Dacic to attend UNSC meeting on UN chief's Kosovo report

Dacic to attend UNSC meeting on UN chief's Kosovo report

The session will discuss the latest report of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the work of the UN mission in Kosovo, UNMIK, and the situation there over the previous three-month period.

The report is expected to be present by UNMIK chief Zahir Tanin.

In his address, Dacic will speak about the document and Belgrade's assessment of the current situation in Kosovo and Metohija, and the functioning of UNMIK, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Affairs of Serbia announced.

Ban's report expresses concern over the violence and inflammatory rhetoric which has been resorted to by the Kosovo opposition, stating that it contributed to the postponement of the implementation of some aspects of the agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, especially the agreement on the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities.

Ban also stated that he appreciated the commitments made by both Pristina and Belgrade to continue the high level dialogue meetings under European Union facilitation in the very near future.

The overall security situation in Kosovo remained generally stable during this period, despite the political violence during the protests, said the draft report published on the UN website.

Ban wrote that "continuing use of violence and inflammatory rhetoric by opposition parties, which disrupted the proceedings of the Assembly and exacerbated tensions in the streets of Kosovo, is of serious concern," and added: "Such actions are unacceptable; they have no place in a democratic society and can have only a negative impact on Kosovo."

"Demonstrating fundamental commitment to the rule of law in Kosovo likewise demands swift and determined action to fully establish and operationalize the Specialist Court. I note with appreciation the agreement of the government of the Netherlands, announced on January 15, to host this institution in The Hague," the report said.

"I expect all stakeholders to proceed expeditiously towards concluding the remaining steps, in line with the constitutional amendment and related legislation adopted by the Assembly of Kosovo in August 2015," Ban wrote.

The priorities of UNMIK remain advancement of security, stability and respect for human rights in Kosovo and the region, as well as the continuation of constructive cooperation with Pristina and Belgrade and all communities in Kosovo, according to the document.

The full report is available in a PDF file hosted on the un.org website

"Strengthened"

Serbia's position in Kosovo is now strengthened, Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said ahead of Monday's UN Security Council meeting on Kosovo, at which he will be representing Serbia.

With constructive actions, the Srpska list has contributed to a strengthening of the position of Kosovo Serbs, Dacic said.

"Our position is now strengthened since, amid the infighting, instability and demonstrations, the Srpska list acted very constructively, which was in our interest", he told Radio Belgrade before departing for New York.

He announced that he will point to all of the problems in Kosovo, primarily as regards stability and the failure to meet the obligations undertaken by the Kosovo authorities in the Brussels dialogue - in particular the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities - and all political problems affecting the Kosovo Serbs' position.