Kosovo: Talks between Belgrade and Pristina are ‘essential’ to peace, UN envoy tells Security Council

image_pdfimage_print

27 February 2017 – There is no alternative to dialogue, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Kosovo today told the Security Council, citing the importance of high-level talks between Belgrade and Pristina, and calling for continued international engagement to maintain peace and stability in Kosovo and the wider Balkans region.

Addressing the Council, Zahir Tanin, the head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) said the resumption of high-level dialogue between Belgrade, and Pristina was an &#8220essential step&#8221 to chart a path out of a deteriorating situation and to publicly reconfirm their commitment to work together.

&#8220Stability in Kosovo, normalization of relations between Pristina and Belgrade, are part of the wider effort to improve stability in the Western Balkans,&#8221 said Mr. Tanin, who is also the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Kosovo.

He urged the 15 Council’s members to &#8220hold leaders to their words&#8221 to maintain &#8220a sincere and consistent&#8221 commitment to dialogue, implement the agreements reached and avoid making statements which threaten the potential of progress to be made.

Mr. Tanin also highlighted also the international expectations of Pristina and Belgrade: non-confrontation, resolving issues through dialogue, and placing the objective improvement of the lives of people ahead of more limited and parochial calculations.

The statement comes as Belgrade is engaged in a political campaign for the presidential elections scheduled for April.

The senior UN official warned against allowing electoral politics to disrupt vital processes and progress: &#8220Normalization of relations, reconciliation, and justice all belong to that broader horizon.&#8221

Among other issues in his presentation to the Council, Mr. Tanin noted the importance of improving the social and economic situation in Kosovo. He underlined that &#8220addressing unemployment, making progress in the rule of law and fighting corruption remain central for all people in Kosovo.&#8221

At the very start of his speech, Mr. Tanin expressed his profound sadness at the passing of Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, the Representative of Russia to the United Nations, who died suddenly last week.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.