Ban's proposal receiving mixed reaction

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Serbian officials have expressed opposing views over the former’s plans to restructure the UN’s civil presence in Kosovo. The proposed solution, said Ban, takes into account issues of significance to Serbia and the Kosovo Serbs. Ban's proposal receiving mixed reaction However, President Boris Tadic told state broadcaster RTS that he did not agree with the secretary general’s appraisal, calling it unacceptable. “Neither do we accept his report, nor do accept his idea on how to settle the issue of the deployment of the civil mission in Kosovo. I personally believe, as president of Serbia, that UNMIK has to exist in Kosovo, and that UNMIK alone is authorized on the basis of all international acts and Security Council decisions to regulate the Kosovo issue. I described the direct and very unfavorable ramifications of UNMIK’s non-existence in Kosovo in its full capacity, even in local areas, during my speech,” said Tadic. Our battle in future will be more complex, explained the president, pointing out that, besides a united state policy on Kosovo, a new strategy and new tactics will be called for. He said that Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu’s speech in the capacity of a private entity had been outside the framework of Resolution 1244. Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said that thanks to Russia’s principled support, the UN secretary-general’s proposal for a transfer of responsibilities from UNMIK to the illegal EULEX mission had failed. "Russia is consistently defending the UN Charter and Resolution 1244 which guarantees Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said Kostunica. At the Security Council session, Ban also confirmed that he would be naming Lamberto Zannier as the new UNMIK chief in Kosovo. Zannier will help realize the visions set out in the UNMIK reconfiguration report, will lead the new phase of dialogue, and will take a balanced approach, the secretary-general explained. The new UNMIK chief told journalists that he had come to Pristina direct from New York, where he had discussed with Ban and UN senior personnel the details of his mandate in Kosovo following the launch of the UNMIK reconstruction process. “The secretary-general’s ideas and suggestions for UNMIK reconstruction on the ground will be my key guide," he said. Listing the priorities of his mandate, Zannier said that UNMIK would continue to have neutral status, but that he would be looking to pave the way for new Kosovo actors. “UNMIK will have a modified role in light of the most recent events,“ said Zannier, explaining that one of the most important functions of his mission would be mediating between the various domestic and international players in political processes in the province. “In this phase particularly, I see the UN as a key facilitator of work. This organization is in a position to approach everyone, and I will take full advantage of this,“ said the new UNMIK chief. Ban Ki-moon (FoNet, archive)

Ban's proposal receiving mixed reaction

However, President Boris Tadić told state broadcaster RTS that he did not agree with the secretary general’s appraisal, calling it unacceptable.

“Neither do we accept his report, nor do accept his idea on how to settle the issue of the deployment of the civil mission in Kosovo. I personally believe, as president of Serbia, that UNMIK has to exist in Kosovo, and that UNMIK alone is authorized on the basis of all international acts and Security Council decisions to regulate the Kosovo issue. I described the direct and very unfavorable ramifications of UNMIK’s non-existence in Kosovo in its full capacity, even in local areas, during my speech,” said Tadić.

Our battle in future will be more complex, explained the president, pointing out that, besides a united state policy on Kosovo, a new strategy and new tactics will be called for.

He said that Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu’s speech in the capacity of a private entity had been outside the framework of Resolution 1244.

Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica said that thanks to Russia’s principled support, the UN secretary-general’s proposal for a transfer of responsibilities from UNMIK to the illegal EULEX mission had failed.

"Russia is consistently defending the UN Charter and Resolution 1244 which guarantees Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said Koštunica.

At the Security Council session, Ban also confirmed that he would be naming Lamberto Zannier as the new UNMIK chief in Kosovo.

Zannier will help realize the visions set out in the UNMIK reconfiguration report, will lead the new phase of dialogue, and will take a balanced approach, the secretary-general explained.

The new UNMIK chief told journalists that he had come to Priština direct from New York, where he had discussed with Ban and UN senior personnel the details of his mandate in Kosovo following the launch of the UNMIK reconstruction process.

“The secretary-general’s ideas and suggestions for UNMIK reconstruction on the ground will be my key guide," he said.

Listing the priorities of his mandate, Zannier said that UNMIK would continue to have neutral status, but that he would be looking to pave the way for new Kosovo actors.

“UNMIK will have a modified role in light of the most recent events,“ said Zannier, explaining that one of the most important functions of his mission would be mediating between the various domestic and international players in political processes in the province.

“In this phase particularly, I see the UN as a key facilitator of work. This organization is in a position to approach everyone, and I will take full advantage of this,“ said the new UNMIK chief.