YouSaid · the spoken record

Sahovie

lines on the record: 109
first: 2001-06-22
most recent: 2004-01-26
sittings or episodes: 11
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

“My Government acknowledges the many expressions of condemnation and outrage that this atrocity has generated. We especially appreciate the Security Council's quick reaction to this gruesome crime. We also take note of the fact that, in stark contrast with previous murders of minority members, a special police squad to investigate the killing has been established and a cash reward is being offered for information leading to the perpetrators. It has been stated within the Council and outside it that acts such as the Stolic murder are directed against returns, against ethnic reconciliation and against the creation of a multi-ethnic society. That is true.”
2003-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4770 (2003) · source
“Almost a quarter of a million internally displaced persons from minority communities - primarily Serbs who fled the province at the time ofthe arrival ofthe United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and KFOR - cannot return home. Although a senior official from the Provisional Institutions of Kosovo and Metohija recently attempted to explain that failure by citing high unemployment rates, facts point in a different direction. A gruesome example of the real cause for the absence of returns was the bludgeoning to death of two 80-year-olds and their son in the town of Obilic on 4 June. They were natives of Obilic who had placed their trust in the international administrators of the province to ensure their safety.”
2003-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4770 (2003) · source
“While confirming the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - whose name has been changed to Serbia and Montenegro - the resolution aimed at preventing new conflicts, creating a secure environment for the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, demilitarizing the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and establishing substantial autonomy and self-government. What has been achieved? There is peace in Kosovo and Metohija, if peace can be defined solely as the absence of war. However, security exists selectively, that is to say, for the majority but not for minorities. Again, freedom of movement is the privilege of the majority alone. The fate of more than 1,000 missing Serbs has not yet been resolved. There is little stability to speak of.”
2003-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4770 (2003) · source
“Since this is the first time thatI am taking the floor in the Council this month, I would like to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency for the month of June. I also wish to thank you for convening this meeting today. I thank Mr. Annabi for his briefing. Exactly four years ago, the Security Council passed resolution 1244 (1999) to chart the way to durable peace in Kosovo and Metohija. At the time, a future without the fear of persecution was envisaged through the establishment of a multi-ethnic, democratic and lawful society, in which the civil, political and human rights of all would be ensured.”
2003-06-10 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4770 (2003) · source
“Finally, since the Special Representative is responsible for exercising control and authority over the Kosovo Protection Corps, what measures are envisaged to bring this organization in line with its mandate?”
2003-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4742 (2003) · source
“First, how does UNMIK intend to implement the process of transferring further responsibilities to the Provisional Institutions, in the light of the Secretary- General's statistics showing that, of 36 policy decisions taken by the Kosovo Provisional Government during the first three months of this year, only 10 were prepared according to the rules of procedure in force? Secondly, what concrete steps is UNMIK planning to take in the light of the Secretary-General's assessment that ethnic violence and crime seem to be on the increase and that the persistence of ethnically motivated security incidents remains a barrier to the free movement of minority community members?”
2003-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4742 (2003) · source
“Although the process of cooperation envisaged under the Common Document on cooperation between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and UNMIK has been stalled - not for any lack of readiness on the part of Serbia and Montenegro - we continue to believe that the mechanism of consultations within the High- Ranking Working Group is the best way to move forward. We therefore call on UNMIK once again to revive this mechanism and make it operational and thus relevant, as it was meant to be. In conclusion, bearing all the aforementioned in mind, we would welcome Mr. Annabi's responses to the following three questions.”
2003-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4742 (2003) · source
“There is no doubt that discussions on practical issues related to the daily concerns of all citizens are of vital importance to the stabilization of Kosovo and Metohija. In that context, it should be noted, however, that the return of displaced persons, freedom of movement and decentralization are critical problems for the minority communities. So far, there has been no real progress on these issues, but unless they are resolved, the establishment of the democratic order envisaged under Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) will not be possible.”
2003-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4742 (2003) · source
“In line with my country's commitment to resolve, in the spirit of cooperation, the issues of importance to the stability of the region and to the everyday life of its citizens, Foreign Minister Svilanovic recently addressed a letter to Special Representative Steiner expressing a readiness to establish, as soon as possible, in cooperation with the Republic of Macedonia and UNMIK, the modalities for opening border crossings between Serbia and Montenegro and Macedonia, in the area of Kosovo and Metohija. The purpose of opening the border crossings in the vicinity of Rastelica- Strezimir and Debelde-Tanusgevci is to facilitate communication among the population in the border zone, particularly their access to property they own in the territories of neighbouring countries.”
2003-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4742 (2003) · source
“To that end, the Government of Serbia on 17 April supported calls by the Coordinating Centre for Kosovo and Metohija for dialogue with representatives of the international administration and the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government on all issues related to the development of a democratic, multi-ethnic, multi- confessional and multicultural society in the province. The Government of Serbia also supported the decision of Return Coalition deputies to continue their participation in the work of the Provisional Institutions and thus represent the interests of the Serbian community in Kosovo and Metohija.”
2003-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4742 (2003) · source
“The report we have before us concludes that the task of transforming the KPC into a multi-ethnic body focused solely on its mandate has lagged and that the Corps' aspiration to serve as an army clearly contravenes the principles of resolution 1244 (1999). Monthly KFOR reports routinely list cases of non-compliance by the KPC, including criminal activity. The February report cites a case involving the Commander of Protection Zone 1. The serious problems accompanying the establishment of substantial autonomy in Kosovo and Metohija, in line with resolution 1244 (1999), will be best resolved by cooperation among all interested parties.”
2003-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4742 (2003) · source
“It is therefore highly regrettable that several influential Kosovo Albanian leaders have, in the face of the clear position of the Council and the Secretary-General, recently demanded publicly the transfer of authorities reserved for the Special Representative of the Secretary- General. My Government also considers that the willingness and capacity of the Provisional Institutions to implement the Special Representative's benchmarks must constitute an important criterion for the further transfer of responsibilities. Disregarding this necessary condition in the name of a speedy handover of authority will only further endanger stability and security in the region. In this context, it is also necessary to note the continuing problems presented by the functioning of the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC).”
2003-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4742 (2003) · source
“We note the Secretary-General's explanation that the responsibilities being transferred are those outlined in chapter 5 of the Constitutional Framework, while the Special Representative of the Secretary-General will retain responsibilities reserved for him under chapter 8, and that the process will be conducted in a phased manner, taking into account the capacity of those Institutions to assume additional responsibilities. According to the principles of resolution 1244 (1999), conferring elements of statehood on the Provisional Institutions is wholly unacceptable.”
2003-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4742 (2003) · source
“The Security Council, the Secretary-General and his Special Representative have repeatedly noted that the Provisional Institutions are not sufficiently devoted to solving the bread-and-butter issues of all the citizens in the province. The Institutions' persistent demands for increased responsibilities, while they infringe on the competencies reserved for UNMIK, have also been pointed out as a cause for concern. This kind of regular departure from the foundations of resolution 1244 (1999) has given rise to a careful analysis of the accelerated process of transferring further responsibilities to the Provisional Institutions of Self- Government.”
2003-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4742 (2003) · source
“We appreciate the fact that, after some initial confusion, Special Representative Steiner proclaimed ANA a terrorist organization and declared that United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) police and KFOR would increase their presence in this area. My Government appreciates Mr. Steiner's decision to declare null and void the illegal enactment by the Kosovo Assembly of the law on higher education. It appreciates also the Security Council's support for the Special Representative's decision. We have no doubt that the members of the Council share the concern of Serbia and Montenegro with regard to the increasing violations of minority rights and the existing legal framework in Kosovo and Metohija by the Provisional Institutions.”
2003-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4742 (2003) · source
“A few days earlier, in the fifth attack to take place during a single month, the last Serbian school in Kosovo Polje was demolished. Finally, on 12 April, in an act of violence that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General himself defined as terrorism, a railway bridge was blown up in Zvecan municipality. The illegal Albanian National Army (ANA) claimed responsibility for that attack, stating its decision to sever all connections between Belgrade and "Albanian territories". That organization has in previous years claimed responsibility for several terrorist attacks in southern Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia.”
2003-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4742 (2003) · source
“Since then, we have lived through a difficult period, including a state of emergency, which, I am glad to be able to inform the Council, was lifted yesterday. In the circumstances generated by that tragic event, we have also faced serious new challenges in Kosovo and Metohija. Mr. Nebojsa Covic, Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and head of the Coordination Centre for Kosovo and Metohija, has addressed those challenges in detail in a letter to Security Council members, which they will be receiving shortly. Several grave incidents in recent weeks have illustrated the real lack of security in Kosovo and Metohija and, consequently, the fragility of the overall situation. Two people were killed and three people - two of them children - were wounded on 14 April in an assault near Pec.”
2003-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4742 (2003) · source
“I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for having convened this meeting and express our appreciation for the manner in which you are conducting the Council's deliberations at this critical juncture. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report, and the Assistant Secretary- General, Mr. Annabi, for his briefing today. I should like to express my country's gratitude to the President of the Council for the previous month, Mr. Mamady Traore, as well as to all members of the Council for the expressions of condolence and support to my country in the wake of the assassination of Mr. Zoran Djindjic, Prime Minister of Serbia, on 12 March. Indeed, we are grateful for the understanding and assistance offered by the international community as a whole in the aftermath of that tragic event.”
2003-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4742 (2003) · source
“It is of particular importance that the Council continue to act in a resolute and comprehensive manner, in line with its authority under resolution 1244 (1999), taking into account the interests of all parties concerned. No party should be excluded from that process. Short of that, it is difficult to expect any substantive improvement in the situation in Kosovo and Metohija.”
2003-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4702 (2003) · source
“Unfortunately, it is obvious that a number of important provisions of the resolution have not been implemented yet. We therefore reiterate the need for its full implementation, including paragraph 9. My country fully shares the view of the Security Council mission that continued substantial international engagement in Kosovo will be necessary in the foreseeable future. The fact that only 2 per cent of internally displaced persons have been able to return to Kosovo and Metohija so far is the best proof that the current level of international security presence should be maintained. We are relying on the Security Council to continue to address all of those problems and to actively monitor the events in Kosovo and Metohija.”
2003-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4702 (2003) · source
“Also, we firmly believe that our cooperation with UNMIK is a key to the successful implementation of resolution 1244 (1999). The cooperation needs to be further intensified and improved, which implies that all our agreements and understandings should be honoured. Mutual trust is a sine qua non for this cooperation. In that sense, the arrangements for northern Mitrovica are especially important and have to be fully implemented to enable us to move forward. The benchmarks of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General are an important aspect of the efforts to normalize Kosovo and Metohija. However, we strongly believe that the Security Council should remain focused on resolution 1244 (1999) as the basic, legally binding document on Kosovo and Metohija.”
2003-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4702 (2003) · source
“We therefore urge the Security Council to respond decisively to the aforementioned initiative, as it is not only contrary to resolution 1244 (1999), but also poses a threat to regional stability. Otherwise, this trend towards creeping independence will continue - a trend that motivates the calls to begin discussions on the future of Kosovo and Metohija, and to begin such discussions "before it is too late" and while there is still something to discuss. Time and again, we have stressed the importance of initiating a dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. For our part, we are ready to engage in this process. However, our calls to that effect have gone unanswered. We have to rebuild ties between the various parts of the country if we want to leave the tragic legacy of the past behind.”
2003-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4702 (2003) · source
“The Secretary-General's report concludes that Government meetings and Assembly sessions are characterized by an increasing desire to encroach on the powers reserved to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, while the Assembly has shown continued reluctance to accommodate minority community demands. The report notes several new year messages from leading Kosovo Albanian politicians calling for independence in 2003. The latest example of this pattern of behaviour is a proposal by a number of Albanian deputies of the Kosovo Assembly to adopt a declaration of independence for the province. While recognizing the freedom of political expression, we do believe that it is essential to abide by international law and relevant documents, which are binding for all.”
2003-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4702 (2003) · source
“The report concludes that violence against the Kosovo Serb community has been widely condemned by the international community, while the reaction of the Kosovo leadership has been rather low-key. One of the goals of resolution 1244 (1999) is the establishment of substantial autonomy in Kosovo and Metohija. However, many developments on the ground undoubtedly go well beyond the scope of autonomy. Some of the decisions by UNMIK have contributed to this situation. Also, there have been major attempts by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government to overstep their authority, established in the Constitutional Framework.”
2003-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4702 (2003) · source
“Decentralization, which has unfortunately not moved from the initial stages, is also of immense importance as a precondition for ensuring equal rights for all communities. Within the context of security and minority rights, the issue of protecting cultural and historical heritage and religious sites must be addressed. Regrettably, the efforts of KFOR and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) have been insufficient, as has been evident from the destruction of more than 100 patrimonial sites in Kosovo and Metohija in the past few years. The Secretary-General's report has noted the obstacles to the establishment of a multi-ethnic civil service, which include security concerns and the lack of freedom of movement.”
2003-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4702 (2003) · source
“With due respect to significant efforts and gradual improvements in some segments, the reports of both the Secretary-General and the Security Council mission, as well as recent reports by other international bodies, clearly indicate that, after almost four years of the international presence, the objective of a stable, multi-ethnic and prosperous Kosovo and Metohija is far from being achieved. There are still flagrant violations of human and minority rights. Violence, crime, intolerance, arms, drugs and trafficking in human beings are, unfortunately, abundant throughout the province. Our primary concerns continue to be security, human and minority rights, the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, and resolving the fate of the missing.”
2003-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4702 (2003) · source
“We welcome the fact that the Security Council, in its presidential statement prepared for this meeting, expresses the same view, namely, that resolution 1244 (1999) remains fully valid in all its aspects in the context of the transformation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia into Serbia and Montenegro. We are firmly of the view that all United Nations documents should continue to reflect the fact that Kosovo and Metohija is a part of Serbia and Montenegro, in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999). Specifically, our position is that reference to Serbia and Montenegro should be inserted into United Nations documents whenever Kosovo is mentioned. It is necessary to assess the extent to which resolution 1244 (1999) has been implemented.”
2003-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4702 (2003) · source
“I wish to thank his Special Representative, Mr. Steiner, for his briefing. I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the importance of the recent adoption and promulgation of the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro. The new Constitution will enable the country to stabilize and will contribute to the stability of the region as a whole. In this context, allow me to emphasize that the adoption of the Constitutional Charter does not change the identity or the international personality of the State. The international obligations and laws relevant to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, including resolution 1244 (1999), will continue to apply to Serbia and Montenegro.”
2003-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4702 (2003) · source
“Allow me at the outset to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for this month. We wish you every success in your extremely challenging task in February. My delegation would like to express its appreciation for the visit of the Security Council mission to Kosovo and Belgrade last December, especially to Ambassador Kolby, the head of the mission. We consider it invaluable that the Council members had the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of the conditions on the ground. The report of the mission clearly demonstrates that so much still needs to be done in Kosovo and Metohija. We also welcome the Secretary-General's report, which contains a comprehensive assessment of the overall situation in Kosovo, and we are grateful for his presence at this meeting.”
2003-02-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4702 (2003) · source
“My Government is ready to contribute fully to these efforts. Unless visible progress is achieved on these two interrelated issues soon, we will, in a few months time, be further away than we are now from our common objective - the creation of a multi-ethnic tolerant society in Kosovo and Metohija.”
2002-11-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4643 (2002) · source
“This is unacceptable to my Government, as both documents clearly define that international cooperation with respect to Kosovo and Metohija falls within the exclusive competence of UNMIK. We expect the Security Council to prevent such departures from the established framework of competences of the provisional institutions of self- government, bearing in mind that the current status of Kosovo and Metohija has been defined clearly and solely in resolution 1244 (1999). Therefore, my Government once again calls upon the Security Council to ensure full implementation of resolution 1244 (1999). In conclusion, I would like to point out once again that, in the period ahead, serious efforts are needed constructively to address two problems: the return of internally displaced persons and the decentralization of Kosovo and Metohija.”
2002-11-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4643 (2002) · source
“Allow me to briefly touch upon a few issues which are also of grave concern to us. As I said in my letter to the President of the Security Council last month, two border crossings were opened on 16 October this year between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Albania in a manner inconsistent with resolution 1244 (1999), notably with the provisions related to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yugoslavia. Only a few days later, Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi and other members of the provisional institutions of self-government paid a visit to New York that was organized in a manner contrary to the provisions of the same Security Council resolution, as well as to the Constitutional Framework.”
2002-11-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4643 (2002) · source
“Steiner's recent meeting with Serbs and Albanians alike, to invite representatives of the Council of Europe to visit the province and to discuss decentralization models with all national communities. We would like to stress the need for firm and unequivocal guarantees from the international community for decentralization. This would pave the way for the establishment of stable democratic local institutions and restore faith in the common future of all communities in Kosovo and Metohija. Only in such changed circumstances will it be possible to achieve the prosperity of all citizens in the province. Furthermore, the economic goals addressed at the donor coordination meeting yesterday in Brussels will be attainable, again, only if such faith in a common future exists.”
2002-11-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4643 (2002) · source
“The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia remains fully committed to achieving multi-ethnicity throughout Kosovo and Metohija, including Mitrovica. This can be done only in close cooperation among all those involved, while avoiding any steps that might exacerbate the situation. We stand ready to contribute fully to normalizing conditions in the city, including through Mr. Steiner's efforts to adjust the seven-point plan to the post-electoral situation in Mitrovica, which Mr. Guehenno mentioned. More generally in this context, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia supports Mr. Steiner's decision to continue discussions on the decentralization of Kosovo and Metohija in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999) and the responsibilities of UNMIK. We also welcome the decision, resulting from Mr.”
2002-11-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4643 (2002) · source
“However, voting is not only an obligation; it is a right as well, which citizens are willing to exercise as long as they believe that it will improve their living conditions. Minorities, including Serbs, did participate in the elections in the hope that the international community will more energetically seek to create conditions in which their human rights will be respected and their overall situation will get better. Despite the fact that their participation received different evaluations, it is our view that a larger turnout was not realistically possible. Northern Mitrovica was the only municipality where the Serbs did not vote. I would not call that a boycott. My Government believes that they took this decision out of sincere fear for their survival in the city.”
2002-11-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4643 (2002) · source
“The level of both was amply demonstrated a few weeks ago by a mob attack on a group of elderly Serbs who had attempted to enter a bank in Pee to collect their pensions. Moreover, according to the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the Kosovo Albanians also hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails at the United Nations police officers called in to restore order. We appreciate that Special Representative of the Secretary-General Steiner promptly condemned this incident. Nevertheless, there are no guarantees that similar attacks will not reoccur in the future. This brings us to the issue of the recent municipal elections. Against the background of the precarious situation on the ground, the highest authorities of my country have taken the difficult decision to call upon the Serb minority to take part in the elections.”
2002-11-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4643 (2002) · source
“Unless energetic and concrete measures to speed up the return process are taken, the number of those willing to attempt returns will certainly not increase. The data provided in the report, to the effect that 1,698 persons from minority communities have returned so far this year to Kosovo and Metohija, is telling proof of the absence of progress in the return process. I would also like to add that activities aimed at promoting inter-ethnic dialogue at a grass-roots level, such as football and boxing events, no doubt represent positive initiatives. However, the continuing lack of returns is a problem that stems from far more basic concerns, such as the lack of security and of the freedom of movement.”
2002-11-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4643 (2002) · source
“Allow me first to make a few brief comments on the report before us, specifically on the chapter entitled "Creating conditions for sustainable returns and reintegration". It is a well-known fact that approximately a quarter of a million internally displaced persons belonging to minority communities are still unable to return to their homes, even after a three-year international presence in Kosovo and Metohija. While recognizing and respecting the need to deal with such problems as the forced repatriation of Kosovo Albanians - an issue that is highlighted in the introduction of the chapter on returns - we strongly feel that creating conditions for the return of internally displaced persons must be given priority in any serious attempt to achieve stability, democracy and multi- ethnicity in the province.”
2002-11-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4643 (2002) · source
“I would like to congratulate you, Sir, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for this month. We are grateful to the Secretary-General for his report and to Under-Secretary-General Guehenno for his detailed briefing and analysis. My delegation appreciates the fact that we are discussing the issue of Kosovo and Metohija again after two months. It has been a dynamic period, marked by the local elections on 26 October. A Security Council mission was scheduled to visit the province during the elections. This, regrettably, did not take place. It is our sincere hope that a representative and high-level mission of the Council will be carried out in the near future in order to obtain first-hand knowledge of the situation on the ground, which, unfortunately, is not satisfactory.”
2002-11-06 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4643 (2002) · source
“My country also welcomes the continuing efforts of Lord Ashdown in accelerating the process of institution-building in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We believe that this course of action is the best way to enable the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to take responsibility for their country into their own hands through their elected representatives. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that Yugoslavia is looking forward to working with the new Government towards furthering our good-neighbourly relations. Also, rather than asking questions, I would like to convey to Lord Ashdown that my Government is ready to cooperate with him, as he deems appropriate, in his efforts to further stabilize Bosnia and Herzegovina through the ambitious reforms that he outlined today.”
2002-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4631 (2002) · source
“On the broader political level, we would like to emphasize the importance of the trilateral meeting in July this year of the Presidents of Croatia and Yugoslavia with the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The basis for this active cooperation is, of course, the Dayton/Paris Agreement. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as a signatory and guarantor of this Agreement, remains committed to its full implementation. The United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) is on the way out. My Government would like to express its appreciation for the significant contribution of UNMIBH to stabilizing the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and thereby contributing to the stability of the region as a whole. We are confident that the European Union Police Mission, which will begin operations soon, will play an equally constructive role.”
2002-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4631 (2002) · source
“In the past two years, our endeavours to normalize relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina have been evident. We have updated the Council on the progress achieved on several occasions. Hence, I will not go into details now. However, I would like to point out that this upward trend in our relations has continued over recent months. A number of bilateral agreements have been signed, including a free trade agreement. These agreements, together with the non- visa regime that exists between the two countries, are aimed at ensuring the free flow of people and goods. Three agreements that should be finalized soon, including one on dual citizenship, have the same objective.”
2002-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4631 (2002) · source
“I would like to thank you, Sir, for convening this meeting. This discussion is indeed timely in the light of the processes that are taking place in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the region as a whole. The comprehensive briefings that we have just heard from High Representative Lord Ashdown and from Special Representative of the Secretary-General Klein eloquently described and analysed these processes. We thank them for their statements. Cooperation with neighbouring countries is a priority of Yugoslavia's foreign policy. Furthering regional stability is another major objective of ours. In many respects, Bosnia and Herzegovina is the key to the stability of our region. Within both these contexts, bilateral and regional, we attach particular significance to the development of good relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
2002-10-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4631 (2002) · source
“Much still remains to be done in every field before discussions begin on the final status of the province. We place great value on the fact that this View prevails in the Security Council. Therefore, any speculation about deadlines for the international presence could harm the efforts to address the question of Kosovo and Metohija in its entirety. The only way to move forward is to focus on the implementation of the mandates of the international presences as provided for by Security Council resolution 1244 (1999), as well as on strict compliance with the Constitutional Framework and the UNMIK/Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Common Document.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“However, there is no doubt that their turnout will be affected by the pace and effectiveness with which their problems are addressed and resolved. They also need to start believing that there are tangible benefits to be derived from participating in local Government. It is quite obvious that stability and European standards of tolerance and normalcy are still very far from reality in Kosovo and Metohija. To attain them the province must address itself to fulfilling at least the minimum requirements set by the benchmarks established by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, a process that has yet to begin. That is primarily the responsibility of the provisional institutions of self-government. At the same time, UNMIK must continue to exercise its reserved powers.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“The protection and restoration of cultural heritage is also of great importance, all the more so as the scale of the destruction of historically and culturally unique monuments in the province is enormous and unacceptable. This also remains an obstacle to post- conflict healing. My Government expects UNMIK to address this issue in full accordance with the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. For its part, Yugoslavia is ready to shoulder its share of responsibility. New elections in Kosovo and Metohija are scheduled for the end of next month. My Government has repeatedly stressed the importance of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija participating in those elections, and has called on them to do so.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“At present, Kosovska Mitrovica, divided as it is and often perceived only as a problem, nevertheless remains the only multi-ethnic urban settlement. Responsible efforts to alleviate tensions in that city need to be based on patience and caution. Furthermore, the arrangements for the administration of the city must open up prospects for coexistence among all of the city's communities. Of course, we believe that the option to return and stay has to be realistic and viable not only in Kosovska Mitrovica but also throughout the province. In that regard, progress in addressing the question of missing persons is indispensable. Three years after the arrival of the international presences, thousands of people remain unaccounted for. We therefore call on UNMIK to address this issue in a forceful and effective way.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“This is of particular importance if we want to prevent the export of violence from Kosovo and Metohija and the destabilization of other countries in the region. It is necessary to state yet again that improved security also constitutes the essential precondition for the return of internally displaced persons. Only a few days ago, the ombudsman for Kosovo and Metohija said that the recent attack on Serbs in Gorazdevac would adversely affect returns. We fully share that view. Various figures have been cited for the number of people who have returned but, in addition to numbers, the core issue - to paraphrase Special Representative Michael Steiner - is whether return is in fact a genuine option at all. Among other things, genuine return means returns to all parts of Kosovo and Metohija, including urban areas.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“In that context, Yugoslavia believes that it is very important to maintain an approach that would ensure that justice is dispensed fairly and unselectively, and not as a function of day-to-day politics. A decisive approach to violence against minorities, including beginning the prosecution of crimes perpetrated against members of minority groups, is of equal significance for building a just society in Kosovo and Metohija, which is our common goal. Border control is another significant aspect of general security. During the month of August, KFOR detained several individuals who had attempted to illegally cross the borders with Macedonia and Albania. Those incidents, as well as some others, demonstrate that far more robust efforts are needed to secure the borders.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“The events that have taken place in the past several weeks are a clear demonstration of the volatility of the situation in the province. Indeed, it is with concern that we must note that the security situation in the province remains grave. We find it necessary to draw the Council's attention to the recent joint report by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and particularly to its statement that despite gradual improvements in security, the occasional recurrence of extremely violent attacks reinforces the pervasiveness of fear among minorities. We recognize and support the efforts of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to deal with the problem and to proceed more energetically to establish the rule of law.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source