UNMIK to attend regional meetings "if necessary"

UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) spokesperson Olivier Salgado said on Wednesday that if necessary, UNMIK would take part in regional meetings. This would happen "with Kosovo represented under its own name along with a footnote, according to the agreement on regional representation between Belgrade and Pristina", Tanjug reported. UNMIK to attend regional meetings "if necessary" Salgado told the news agency that the agreement was reached a few days ago and that ways of its implementation should be worked out. UNMIK looks forward to cooperating with all sides and wishes to see the agreement fully operational, he noted. If necessary, UNMIK will fulfill its agreed legal obligations, he added. The key thing for UNMIK is for Kosovo to participate in regional meetings and UNMIk has no interest in being there when an alternative approach has been agreed between all the participants, he remarked. Point 6 of the Agreement on Kosovo's Regional Representation between Belgrade and Pristina from last week allows UNMIK to take part in regional meetings. The point says UNMIK will be invited to the meetings included in the agreement UNMIK signed, but that it is up to UNMIK to decide whether to appear. According to the agreement, Kosovo's name will be accompanied by a footnote that says "this designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence." The agreement allows Kosovo to take part in regional meetings, but not in international organizations outside the region, where everything remains unchanged in terms of UNMIK. Pristina-based Albanian language daily Koha Ditore reported earlier on Wednesday that UNMIK "decided not to participate in regional meetings at which Kosovo will be represented under its name with a relevant footnote". Tanjug

UNMIK to attend regional meetings "if necessary"

Salgado told the news agency that the agreement was reached a few days ago and that ways of its implementation should be worked out.

UNMIK looks forward to cooperating with all sides and wishes to see the agreement fully operational, he noted. If necessary, UNMIK will fulfill its agreed legal obligations, he added.

The key thing for UNMIK is for Kosovo to participate in regional meetings and UNMIk has no interest in being there when an alternative approach has been agreed between all the participants, he remarked.

Point 6 of the Agreement on Kosovo's Regional Representation between Belgrade and Priština from last week allows UNMIK to take part in regional meetings.

The point says UNMIK will be invited to the meetings included in the agreement UNMIK signed, but that it is up to UNMIK to decide whether to appear.

According to the agreement, Kosovo's name will be accompanied by a footnote that says "this designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence."

The agreement allows Kosovo to take part in regional meetings, but not in international organizations outside the region, where everything remains unchanged in terms of UNMIK.

Priština-based Albanian language daily Koha Ditore reported earlier on Wednesday that UNMIK "decided not to participate in regional meetings at which Kosovo will be represented under its name with a relevant footnote".