UNMIK chief: Relations with Priština improved

UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier said that relations between the UN mission and Pristina are improving. “Of course, differences still exist, for example, regarding the strategy related to northern Kosovo,” Zannier told daily Politika. UNMIK chief: Relations with Pristina improved He said that he is content with the fact that International Civil Office Chief Pieter Feith said that patience would be needed for the strategy to be implemented. “We already reacted and gave our fears related to that. We are concerned about the modality of the implementation of the strategy for northern Kosovo and we believe that it should unfold through talks with all interested parties and people who are a part of that strategy,” Zannier said. “On Monday, I was in the north, and I saw that people there feel the need for dialogue for solving personal problems. It is very important to encourage such dialogue and we are now working on creating these conditions, regardless of who is the mediator. It is important to search for a solution for concrete problems, not to face demonstrations…” he added. Zannier said that his most important role was to activate dialogue that should be focused on practical problems. He reminded that relations between UNMIK and the Pristina government went through a difficult phase last year, but that the relations have improved, since the Kosovo side understands now that it is in its best interest. “People from Kosovo now understand the reality, have aspirations to join international organizations and the UN. I think that they reached the conclusion that it is in their best interest to maintain good relations with UNMIK,” Zannier said. Asked if it is true that the six-point plan can not even be mentioned any more in Pristina, Zannier said that this is part of the UN Secretary General’s report to the Security Council. “In some fields there was progress, such as in the police. There are fields that have no plans in the six-points, such as return, and I would like to see some work done on that,” Zannier said.

UNMIK chief: Relations with Priština improved

He said that he is content with the fact that International Civil Office Chief Pieter Feith said that patience would be needed for the strategy to be implemented.

“We already reacted and gave our fears related to that. We are concerned about the modality of the implementation of the strategy for northern Kosovo and we believe that it should unfold through talks with all interested parties and people who are a part of that strategy,” Zannier said.

“On Monday, I was in the north, and I saw that people there feel the need for dialogue for solving personal problems. It is very important to encourage such dialogue and we are now working on creating these conditions, regardless of who is the mediator. It is important to search for a solution for concrete problems, not to face demonstrations…” he added.

Zannier said that his most important role was to activate dialogue that should be focused on practical problems.

He reminded that relations between UNMIK and the Priština government went through a difficult phase last year, but that the relations have improved, since the Kosovo side understands now that it is in its best interest.

“People from Kosovo now understand the reality, have aspirations to join international organizations and the UN. I think that they reached the conclusion that it is in their best interest to maintain good relations with UNMIK,” Zannier said.

Asked if it is true that the six-point plan can not even be mentioned any more in Priština, Zannier said that this is part of the UN Secretary General’s report to the Security Council.

“In some fields there was progress, such as in the police. There are fields that have no plans in the six-points, such as return, and I would like to see some work done on that,” Zannier said.