Security Council SC/7108
4350th Meeting (AM) 26 July
2001
PREPARATIONS FOR KOSOVO ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER HAVE PROGRESSED,
SECURITY COUNCIL TOLD
More Than 25 Political Parties Expected to Participate
Preparations for the elections in Kosovo, scheduled for 17
November, had now moved up a gear, with the conclusion of the
certification period for political party participation on 20 July, Under
Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean Marie Guehenno told
the Security Council this morning.
Briefing the Council on the situation in Kosovo, he emphasized as
an encouraging sign the fact that four Kosovo Serb parties had submitted
certification applications. Among others were 16 Kosovo Albanian
parties; three Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian parties; three Bosniac and one
Turkish. Efforts were being made to facilitate the registration of
internally displaced persons and members of the minority communities.
A key element that would make the identification of voters easier this
year was the continuing distribution of identification cards to habitual
residents of Kosovo. The goal was to provide ID cards to all eligible
voters prior to the election. Hand-in-hand with electoral preparations
was the continuing work of the United Nations Interim Administration in
Kosovo (UNMIK) on fleshing out the provisions of the Constitutional
Framework on Provisional Self-Government to prepare for the transfer of
authority following the elections.
UNMIK continued to intensify its relations with the authorities of the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, he said. The recent and welcome
appointment of the Deputy Serbian Prime Minister as the Coordinator for
Kosovo added a new dimension to those relations. A recent complicating
factor, however, had been the increasingly direct activity of the
authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia in the
province, which included attempts by the Federal Committee for Kosovo to
establish its own executive taxation functions and business registration
activities in Kosovo, as well as the opening of regional offices without
the consent of UNMIK.
Several speakers in this morning’s debate stressed the importance
of participation of all ethnic groups in the November Kosovo-wide
elections. They also pointed out the need to: ensure return of the
refugees and displaced persons to the area and ensure security there;
disarm illegal armed groups; and monitor the administrative borders of
Kosovo to halt expansion of Albanian extremism out of the province. The
recent extradition of Slobodan Milosevic, former President of the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, was welcomed as a sign of increased
Belgrade cooperation with the international community.
(page 1a follows)
Security Council - 1a - Press
Release SC/7108
4350th Meeting (AM) 26 July
2001
In that connection, Belgium's representative (on behalf of the European
Union and associated States) said that the handover of Mr. Milosevic to
The Hague Tribunal was necessary in the process of reconciliation, for
the people of the region to realize that justice would be done and that
nobody was above the law.
The representative of the Russian Federation said that only in
cooperation with the Government of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia could
progress be achieved. He therefore stressed the need to sign an
agreement on the status of UNMIK and the Kosovo Force (KFOR) with
Belgrade. Concerned about the lack of progress in determining the fate
of 1,300 missing non-Albanian inhabitants of Kosovo, he said that
inaction on that matter confirmed the theory of “one-sided humanism”
towards Kosovo Albanians and the reluctance to hear appeals of the
relatives of non-Albanian inhabitants of the province.
He also warned against any attempts to resolve the problem of
reintegration of Kosovo/Mitrovica by force under the pretext of a need
to unblock the situation there before the elections. Approaches based
on the political will of the regional actors were needed, and that was
the goal of the Russian initiative to call a Balkan summit to conclude a
legally binding agreement between the leaders of the region. The signal
from the international community must be clear and unambiguous: there
could be no further redrawing of the borders in the Balkans.
The representative of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia said the common
goal of his Government and international actors should be the
implementation of Council resolution 1244 (1999) and conditions for a
multi-ethnic and democratic Kosovo and Metohija. That should include
self-government and substantial autonomy with full respect for the
territorial integrity of his country.
Regarding the return of displaced persons, he said that even the modest
figure of 2,000 persons who were supposed to return under the plan of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was
unrealistic considering the existing circumstances in Kosovo and
Metohija. While his Government attached utmost importance to resolving
the issue of abducted and missing persons, that could be done only with
the involvement of the international community and Albanian actors. So
far, the latter had shown no readiness to become actively engaged.
The representative of Singapore emphasized that the Organization's
responsibility did not end with the election and the establishment of
structures. Kosovo’s return to normalcy and its achievement of final
status needed time. Support for the province therefore had to be
ongoing. The duration of the international presence there must take
account of the large political reality and the particular environment.
Eventual termination of the United Nations presence must be gradual and
carefully structured to consolidate the painstaking gains achieved.
Also speaking this morning were the representatives of Colombia,
France, United States, Ireland, United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Jamaica,
Mauritius, Ukraine, Norway, Mali and China.
The meeting began at 10:41 a.m. and was adjourned at 12:41 p.m.
(page 2 follows)
Background
When the Security Council meets this morning on the situation in
Kosovo, it will hear a briefing from Jean-Marie Gučhenno,
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, on developments in
the province. Following his briefing and interventions by Council
members, Mr. Gučhenno is expected to respond to questions raised during
the session.
Statements
JEAN-MARIE GUČHENNO, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping
Operations, told Council members that preparations for the elections in
Kosovo had now moved up a gear with the conclusion of the certification
period on 20 July. By that date, 16 Kosovo Albanian parties; three
Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian parties; three Bosniac; one Turkish; one
independent candidate; three citizens' initiatives; and one coalition
had submitted certification applications to the Central Election
Commission (CEC).
In addition, he continued, four Kosovo Serb parties had submitted
certification applications. That was an encouraging development and
followed the advice of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission
in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the Security Council that it was imperative not
only for Kosovo Serbs to register to vote, but also that their parties
were certified for elections. While the signs in that respect were so
far encouraging, he called on Belgrade to send an unequivocal sign to
the Kosovo Serb parties to certify for the elections.
He said that alongside party certification, preparations had also
intensified for the beginning of voter registration, which would run
from 30 July to 9 September. In order to facilitate the registration of
internally displaced persons (IDPs), memoranda of understanding (MOU)
had now been finalized between the International Organization for
Migration (IOM) and the Institution-Building Pillar, between IOM and the
Serbia Commissariat for Refugees, as well as the Montenegrin
authorities. In order to facilitate the registration of minority
communities in Kosovo, preparations for special registration centres
were well advanced, including the recruitment of over 200 locals, mainly
from minority communities.
He told members that a key element that would make the identification of
voters easier this year, than during the municipal vote in 2000, was the
continuing distribution of identification cards to habitual residents of
Kosovo. A total of 850,000 such cards had so far been produced, of
which 600,000 had been distributed. The target was to provide ID cards
to all eligible voters prior to the election. Hand in hand with
electoral preparations was UNMIK's continuing work on fleshing out the
provisions of the Constitutional Framework on Provisional
Self-Government to prepare for the transfer of authority following the
elections.
He said preparations for the transition to provisional self-government
had emphasized "Kosovarisation" at the senior management level and
capacity building of local staff in the areas of administration,
procurement, budget and finance. Special emphasis continued to be given
to encouraging the minority communities, particularly the Kosovo-Serb
community, to participate in public life in the province, through direct
engagement and improving contacts with the authorities of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia.
He said preparations for the small-scale return of Kosovo Serbs to
10 locations identified by the Joint Committee for Return had also
gained further momentum. In order to meet the crucial funding
requirements for safe and sustainable return, Hans Haekkerup, the
Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Kosovo, had chaired
the first donor meeting in Pristina on 29 June.
He said the Contact Group on Detainees and Missing Persons, comprising
UNMIK officials and representatives of the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia, were now meeting on a fortnightly basis and some advances
had been made. Those included direct technical collaboration on
exhumations and the identification of remains found in mass gravesites.
The issue of missing remains remained emotive and continued to provoke
demonstrations and protest on both sides. Kosovo Serb relatives of
missing persons had been demonstrating in Gracanica since 10 July, with
several family members going on hunger strike on 16 July. With regard
to the missing Kosovo Albanian detainees in prison in Serbia, UNMIK now
had fuller access to case files and other pertinent information with the
Department of Justice.
According to the Under-Secretary-General, UNMIK continued to intensify
its relations with the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
to address issues of mutual concern. The recent and welcome appointment
of Deputy Serbian Prime Minister Nebosja Covic as the Coordinator for
Kosovo added a new dimension to those relations. A recent complicating
factor, however, had been the increasingly direct activity of the
authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia in the
province. Those included attempts by the Federal Committee for Kosovo
to establish its own executive taxation functions and business
registration activities, as well as the opening of regional offices
without the consent of UNMIK, and a humanitarian convoy organized by the
party on 14 July.
He said better coordination was also evident in the crucial fight
against organized crime and extremist violence. Links with the Kosovo
Force (KFOR) continued to improve with the development of the Joint
Security Initiative intended to explore how that Force might further
assist in issues of law and order. Over the past month, several arrests
had been made on the basis of Regulation 2001/7 on the Authorization of
the Possession of Weapons in Kosovo.
He said combating ethnically motivated crime was still a challenge for
UNMIK. Recent measures such as the opening of police substations in
several Kosovo Serb enclaves had contributed to building confidence and
reducing tensions. Efforts to bolster the indigenous police force
continued with the first promotion of first-line supervisors in the
Kosovo Police Force at the end of June.
He said key to the functioning of the provisional self-government would
be a sound financial foundation. Included in several strategies to
generate revenue and encourage a functioning market economy was the
reinvigoration of State and socially owned enterprises. On 1 July, a
value-added tax was introduced which would be supplemented at the
beginning of 2002 by a property tax.
Addressing the situation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
continued to be of great concern to UNMIK. The Mission’s efforts to
reduce the influence of members of the Ethnic Albanian Armed Groups
operating from Kosovo had proved effective, with over 300 people
arrested to date. A further effort to stem the support of the NLA
coming from Kosovo was Mr. Haekkerup's decision at the beginning of July
to suspend five senior members of the Kosovo Protection Corps who had
been blacklisted.
GENNADI M. GATILOV (Russian Federation) noted the efforts of the
Special Representative and the Mission he headed to establish normalcy
in the region. He was expecting further extension of cooperation with
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in implementation of Security Council
resolution 1244, without any exceptions. It was only in cooperation
with the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia that progress
could be achieved. In that connection, he stressed the need to sign an
agreement on the status of UNMIK and KFOR with the Belgrade Government.
Turning to the preparations for Kosovo-wide elections, he said that
ensuring their democratic and representative nature was of utmost
importance. That should involve active participation of Belgrade. It
was important to create safe conditions for the elections and ensure the
participation of all ethnic communities. Before the elections, a steady
process of return of displaced persons and refugees should be under way.
In that respect, he was concerned about the lack of progress in
determining the fate of 1,300 missing non-Albanian inhabitants of
Kosovo. Inaction on that matter confirmed the theory of “one-sided
humanism” towards Kosovo Albanians and the reluctance to hear appeals of
the relatives of non-Albanian inhabitants of the province.
It was important to take measures to ensure the safety of the
population. Another problem not yet resolved was disarmament of the
illegal armed groups. Weaponry was discovered in the province almost
daily. It was not a question of a few outdated muskets. Modern kinds
of weaponry were involved. Putting an end to the illegal ownership of
arms and crossings of the boundaries of Kosovo would help to solve the
problem. The UNMIK and KFOR had taken certain steps to stop the
provocations, but those efforts must be stepped up. It was also
essential to take effective steps immediately to halt expansion of
Albanian extremism out of Kosovo. He expected the UNMIK leadership, in
close cooperation with KFOR, to take additional steps to complete
demobilization and disarmament of Albanian extremists.
He also warned against any attempts to resolve the problem of
reintegration of Kosovo/Mitrovica by force on the pretext of the need to
unblock the situation there before the elections. Any attempts to use
force in Mitrovica or speed up Albanization of the province would lead
to negative consequences. He believed that a solution to that problem
could be found only through political, comprehensive and monitored
efforts. In that context, he noted proposals to involve Serbian
representatives in police work in Mitrovica. Approaches based on the
political will of the regional actors were needed, and that was the goal
of the Russian initiative to call a Balkan summit on the matter. A
legally binding agreement between the leaders of the region was needed,
which would set mutual obligations. The signal from the international
community must be clear and unambiguous. There could be no further
redrawing of the borders in the Balkans. A barrier to extremism and
intolerance must be built.
ALFONSO VALDIVIESO (Colombia), addressing the security situation
in Kosovo, said that one month ago there had been great expectations
over the impact of the 13 legislative initiatives and the establishment
by UNMIK of the new police force and justice pillar. It was now evident
that a month was not enough to achieve those measures. The flow of
refugees from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was a source of
concern and could affect stability in Kosovo, he warned.
Regarding the upcoming elections in the province, he said the main
concern was that participation must include all minorities. The MOU
provided the opportunity for more that 200,000 Serbs to take part in the
elections. Turning to missing persons, he stressed the importance of
the MOU between UNMIK and International Committee for Missing Persons
which would enable DNA testing to identify the remains of missing
people.
JEAN-DAVID LEVITTE (France) said that the progress achieved in the
efforts to build the constitutional framework for self-government and
the elections offered prospects of stability in Kosovo. It was
important to ensure the success of the elections, which would depend on
the participation of all the inhabitants, as well as Belgrade support.
He hoped that continued dialogue and the initiatives under way on
security issues would help to convince the Serbian inhabitants that
their full participation was not only in the interests of peace -– it
was in their own interests, as well. In that connection, he recalled a
recent statement by the Yugoslav Committee on Kosovo that the conditions
for Serbian participation were non-existent in the province, and he
wanted to hear Mr. Gučhenno’s comments on that matter.
Recent laws against crime and the establishment of the police and
justice pillars were useful, he continued. Now it was important to
ensure full implementation of the rules and step up the work against
extremists. Mitrovica was an important problem. The situation there
could not improve without the implementation of the comprehensive
strategy that Mr. Gučhenno had spoken about. It was important to tackle
the causes of the conflict. Recent developments in the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia were very disturbing, and he called on the parties
to respect the ceasefire and demonstrate a high level of responsibility,
ensuring a successful dialogue. Only a political solution could ensure
the safety of all the inhabitants there. The UNMIK must ensure that the
border between Kosovo and Macedonia was completely monitored.
JAMES B. CUNNINGHAM (United States) said implementation of
resolution 1244 (1999) was still the most important and determining
factor in resolving the situation in Kosovo. He welcomed the progress
made in establishing security regulations in the province. Addressing
the capture of the suspects in the bus bombing, he urged UNMIK to form
an international panel to review the evidence so that those suspected
did not go free.
He said the electoral process was key to the developments in the
province as was Serb participation in it. Respect for the rights of
minorities was another area requiring important focus. He also
underscored promoting a good relationship between UNMIK and KFOR with
the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The situation in
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the recent violence was of
concern to the United States. The use of arms to improve military
positions was deplorable. Restraint must be exercised while ceasefire
agreements should be recognized. He urged the Macedonian Government to
resume negotiations and reach agreements beneficial to all sides.
RICHARD RYAN (Ireland) subscribed to the position of the European
Union on the matter and said that all communities in Kosovo must realize
that the only possible future lay in the multi-ethnic society, based on
human rights. The key task was to involve all the communities in the
work towards the elections. He noted with great satisfaction the
support of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia of the process of
registration. He was encouraged by the recent developments, but more
needed to be done. Kosovo Serbs must register in larger numbers, and it
was most desirable that their leaders should continue to signal their
readiness to support the process. Creation of a positive climate for
Serb participation needed to be encouraged. In encouraging that, the
Council must sustain its message that all extremist activities must
cease.
He went on to say that it was essential to ensure security and stop
illegal trafficking in weapons, confiscating illegal arms.
Establishment of the police pillar was encouraging, and he looked
forward to hearing about an increased legal capacity in the province.
Various meetings with the Government of Belgrade could lead to the
resolution of the issue of the return of refugees and IDPs. Also
important was a strategy to resolve the situation in Mitrovica. The
parallel structures in northern Mitrovica must be removed, and the
economic situation should be addressed. The economic reconstruction was
of great importance. The lack of progress regarding the missing persons
needed attention. The sensitivity of the issue should not be
underestimated, as well as the need to observe justice.
Those guilty of crimes against humanity and genocide could not and would
not escape justice, he said. No impunity should be allowed, and the
recent arraignment of Mr. Milosevic should underscore that point. He
was following with concern the events in Macedonia. He called upon all
parties to negotiate with a clear objective of reaching a realistic and
fair settlement.
Sir JEREMY GREENSTOCK (United Kingdom) said his delegation
endorsed the statement to be issued later by Belgium on behalf of the
European Union. He welcomed the development of a professional police
and justice cadre in Kosovo and the intention to stamp out criminality,
extremism and lawlessness. The UNMIK and KFOR must continue to fill the
holes in the existing security framework to ensure that extremists had
no room in which to operate. Such elements undermined the legitimate
efforts of responsible Albanians in the region.
Addressing the contacts between UNMIK and Belgrade, he stated that was
an important improvement to which the Council’s mission last month had
contributed. The appointment of Deputy Serbian Prime Minister Nebosja
Covic as the Coordinator for Kosovo would also have a positive impact
and was a crucial step in the establishment of a multi-ethnic Kosovo.
In addition, the meetings between UNMIK and the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia on missing persons must be encouraged. Since there was so
much to be done in an already difficult environment, the situation in
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia also demanded the close
scrutiny of the Council.
ANWARUL KARIM CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh) said the international
community remained committed to stability and peace in the Balkans. The
Council should continue to remain actively involved in pursuing full
implementation of resolution 1244. The UNMIK should receive the support
it needed to carry out its mandate effectively. The extradition and
surrender of some of those indicted by the Yugoslav Tribunal should be
followed by the surrender of other war criminals to the court in The
Hague.
Recalling the June Council mission to the area, he said that some of the
main findings of Council members included the importance of continued
support for UNMIK and input of resources from the international
community towards the implementation of its mandate. The political
process had to be taken forward, and the promulgation of the
constitutional framework for self-government was important. The
Kosovo-wide elections would enhance the democratic process in Kosovo and
increase the stability in the region. The participation of all
communities and the return of refugees and displaced persons should be
encouraged. Also, efforts to confiscate illegal weapons should be
pursued.
It was also important to resolve the situation in Mitrovica to start
rebuilding confidence of the population, he continued. The economic
situation in the province needed to be taken into account. The rights
of ethnic minorities needed to be respected, but those communities
should realize the there was no alternative to the multi-ethnic society
in Kosovo. Cooperation with Belgrade was key to the implementation of
relevant resolutions. It was important that all Kosovars, irrespective
of their ethnic background, should learn to live together.
Representation of different communities in the interim structures was
essential. The civil registration process must receive necessary
cooperation. Also, the role of civil society in fostering greater
tolerance must be emphasized.
PATRICIA DURRANT (Jamaica) said elections and reconstruction were
all parts of the process that would hopefully lead to a multi-ethnic
Kosovo. She stressed the importance of developing a sound working
relationship between UNMIK and the authorities in the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia. She also drew attention to the fact that the problem of
missing persons still caused anxiety to people in Kosovo and hindered
progress. Location and identification of missing persons would add to a
climate of stability. Her delegation, therefore, supported the work of
forensic experts and hoped that more of them would be sent by countries
able to provide assistance for that important task.
Jamaica believed that reconciliation efforts must coincide with those
aimed at economic reconstruction and the creation of a viable economic
base in Kosovo. Reports of the sale of minority housing would also seem
to suggest that was a pretext for another form of ethnic cleansing.
That issue must be addressed by UNMIK, along with other unfair practices
against other vulnerable communities. In addition, the events in the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia necessitated a close watch by the
Council. Crime and violence also had to be reduced by UNMIK. She added
that the discovery of arms caches was a further source of concern.
JADISH KOONJUL (Mauritius) said that UNMIK had achieved
considerable progress. He commended its efforts to maintain peace in an
extremely difficult situation. It remained crucially important to
implement the relevant Security Council resolutions and secure
participation of all ethnic groups in the November elections. He was
concerned about the reluctance of some Serbian groups to participate in
the upcoming elections, and urged them to cooperate fully with UNMIK and
participate in the interim arrangements. On their part, Kosovo
Albanians should ensure safe conditions for the elections.
An upsurge of violence in the Mitrovica and Pristina areas was a source
of concern, he said. Efforts to combat organized crime and terrorism
and illegal possession of weapons should continue. He welcomed the
improvement of relations between UNMIK and the authorities of the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. With the opening of the UNMIK office in
Belgrade, the progress would be enhanced. A safe and secure environment
for the return of the minorities to their homes should be ensured.
He noted with regret that the issue of the missing Serbs had seen few
developments. The Serbian community should be given every assurance
that the international community was committed to finding the truth
about the missing persons. That was very important for building
confidence among the Kosovo Serbs. The Yugoslav authorities should also
accelerate the handing over of Albanian detainees to UNMIK. It was time
to build peace and reconstruct the economy of the province, so that
every ethnic group could feel safe.
MARKIAN KULYK (Ukraine) said tension had been reduced in Kosovo as
the result of the efforts of both UNMIK and KFOR and the return of
troops of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to the ground safety zone.
He stressed that returning Kosovo Serbs must go back to a safe and
secure environment, which included substantive dialogue and
international commitment to supply resources. His delegation would be
grateful for comprehensive figures on return dynamics, including time
perspectives.
He condemned the military activities of Albanian armed groups in the
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and confirmed his country's full
support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of that country,
as well as the steps taken by its Government so far. He stressed,
however, that there could be no military solution to the problem, only a
political one.
OLE PETER KOLBY (Norway) reiterated his country’s support for the
work of UNMIK in implementation of resolution 1244. The international
community must strengthen its efforts to ensure a democratic and
multi-ethnic society in Kosovo. Successful elections in November would
depend on the creation of a safe environment for all ethnic communities,
particularly non-Albanians. He expected the leaders of Kosovo Albanians
to respect that. At the same time, he counted on the Serb leaders to
support UNMIK’s endeavours. In that regard, he welcomed the positive
attitude of the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The
international community expected the Belgrade Government to encourage
Serb participation in the upcoming elections. The UNMIK and KFOR should
also receive assistance of the Albanian authorities.
There seemed to be room for improvement in determining the fate of the
missing persons, he said. He welcomed the extradition of Slobodan
Milosevic for a formal trial, saying that it was another sign that the
authorities in Belgrade were willing to cooperate with the international
community. The crisis in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
could not be resolved militarily and required a political solution.
Experience showed the need for international involvement in the matter.
CHRISTINE LEE (Singapore) said that now the 17 November elections in
Kosovo were getting closer, it was even more important for the involved
parties to invigorate their efforts. Of utmost importance was the
participation of all minorities in the process, including refugees and
returnees. She stressed the need for a secure environment, the need for
UNMIK and KFOR to work steadfastly towards rejecting violence and
extremism, and promoting an environment of reconciliation and
integration. Hatreds must be overcome, and she called on the Kosovo
leadership to create a positive environment for minorities since the
United Nations could do no more than assist.
She also called for emphasis to be given to developing a positive market
economy. The Mission must continue to have regular and direct dialogue
with Belgrade since the effective implementation of Council resolution
1244 (1999) required interaction with the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia. She underscored that the Organization's responsibility did
not end with the election and the establishment of structures. Kosovo’s
return to normality and achievement of final status needed time.
Support for the province, therefore, had to be ongoing. The duration of
the international presence there must take account of the large
political reality and the particular environment. Eventual termination
of the United Nations presence must be gradual and carefully structured
to consolidate the painstaking gains achieved.
MOCTAR OUANE (Mali) said that despite numerous problems, it was
important to recognize the important progress in Kosovo. From the
political point of view, he was grateful to UNMIK for its efforts to
organize elections in November. He invited all the ethnic groups in
Kosovo to take part in the elections. The participation of the Serb
community, which had boycotted the previous municipal elections, was a
cause of concern. It was important to create safe conditions in the
province and encourage return of all displaced persons and refugees.
He expressed concern over the continuation of violence in Kosovo.
That was a major obstacle to the achievement of security in the area and
to the return of the refugees. The legislation suppressing organized
crime and illegal ownership of weapons was a welcome development. He
also stressed the need to monitor the administrative borders of Kosovo.
On the economical level, the high unemployment rate and the disastrous
state of the economy caused concern. He recommended mobilizing
additional funds for the programmes of rebuilding Kosovo. The situation
of refugees from Macedonia also needed to be addressed.
WANG YINGFAN (China), President of the Council, speaking in his
national capacity, said he appreciated the great improvements to the
situation in Kosovo, but stressed that the participation of minority
communities was necessary to ensure impartial and fair elections. The
UNMIK needed to continue its efforts in that area.
He said the total disarmament of armed groups was another important
consensus reached by the Council mission to the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia last month. In that endeavour, the Kosovo Police Force (KPF)
was key. He had heard, however, that the Force was now recruiting
former KLA persons into its ranks, and warned that such actions could
and might affect their impartiality. That development had to be watched
carefully, he cautioned.
The illegal arms flows across the border must also be stopped. In
addition, the situation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
must be resolved in an objective manner in order to avoid any escalation
of violence.
VLADISLAV MLADENOVIC (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) said that
since the consideration last month of the situation in Kosovo and
Metohija -- the autonomous province of the Yugoslav constituent Republic
of Serbia -- the priority issues had become the elections in the
province, return of displaced persons and the tracing of the abducted
and the missing. The common goal of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
and international actors should be consistent implementation of Security
Council resolution 1244 (1999) and creation of conditions for building a
multi-ethnic and democratic Kosovo and Metohija, including
self-government and substantial autonomy, with full respect for the
territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Surely, one of the essential steps was the return of displaced
persons, he said. A fully secure environment must be created for the
return of Serbs and other non-Albanians to their homes, rather than to
some places of temporary residence. Southern Serbia represented
eloquent proof that displaced persons could return if proper conditions
were created. Since the entry of the Yugoslav forces to the Ground
Safety Zone on 31 May this year, more than half of 12,000 displaced
Albanians had returned to the area. However, over 250,000 persons
displaced from Kosovo and Metohija lived in other parts of Serbia and
throughout Yugoslavia now. About 25,000 non-Albanians had left the
province in 2000 alone. Under the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) return plan, 2,000 persons were
supposed to return this year. Considering the existing circumstances in
Kosovo and Metohija, even that modest number appeared unrealistic.
Another very important and painful issue was the fate of abducted
and missing persons, he continued. The Government of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia attached utmost importance to resolving that
issue. That could be done only with the involvement of the
international community and Albanian actors. So far, he regretted to
say, the latter had shown no readiness to become actively engaged. It
was encouraging though that understanding on the issue had been shown at
the meeting of the Yugoslav delegation with the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) Council and its Secretary-General in Brussels on 18
July.
The question of the Serbs’ participation in the general elections
in Kosovo and Metohija in November was of widespread interest, he said.
His delegation had presented its position on the election in the
statement to the Council on 22 June, and his Government was ready to
support Serb participation in the elections if necessary conditions were
created. Ready to cooperate with the international community, it called
on the Serbs to register. It had also defined the conditions necessary
for their taking part in the elections, which included security
guarantees, creation of conditions for a safe return of all displaced
persons, tracing of abducted and missing persons, and the preparation of
the elections in cooperation with the authorities of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia and Serbia.
He then pointed out the need to institutionalize cooperation
between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and UNMIK. That would not
only facilitate numerous practical solutions, but also recommit the
international community to respecting the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as provided for by
resolution 1244 (1999). His country was ready to build relations with
KFOR and UNMIK, based on partnership and mutual respect. However, by
its latest guidelines on Yugoslav government officials’ and political
party representatives’ visits to the province, UNMIK had, in his
opinion, taken a wrong direction. The formalities contained very
serious restrictions and were clearly inappropriate. Those guidelines
should be reconsidered.
He went on to say that the removal of anachronistic vestiges of the past
would greatly facilitate the progress of democracy in the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia. To that end, he hoped that the arms embargo
imposed by Security Council resolution 1160 (1998) and the Ground and
Air Safety Zones established in 1999 would be lifted and abolished soon.
His country would make every effort to improve the situation in Kosovo
and Metohija. In cooperation with international actors, the Albanian
community in Kosovo and Methija should play an active role in those
efforts and avoid steps going beyond the bounds of resolution 1244.
JEAN DE RUYT (Belgium) also spoke on behalf of the European Union
and the associated States of Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,
Lithuania, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus,
Malta, Turkey, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
He first reaffirmed the Union's support for the efforts of UNMIK
and
Mr. Haekkerup in implementing resolution 1244 (1999). The work carried
out by the Mission had led to concrete and positive results. He
stressed that it was essential for all communities to participate in the
17 November elections and in the provisional institutions in Kosovo that
would spring from that process. Those upcoming elections offered all
communities the opportunity to take their fate in their hands in the
context of resolution 1244 (1999).
He said the Union supported any measures or initiatives already
taken by UNMIK to resolve the issue of missing persons, refugees and
displaced persons and encouraged the Mission and other actors to pursue
further efforts in that area. While tension had abated in the province
over the past month, the risk of deterioration should not be
underestimated. It was hoped that the security measures taken recently
would lead to a reduction in violence.
In addition, he said that the handover of Slobodan Milosevic, former
President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, to The Hague Tribunal
was an important development. It was necessary in the process of
reconciliation for the people of the region to realize that justice
would be done and that nobody was above the law. Despite the ceasefire,
the situation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia remained a
cause of concern. The Union would continue to offer its assistance in
order to find a lasting solution to the conflict.
Responding to comments and questions from the Council members, Mr.
GUČHENNO commented on “a rather harsh statement” by one of the groups
regarding the “non-existent” conditions for the Serb participation in
the elections. Four Serbian parties had decided to register, and that
was an indication that they hoped that general participation of Serbs
would be ensured. The comment may have reflected disappointment that
the progress had been slow, but a gradual and slow approach was to be
adopted by UNMIK.
On the practical matters of Serb participation, there was a question of
the rate of return, he said. Although he would like to see quick return
of Serbs to Kosovo, security conditions should be taken into account in
that respect. In some situations, their houses had been taken over, or
people would feel isolated upon their return. It was important to take
a pragmatic approach. An association of displaced persons in Pec had
asked to register for elections, and it was an encouraging sign.
Security remained one of UNMIK’s main concerns, and progress had been
made in that respect.
On the involvement of Serbs in the elections, he said that the basic
issue was whether they would bring their influence to reach
reconciliation. The elections presented a good opportunity in that
regard, bringing all communities to the same table to discuss the
issues. That would help to create conditions for reconciliation, but
the process would take time.
Serbian News Network - SNN
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