that we will continue to work together in defence of the basic principles of international law, thus strengthening the universal case for the consensual resolution of disputes throughout the world. At the same time, we note with deep regret the dismissal of resolution 1244 (1999) by Pristina.”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“Therefore, no further reduction in the resources of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) should be undertaken. The United Nations remains the overall authority in Kosovo, as mandated by this Council in resolution 1244 (1999). It must continue to play a vital role in coordinating all the international organizations that operate under its umbrella. The capacity of UNMIK to cooperate effectively with the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) in particular must not be constrained. Our amendments to the UNMIK budget for the coming fiscal year have sought to reinforce that essential element of its mandate.”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“Thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting of the Security Council. Once again, we are gathered to discuss the dangerous consequences of the 17 February 2008 unilateral declaration of independence by the ethnic Albanian authorities of Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohij a. I welcome the presence of Special Representative Lamberto Zannier, and I wish to underline the Secretary-General's observation, contained in his most recent report, that the cooperation, constructive engagement and "continuing support of the Security Council and of the broader international community for a reconfigured UNMIK is of crucial importance" (S/2009/300, para. 44). Reconfiguration has been brought to its end-state, as the report indicates.”
2009-06-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6144 (2009) · source
“By aiming to unite people and not States - to use the formulation of Jean Monet, one of the founding fathers of the European Union - we can move that issue forward in concert. Together, we can find a way back to our common home and ahead to our common future.”
2008-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5944 (2008) · source
“Together, we can create a region that looks to the future with optimism, proud of its many identities and secure of its prospects. Such is the Vision of the new Government of Serbia. That is the true new reality we aim to achieve, together with our partners and friends, and the strategic framework informing our approach to resolving the problem of Kosovo. In conclusion, we hope that all in this Chamber agree that a step in the right direction is making reconfiguration acceptable to all parties present here, starting with the Republic of Serbia. We intend to play our constructive part without shying away from exercising our right peacefully to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity, in line with international law.”
2008-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5944 (2008) · source
“We have unmistakably demonstrated that fundamental commitment in recent days by taking decisive steps taken to reaffirm our full cooperation with the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague. Serbia strongly believes in the power of the twenty-first century values of Europe and their ability to reconcile former adversaries. Consistent with those beliefs, I say that it is time to turn the page on the divisions of the recent past. By pursuing a policy of peace through compromise, the western Balkans can truly be transformed into a region that submits to the rule of law while embracing the promise of Europe and the principles that stand at its foundation. I see the present as a historic moment as important for us as it is for the European Union.”
2008-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5944 (2008) · source
“Those affected - Kosovo Serbs, overwhelmingly - barely manage in makeshift dwellings or IDP camps, while Kosovo Albanians continue to live in their homes and make use of their agricultural fields without fear of arrest or prosecution. In short, life for the most troubled community in Europe is almost unbearable. For many living in enclaves, their fate depends on how they feel they can survive despite the hostility of their immediate surroundings. For others, we are talking about a community that is practically inseparable from the rest of Serbia. False frontiers can create flashpoints, and so can attempts at imposing so-called reality. We must be very frank about that. The only prosperous destiny for the western Balkans manifestly lies in the European Union. Serbia is very serious about rapidly securing its membership in the EU.”
2008-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5944 (2008) · source
“We have witnessed the abominable act of paving over the ruins of the recently destroyed Serbian church in the centre of Djakovica, which compounded the physical destruction with an attempt to erase every trace of its very existence. We have also seen the defiance of the municipal authorities in Decane in refusing to restore the cadastral record of land belonging to the monastery of Viskoi Decani - a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been rightly placed on its List of World Heritage in Danger - notwithstanding two executive decisions of the Special Representative ordering them to do so. Thirdly, since the unilateral declaration of independence, the return of illegally-seized private property has come to a standstill. More than 30,000 such cases are outstanding.”
2008-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5944 (2008) · source
“Once explicitly confirmed by the Security Council, such a construction could go far in the direction of addressing the very concrete and numerous challenges that the Serbian and other non-Albanian communities in Kosovo currently face. Today, the situation on the ground is, unfortunately, far from normal. I will limit myself to citing three examples. First, after the unilateral declaration of independence, even fewer internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to Kosovo than before - a total of only 49 Kosovo Serbs from March to the end of June, according to the Secretary-General's report. That 08-43933 clearly demonstrates the undercurrent of exclusion and intolerance that permeates the province. Secondly, following the unilateral declaration of independence, cultural cleansing has returned.”
2008-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5944 (2008) · source
“The hard work of arriving at a compromise is about to begin. I want to be clear in saying that Serbia will spare no effort honestly to engage with the United Nations in forging an acceptable, forward-looking reconfiguration arrangement, one that upholds the overall authority of the United Nations, while opening up space for the institutional inclusion of key regional organizations. I must be equally clear in saying that reconfiguration must not go beyond the red lines marked out by resolution 1244 (1999). It must not in any way infringe upon the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia.”
2008-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5944 (2008) · source
“Two days ago, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Lamberto Zannier travelled to Belgrade for talks on the six topics of practical mutual concern, in the language of the Report: namely, the police, judiciary, customs, transportation and infrastructure, boundaries and patrimony. That first meeting was an important first step toward protecting the well-being of Serbs and other non-Albanians in Kosovo. As the Special Representative of the Secretary- General remarked to me, - and I will use his words - "to solve problems together we must reach decisions together". We fully agree. So, it is in that constructive frame of mind that my colleague, Minister for Kosovo Mr. Goran Bogdanovic, will meet with Mr. Zannier early next week for talks on the judiciary and police in Serb-dominated areas.”
2008-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5944 (2008) · source
“But What is now of crucial importance is for it to proceed in the right way -with the full engagement of Serbia. It must be completed with our acceptance and explicitly approved by the Security Council. That is the only way to deliver legitimacy and ensure sustainability of our work. With cautious optimism, I can say that my meeting with the Secretary-General last week produced an understanding that could hopefully lead to an eventual agreement - one that would require, in the end, approval of the Council. The voice of Serbia on reconfiguration, and much else besides, should no longer be avoided or disregarded.”
2008-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5944 (2008) · source
“Proceeding without the Council's consent and against the clearly communicated position of the Republic of Serbia, the host-country of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, the Secretary-General had instructed his Special Representative to start reconfiguring UNMIK. The argument that was made to justify that encroachment on the statutory prerogatives of the Security Council was one of expediency: the Council could not agree, but it was necessary to move forward anyway. Imagine what could happen if some place other than Kosovo is at issue in this Chamber - one in which a different constellation of forces and interests is in play. Would it again be appropriate to move ahead without the Council's approval? The way in which reconfiguration started was, in our opinion, an inglorious episode indeed.”
2008-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5944 (2008) · source
“That so-called constitution makes reference to implementing the Ahtisaari Proposal, a document that has no legal standing in the Security Council, much less in the Republic of Serbia. We are facing a grave violation of resolution 1244 (1999). That fact should have been addressed directly. Instead, the report merely asserts the existence of a "profoundly new reality in which UNMIK can no longer perform its tasks as an interim administration". Turning to a more general point, I must also regretfully contrast the passive approach of the United Nations on the question of defending its executive authority mandated by the Council with its activism on the matter of reconfiguration.”
2008-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5944 (2008) · source
“I also regret that the United Nations has still not released the findings reached by Mr. Ssekandi on allegations that senior officials of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) ordered the use of excessive force on 17 March of this year against Kosovo Serb demonstrators in the town of 5 Kosovska Mitrovica, as is plain from paragraph 7 of the report. In addition, I must highlight the fact that nowhere does the Secretary-General's report explicitly condemn the illegitimate adoption of a constitution by the Kosovo Albanian authorities, a document that attempts to eliminate any role or function of the United Nations in our southern province.”
2008-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5944 (2008) · source
“We believe in the peaceful and consensual resolution of world disputes, including the one that we are here to discuss today. Such an approach is the only one that stands a chance of achieving a sustainable solution to Kosovo acceptable to all stakeholders. With that in mind, I now turn to the consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in our province of Kosovo, dated 15 July 2008 (S/2008/458). I notice that its overall tone has improved over previous ones in the sense that the criticism of the Kosovo Serbs and Belgrade has subsided - a welcome development. Yet, I must express regret at the report's tendency to downplay the fundamental distinction between positions that aim to uphold the primacy of the rule of international law and those that aim to sidestep its basic tenets.”
2008-07-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.5944 (2008) · source