U.S. REPRESENTATIVE MAKES REMARKS AT UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING ON UNMIK

FROM:   U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT 

U.S. Mission to the United Nations: Remarks at the UN Security Council Meeting Debate on UNMIK
12/04/2014 05:45 PM EST

Ambassador David Pressman
Alternate Representative to the UN for Special Political Affairs 
New York, NY
December 4, 2014

AS DELIVERED

Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you Special Representative Zarif for your briefing. We welcome Prime Minister ThaÒ«i and Prime Minister VuÄiÄ to the Council and thank them for their statements.

Mr. President, the EU-facilitated Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue and implementation of the April 2013 agreement to normalize relations continue to be critical elements for building a strong, inclusive, and integrated democracy in Kosovo. We are eager to see high-level meetings resume and expeditious progress continue toward full implementation of the Brussels agreement, including the full functioning of all of Kosovo’s municipalities in accordance with Kosovo law.

In this regard, the United States welcomes recent progress by Kosovo political leaders to overcome the political impasse that has prevented the formation of a Kosovo government following the June elections. We call on Kosovo’s political party leaders to move lawfully and quickly to constitute the Assembly and form the government in a manner fully in line with Kosovo’s constitution, laws and rulings by its constitutional court. As the Secretary-General observed in his report, there are many pressing issues affecting the future of all people living in Kosovo, and there are opportunities to continue the historic process of normalization with Belgrade and reconcile with the past.

Sustaining momentum in the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and full implementation of all agreements reached to date remain integral to the welfare of the people of Kosovo, to both Kosovo and Serbia’s progress on their respective paths toward European integration, and to a stable, peaceful, and prosperous region. To this end, we will continue to back the intensive engagement of the EU and the EU High Representative in advancing the Dialogue.

While progress at the political level has paused while awaiting Kosovo government formation, progress does continue to be made on the technical level, including important agreements on integrated border management, freedom of movement, energy, and reciprocal recognition of vehicle insurance that will allow citizens of both countries to travel easily across the borders. We welcome the cooperation between the international and local authorities that helped facilitate visits by Serb pilgrims to Kosovo for religious holidays in November.

The United States condemns those that seek to oppose the work of building inclusive democracy in Kosovo by committing acts of violence or intimidation, or sowing tension, mistrust and fear between the communities. Threats against returnees and their property, the deplorable acts of vandalism at DeÄani monastery on October 11th and 12th, and the incendiary rhetoric that surrounded the suspension of the soccer match in Belgrade between Serbia and Albania are all grounds for concern. These incidents demonstrate the need to intensify outreach, redouble efforts to promote dialogue and understanding, and further strengthen security where it is needed.

KFOR and EULEX continue to exercise indispensable roles, in cooperation with Kosovo authorities, in ensuring security and strengthening the rule of law throughout the country. Their work has also been instrumental in ensuring an environment conducive to advancing the implementation of the dialogue agreements between Kosovo and Serbia. KFOR support for security and its presence as a third responder in Mitrovica following the Serbia-Albania soccer game help prevent tensions from escalating into violence. EULEX personnel remain essential in mentoring and training Kosovo’s judicial and police personnel and their work continues to facilitate the identification and repatriation of remains from previous conflicts as we witnessed in September and in October. Colleagues have raised recent allegations against certain EULEX officials. These allegations should be the subject of a full and transparent investigation. Nonetheless, inflammatory language directed against EULEX and the lack of full cooperation in certain law enforcement matters are unacceptable. We continue to support EULEX's important rule of law mission in Kosovo.

Finally, Mr. President, the United States notes and welcomes Kosovo’s growing involvement in the regional cooperation fora, and commends the October 10 decision of the Multinational Advisory Group of RACVIAC Centre for Security Cooperation in South East Europe inviting Kosovo’s full participation in the organization. Increased dialogue among the countries of the region is vital to addressing shared concerns, such as the threat of foreign terrorist fighters. We call upon the countries in the region to work together to ensure effective preventative and response mechanisms are in place to counter extremist individuals and violent extremist ideas. In connection with these efforts, the United States commends the work of Kosovo and Serbia law enforcement agencies in response to the threat of foreign terrorist fighters. These are important lines of effort of the counter-ISIL coalition, of which we thank both Kosovo and Serbia for being members.

Thank you very much.