Summary: March 16, 2001: Security Council Meeting on resolutions 1160, 1199, 1203 and 1244. Statement by Ambassador Pierre Schori, Permanent Representative of Sweden on behalf of the European Union (New York)
Mr President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Central and Eastern European Countries associated with the European Union, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the associated countries Cyprus and Malta as well as the EFTA country member of the EEA of Iceland align themselves with this statement.
The European Union welcomes the visit of UN Special Representative of the Secretary General, Hans Haekkerup. We thank him for his most informative presentation on the challenges which lie ahead in Kosovo. The EU also expresses its appreciation for the dedication and commitment of the Commander of KFOR, General Carlo Cabigiosu, who decided not to leave Kosovo in light of the present security situation in the area.
The EU fully supports the SRSG's efforts to ensure full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244. The EU believes the approach taken by the SRSG is the way forward to address the remaining tasks in Kosovo. We underline our firm commitment to a democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo.
The latest report of the Secretary General on Kosovo confirms that the number of ethnically motivated crimes, mainly against Serbs and Romas, remains alarmingly high. The EU vigorously condemns the use of violence and extremism and any act which make the
co-existence of communities more difficult, such as the recent attack on a police-station and the burning of private homes in northern Mitrovica, and calls on all leaders with political and moral authority to distance themselves from such acts. The EU urges political leaders and local communities to increase their efforts to build confidence through constructive dialogue in good faith, and to make progress on issues of common interest. In this context the EU highly appreciates the central role
played by KFOR and UNMIK in assuring security and public order in the province, and its efforts to build a safe environment for all the people and communities of Kosovo. The EU is ready to continue its support, including through UNMIK, to the defusing of tensions through projects supporting all ethnic groups and minorities and promoting long-term economic development and enhanced security.
The EU supports UNMIK's efforts to increase the dialogue and co-operation with relevant institutions of the FRY. We welcome the recent steps towards opening an UNMIK liaison office in Belgrade and hope that such an office will be inaugurated soon.
The EU welcomes the recent adoption of an Amnesty Law by the FRY Parliament and the steps taken to implement this law. We reiterate our call on FRY and Serbian authorities to find the appropriate legal channels to release all remaining political prisoners. Such measures would constitute a significant contribution towards the beginning of a dialogue between representatives of Kosovo and Belgrade.
Mr. President,
The EU fully supports the initiative to develop a legal framework for provisional institutions for self-government, including adequate safeguards for minority rights, as the next step. The establishment of a legal framework, and in particular the definition of the functions and the powers of the elected bodies, is essential to ensure successful Kosovo-wide elections in conformity with UNSCR 1244. The EU recognizes the importance of keeping all parties, including FRY/Serb authorities, informed
of the development of this process. A certain additional number of steps should be taken before the elections take place. There is a need to develop the electoral system further, including through an updated and integrated civil and voter registry which would include refugees, internally displaced persons and members of minority groups who did not register for last year's local elections, so as to ensure that the elections truly represent the will of the population of Kosovo. The EU stresses
the importance of a high security environment for the voting. The EU also wishes to underline the need for further progress in the implementation of the results of local elections.
The EU expects all ethnic groups to participate constructively in the development of the legal framework and in the preparations for Kosovo-wide elections. In this regard, the EU regrets the recent withdrawal of the Serb representative in the Working Group on the Legal Framework. The EU calls on FRY/Serb authorities to support this important stage of the implementation of UNSCR 1244 and encourages Belgrade to exert its influence to ensure the adequate involvement of Kosovo Serbs in this
process, in particular through the resumption of the participation of a qualified representative of the Kosovo Serb community in the Working Group on the Legal Framework.
Mr. President,
The EU remains concerned at the level of violence in south-east Serbia. The EU welcomes the recent signature of the cease-fire by Serb and Albanian representatives, which constitutes an important step towards security and stability for the region. The EU stresses the need for the parties to abide strictly to the agreements. As a next step, the EU invites the parties to begin direct negotiations as soon as possible and to put in place further necessary confidence building measures to ensure the
easing of tensions in the area. The EU welcomes the agreement reached between NATO and the FRY on the reduction of the Ground Safety Zone. The EU will continue to extend concrete support to efforts towards a peaceful solution of the conflict. The EU wishes to underline the importance of an increased presence of EUMM monitors in the area as a useful contribution in this respect and has today decided to make availaible a substantial additional number of monitors on the ground in the next few
days.
Mr. President,
The EU is deeply alarmed by the recent clashes between Albanian extremists and the armed forces of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia near the city of Tetovo and recent reports of acts of violence in other parts of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The EU strongly condemns the rising number of incidents in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and calls on all involved in Kosovo, Southern Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia with political authority to
distance themselves clearly and publicly from and to isolate the forces behind these attacks and to shoulder their responsibility for peace and stability in the region.
The EU supports the government's policy of maintaining the appropriate level of restraint, in preserving the political stability of the country and underlines the importance of a constructive dialogue between leaders of all ethnic groups for stability, pluralism and political and social integration.
The EU reiterates its strong attachment to the principle of inviolability of all borders in region,
and to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Recalling the importance of integrated border management, the EU stands ready to support efforts by the countries in the region. A peaceful and stable former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - within internationally recognized borders - is a key factor for the stability in the region.
Mr. President,
We note the importance of developments in and around Kosovo for the stability in the region, as has been highlighted by the presentation and the interventions we have listened to today. In such a broader context, and in line with the Zagreb summit of last November between the Heads of State and Government of the European Union and of the Western Balkan States, the EU reiterates its strong support for the forces of integration and co-operation in the region and notes the constructive spirit
inspiring the Heads of State and Government of the South-East European countries as shown in the declaration of the recent SEECP Summit in Skopje.
I thank you, Mr President.
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