EU Presidency Statement - The situation in Kosovo

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The acceding countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the associated countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, and the EFTA country, member of the European Economic Area, Iceland, declare that they align themselves with this statement.

Mr. President,

Since this is the first time that I am taking the floor under your Presidency, allow me to congratulate you on the assumption of your duties. I would also like to extend my congratulations to the previous President, the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic, for his excellent job.

Mr. President,

The European Union reiterates its strong condemnation of the brutal killings and violence that took place in Kosovo during the months of August and September, against a United Nations police officer and against Kosovars of both Serbian and Albanian ethnicity. In expressing our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and the Government of India, we are also confident that no efforts are being spared to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice. The European Union believes that everybody in Kosovo must understand that the time for violence is over and that such deplorable incidents can only undermine the image of Kosovo in Europe and in the international community.

We therefore welcome the arrival in Kosovo of the new Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Harri Holkeri, and would like to affirm our strong support for him in the challenging task of giving full implementation to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999), which continues to be the cornerstone of the international community's commitment to Kosovo.

We would also like to urge all concerned in Kosovo and in the region to cooperate in a constructive manner with the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General on fully implementing resolution 1244, while refraining from unilateral acts and statements that risk jeopardizing the goal of a stable, multiethnic and democratic Kosovo.

Mr. President,

The European Union fully supports the United Nations weapons amnesty programme launched on 1 September by Mr. Holkeri and shares his views that "the people of Kosovo should seize this opportunity to help themselves while helping Kosovo" and that "the values of tolerance and democracy are the foundation of a free society."

Kosovo must comply with international and European standards as soon as possible: this goal can only be achieved through the active cooperation of all the stakeholders in Kosovo and the region. We therefore urge the Belgrade and Pristina leaderships to launch without further delay a direct dialogue on practical issues of mutual interest, which is a prerequisite to the building of mutual confidence, as was announced at the European Union-Western Balkans Summit of Thessaloniki on 21 June.

The European Union will ensure that Kosovo's European prospects are not held back by the final status issue. Before addressing the issue, however, a democratic, multiethnic and multicultural Kosovo, guaranteeing full respect for the rule of law and for human and minority rights, will have to be built. To this end, the European Union reiterates its support, for the "standards before status" strategy, which now needs to become operational.

Mr. President,

The European Union is also firmly committed to supporting Kosovo's economic recovery and development, including the privatization process, as an indispensable measure for ensuring the normalization and development of society. At the same time we would like to see progress on decentralization and on the return process, where there is still an urgent need for concrete measures to be taken by the competent authorities both at the central and local levels.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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• EU Presidency Statement - Report on the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (6/2/2004)