Security Council debates UNMIK reconfiguration

The UN Security Council has discussed the sec-gen.’s quarterly report on the work of the UN mission to Kosovo. The main theme of the session was the reconfiguration of UNMIK, over which, as before, opinions are divided. Security Council debates UNMIK reconfiguration Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said that reconfiguration most not breach Serbia’s sovereignty or territorial integrity. Ban Ki-moon decided to continue the reconfiguration process because that mission, he said, had to adjust to the new reality on the ground. Reconfiguration means working together with the EU, which, via the EULEX mission, is due to assume a certain role in Kosovo, although there is still no consensus over this in the Security Council. New UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier said that circumstances in the province had changed, and that UNMIK could not in effect take or carry out decisions any longer. “As a consequence of the policies pursued by the Serb and Albanian communities in Kosovo, the space UNMIK has to work in has changed. Since the entry into force of the Kosovo constitution, my powers under Resolution 1244 are practically impossible to apply,” said Zannier. Jeremic, who last week sent Ban Serbia’s vehement objections to UNMIK reconfiguration having started without Belgrade’s consent, once again reminded the secretary-general that he had given his envoy instructions to reconfigure UNMIK without Security Council approval and in direct opposition to Serbia’s will. Nevertheless, he stated that Serbia was prepared to cooperate over this matter, provided her sovereignty or territorial integrity were not infringed. “We intend to just speak to the secretary-general, his people, and his special envoy about UNMIK reconfiguration,” explained Jeremic. The other Security Council member-states also all reiterated their earlier views at the session. Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin repeated Moscow’s position that the secretary general had exceeded his authorities when embarking on UNMIK reconfiguration without Council approval, and also expressed his concern at attempts to dispose of the existing international presence in the province on the pretext that it was no longer in line with the altered reality. “We confirm our views that UNMIK reconfiguration is unthinkable without a Security Council decision. In this situation, the secretary-general has exceeded his rights by encroaching on Council jurisdiction, and Russia is concerned by the attempt to undermine the international mission to Kosovo that was approved by the Security Council on the pretext that it is not in line with the reality on the ground. We see these attempts as a drive to legalize the structure set to carry out [former UN special envoy Martti] Ahtisaari's plan [for Kosovo's independence], which has not received the UN Security Council's approval” said Churkin. Meanwhile, U.S. ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad welcomed the reconfiguration, stating that UNMIK had to adapt to the new reality that had come about since the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence. The session was also attended by newly-appointed Kosovo Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni who said that the deployment of the EU mission throughout Kosovo would “contribute to peace and stability in Kosovo and the region”. Hyseni stressed that Kosovo was independent, and that there was no turning back. “We want to take this opportunity to stress that we’re ready to open talks with Belgrade as two independent and sovereign states, because that is in our mutual interest. But, I should add that we will no longer hold talks on Kosovo’s status, because they are over for good, Kosovo is an independent state recognized by 43 countries with indications that that figure will soon rise,” said Hyseni. Zannier said that he hoped that there would be constructive dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina over relevant issues, stating that UNMIK’s future did not depend on him, but the Security Council.

Security Council debates UNMIK reconfiguration

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić said that reconfiguration most not breach Serbia’s sovereignty or territorial integrity.

Ban Ki-moon decided to continue the reconfiguration process because that mission, he said, had to adjust to the new reality on the ground.

Reconfiguration means working together with the EU, which, via the EULEX mission, is due to assume a certain role in Kosovo, although there is still no consensus over this in the Security Council.

New UNMIK Chief Lamberto Zannier said that circumstances in the province had changed, and that UNMIK could not in effect take or carry out decisions any longer.

“As a consequence of the policies pursued by the Serb and Albanian communities in Kosovo, the space UNMIK has to work in has changed. Since the entry into force of the Kosovo constitution, my powers under Resolution 1244 are practically impossible to apply,” said Zannier.

Jeremić, who last week sent Ban Serbia’s vehement objections to UNMIK reconfiguration having started without Belgrade’s consent, once again reminded the secretary-general that he had given his envoy instructions to reconfigure UNMIK without Security Council approval and in direct opposition to Serbia’s will.

Nevertheless, he stated that Serbia was prepared to cooperate over this matter, provided her sovereignty or territorial integrity were not infringed.

“We intend to just speak to the secretary-general, his people, and his special envoy about UNMIK reconfiguration,” explained Jeremić.

The other Security Council member-states also all reiterated their earlier views at the session.

Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin repeated Moscow’s position that the secretary general had exceeded his authorities when embarking on UNMIK reconfiguration without Council approval, and also expressed his concern at attempts to dispose of the existing international presence in the province on the pretext that it was no longer in line with the altered reality.

“We confirm our views that UNMIK reconfiguration is unthinkable without a Security Council decision. In this situation, the secretary-general has exceeded his rights by encroaching on Council jurisdiction, and Russia is concerned by the attempt to undermine the international mission to Kosovo that was approved by the Security Council on the pretext that it is not in line with the reality on the ground. We see these attempts as a drive to legalize the structure set to carry out [former UN special envoy Martti] Ahtisaari's plan [for Kosovo's independence], which has not received the UN Security Council's approval” said Churkin.

Meanwhile, U.S. ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad welcomed the reconfiguration, stating that UNMIK had to adapt to the new reality that had come about since the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence.

The session was also attended by newly-appointed Kosovo Foreign Minister Skender Hyseni who said that the deployment of the EU mission throughout Kosovo would “contribute to peace and stability in Kosovo and the region”.

Hyseni stressed that Kosovo was independent, and that there was no turning back.

“We want to take this opportunity to stress that we’re ready to open talks with Belgrade as two independent and sovereign states, because that is in our mutual interest. But, I should add that we will no longer hold talks on Kosovo’s status, because they are over for good, Kosovo is an independent state recognized by 43 countries with indications that that figure will soon rise,” said Hyseni.

Zannier said that he hoped that there would be constructive dialogue between Belgrade and Priština over relevant issues, stating that UNMIK’s future did not depend on him, but the Security Council.