UNMIK chief: Kosovo needs government, talks should continue

UNMIK chief: Kosovo needs government, talks should continue

The 6-month delay in forming a government in Pristina has caused damage because it led to a delay in institutional reforms and the talks with Belgrade, he said on Thursday, presenting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's latest quarterly report on the situation in Kosovo

to the Security Council.

He welcomed the fact that the technical talks continued during the transition period.

The talks need new momentum and the meetings between top officials should continue as soon as possible, so both sides would be able to fulfil their promises and take advantage of the opportunities presented by the EU and European integration, he stated.

Zarif welcomed the cooperation from the local authorities in northern Kosovo in preparing the municipal budgets for 2015, stressing that it indicated that both sides were aware of how important dialogue is on the local level in order to establish a better government.

It is important to maintain momentum towards the integration of the four northern municipalities and, to that end, create an association of Serb municipalities that is required by the Brussels Agreement, the UNMIK official pointed out.

He commended the security agencies and police in Kosovo on putting a stop to extremism and Kosovo President Atifeta Jahjaga's and other politicians' condemnation of the offensive graffiti that had been sprayed inside the compound of the Visoki Decani monastery.

The corruption accusations against present and former members of EULEX have attracted a lot of media attention, but investigations have been launched regarding the issue, he remarked.

Regardless of different speculations, no room should be allowed for questioning the integrity of the principle of the rule of law and its key importance for progress in Kosovo, Zarif underscored.

The Kosovo parliament should prioritize the adoption of the laws necessary to create a special court for war crimes committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army, he stated.

Protection of the cultural and religious heritage remains an issue, he pointed out.

The issues of the return of internally displaced persons and shedding light on the fate of the people reported missing since the clashes in 1998 and 1999 need to be worked on, he said.

Incidents that took place in the region after the Serbia vs. Albania football match demonstrated that authorities and citizens must conduct themselves in a responsible manner to avoid losing the momentum towards stronger regional cooperation, he also said.

Despite the incidents, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has paid a visit to Belgrade, and it is a step in a good direction, Zarif said.