Summary: April 13, 2004: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Richard Ryan, on behalf of the European Union, to the Security Council of the United Nations on the situation in Kosovo (New York)
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, Slovakia, and Slovenia, the candidate countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey and the EFTA countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, declare that they align themselves with this statement.
Mr. President,
The European Union is grateful for the opportunity today to consider the situation in Kosovo. The European Union has strongly condemned the recent ethnically motivated violence in Kosovo, the loss of life, the damage to property and the destruction of religious and cultural heritage, which is the common property of all Europeans. The EU has also strongly condemned the attacks on the troops of KFOR and on the personnel and sites of UNMIK.
The EU calls on all leaders, especially the Kosovo Albanian leadership, to take responsibility for the situation and to ensure that such acts and threats of violence are not repeated. Those responsible for the violence must be brought to justice.
Mr. President,
We call on the Provisional Institutions of Self Government to demonstrate their commitment to a multi-ethnic Kosovo. As an immediate step, we welcome their decision to allocate funds for reconstruction and urge them to take further responsibility for the urgent reconstruction of damaged property, including places of worship, to ensure the earliest possible return for internally displaced persons. We also stress the need for political leaders in Kosovo to work closely with UNMIK and KFOR to
ensure the physical security and the full protection of the rights of members of all communities in Kosovo.
Mr. President,
The recent events have been a serious setback for Kosovo and have endangered the progress made in recent years. The EU reaffirms its strong support for SRSG Holkeri, for UNMIK and for KFOR in their determined efforts to stabilise the situation and to ensure the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1244 and the policy of standards before status. These remain the foundation of the international community's commitment to Kosovo. The path ahead for Kosovo lies in the implementation of the
standards. In this regard, we take note of the presentation on 31 March of the "Kosovo Standards Implementation Plan" as a step forward in the standards process. We reiterate the EU's commitment to a stable future for a secure, democratic, prosperous and multi-ethnic Kosovo with its place in Europe.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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