UN SG on "delicate north"

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon says the situation in Kosovo is overall relatively peaceful, but that the political situation in the north is very delicate. In his latest report to the UN Security Council, available for download here, Ban added that he had called on EU Security and Foreign Policies Chief Catherine Ashton to investigate all the remaining challenges related to Kosovo. UN SG on "delicate north" Ban said that he recommended that the UN and EU agree on a joint approach, adding that Ashton has stated that the EU wanted to help Belgrade and Pristina continue their roads towards Europe. Ban called for the sides to show restraint and have constructive approache in order to avoid further escalations in northern, predominantly Serb areas of Kosovo, where the situation is politically delicate. Ban also said that he counted on the support of the UN Security Council for encouraging the two sides to focus on dialogue. The secretary general said that he strongly encouraged both sides to participate in constructive dialogue, and called on both sides to avoid any step that could be taken as a provocation and which could jeopardize dialogue. He said that the situation in Kosovo is relatively peaceful, but said that the possibility of instability must not be underestimated, especially in northern Kosovo. He reiterated that he is concerned about the recent violence in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica, which shows that all other approaches that do not include consultations and coordination between relevant parties can cause instability and divide the communities even further. His report states that UNMIK enabled the participation of Kosovo in regional and international forums and that it would continue to do so as long as Resolution 1244 was in power, with the goal of promoting regional dialogue and cooperation, even though it appears that the Kosovo Albanian government believes that this is "not in the best interest of its proclaimed sovereign status". In the annex report, related to the work of the EU mission in Kosovo (EULEX), Mission Chief Yves de Kermabon said that its mandate was extended to June 14, 2012, which according to him showed that the EU is dedicated to Kosovo, as well as to the rule of law and its European perspective. He wrote that EULEX continued to cooperation with the Kosovo government, UNMIK and other officials of the EU in Kosovo, as well as with NATO’s peacekeeping mission, KFOR. EULEX also continued dialogue and cooperation with officials of the Serbian legislative bodies, the report states. The report covering the period of March 16 to July 15 will be presented to the UN Security Council this evening by UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier. Ban Ki-moon (FoNet, file)

UN SG on "delicate north"

Ban said that he recommended that the UN and EU agree on a joint approach, adding that Ashton has stated that the EU wanted to help Belgrade and Priština continue their roads towards Europe.

Ban called for the sides to show restraint and have constructive approache in order to avoid further escalations in northern, predominantly Serb areas of Kosovo, where the situation is politically delicate.

Ban also said that he counted on the support of the UN Security Council for encouraging the two sides to focus on dialogue.

The secretary general said that he strongly encouraged both sides to participate in constructive dialogue, and called on both sides to avoid any step that could be taken as a provocation and which could jeopardize dialogue.

He said that the situation in Kosovo is relatively peaceful, but said that the possibility of instability must not be underestimated, especially in northern Kosovo.

He reiterated that he is concerned about the recent violence in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica, which shows that all other approaches that do not include consultations and coordination between relevant parties can cause instability and divide the communities even further.

His report states that UNMIK enabled the participation of Kosovo in regional and international forums and that it would continue to do so as long as Resolution 1244 was in power, with the goal of promoting regional dialogue and cooperation, even though it appears that the Kosovo Albanian government believes that this is "not in the best interest of its proclaimed sovereign status".

In the annex report, related to the work of the EU mission in Kosovo (EULEX), Mission Chief Yves de Kermabon said that its mandate was extended to June 14, 2012, which according to him showed that the EU is dedicated to Kosovo, as well as to the rule of law and its European perspective.

He wrote that EULEX continued to cooperation with the Kosovo government, UNMIK and other officials of the EU in Kosovo, as well as with NATO’s peacekeeping mission, KFOR.

EULEX also continued dialogue and cooperation with officials of the Serbian legislative bodies, the report states.

The report covering the period of March 16 to July 15 will be presented to the UN Security Council this evening by UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier.