UN SC considers Ban Kosovo report

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s regular, quarterly report on the situation in Kosovo came before the UN Security Council today. In the report, available for download here, Ban notes that Pristina is maintaining only minimal contact with his special envoy, Lamberto Zannier, and is urging UNMIK to end its mission. UN SC considers Ban Kosovo report He adds that the general security situation is relatively peaceful, but that the number of returnees to the province is disappointingly low. Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told the session of the Council in New York that it "must continue to play a vital role in coordinating all the international organizations that operate under its umbrella", and called on its members to visit Serbia – Belgrade, Pristina, northern Kosovo and the enclaves – to see firsthand "how much work still needs to be done on the ground, within the framework of Resolution 1244". The chief of Serbia's diplomacy expressed the country's deep gratitude to the substantial majority of UN member states that respect Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, along with deep regret at the dismissal of Resolution 1244 by Pristina's ethnic Albanian leadership. "No one should be permitted to ignore the decisions of the Security Council. We therefore urge the Council to insist that all parties uphold commitments that arise from Resolution 1244. This is our common legal imperative, and our moral obligation," said Jeremic. Ahead of the session at UN HQ this Wednesday, Jeremic said that, at the session, he would be calling for an end to the pressure being exerted on states worldwide to recognize Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence. More details from the foreign minister's address to the UN Security Council can be found here UNMIK chief Lamberto Zannier also attended the meeting to, according to news agency reports, say that the UN mission's actions in the field are seen as something that could weaken both Belgrade and Pristina's arguments in this process. The UN mission has a useful role of mediator between the parties that are not ready to talk to each other, he said, and added that UNMIK's neutrality regarding the status enables the mission to encourage reconciliation and cooperation between Kosovo's communities. UNMIK's reconfiguration has almost been finished, it was timely and needed, and it increased the efficiency of the mission in the field, Zannier said. "UNMIK's role is different, but not less relevant", said its chief, and reminded that the draft 2009/2010 budget amounted to USD 47mn, employing 527 people. The Pristina-based Albanian language media said ahead of the meeting that Skender Hyseni, appointed as foreign minister by the Kosovo Albanian government, would also attend.

UN SC considers Ban Kosovo report

He adds that the general security situation is relatively peaceful, but that the number of returnees to the province is disappointingly low.

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić told the session of the Council in New York that it "must continue to play a vital role in coordinating all the international organizations that operate under its umbrella", and called on its members to visit Serbia – Belgrade, Priština, northern Kosovo and the enclaves – to see firsthand "how much work still needs to be done on the ground, within the framework of Resolution 1244".

The chief of Serbia's diplomacy expressed the country's deep gratitude to the substantial majority of UN member states that respect Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, along with deep regret at the dismissal of Resolution 1244 by Priština's ethnic Albanian leadership.

"No one should be permitted to ignore the decisions of the Security Council. We therefore urge the Council to insist that all parties uphold commitments that arise from Resolution 1244. This is our common legal imperative, and our moral obligation," said Jeremić.

Ahead of the session at UN HQ this Wednesday, Jeremić said that, at the session, he would be calling for an end to the pressure being exerted on states worldwide to recognize Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence.

More details from the foreign minister's address to the UN Security Council can be found here

UNMIK chief Lamberto Zannier also attended the meeting to, according to news agency reports, say that the UN mission's actions in the field are seen as something that could weaken both Belgrade and Priština's arguments in this process.

The UN mission has a useful role of mediator between the parties that are not ready to talk to each other, he said, and added that UNMIK's neutrality regarding the status enables the mission to encourage reconciliation and cooperation between Kosovo's communities.

UNMIK's reconfiguration has almost been finished, it was timely and needed, and it increased the efficiency of the mission in the field, Zannier said.

"UNMIK's role is different, but not less relevant", said its chief, and reminded that the draft 2009/2010 budget amounted to USD 47mn, employing 527 people.

The Priština-based Albanian language media said ahead of the meeting that Skender Hyseni, appointed as foreign minister by the Kosovo Albanian government, would also attend.