Statement by Philip Parham, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United Nations

Thank you Mr President.  I too would like to join other Security Council colleagues in welcoming the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Mr Lamberto Zannier, the Foreign Minister of Kosovo, Mr Skender Hyseni, and the Foreign Minister of Serbia, Mr Vuk Jeremić, to the Council Chamber today.  And I’d like also to welcome the Vice Federal Minister for European and International Affairs from Austria.

I would also like to express our thanks to the Secretary-General for his comprehensive report on developments in Kosovo over the reporting period, and to commend UNMIK’s continuing efforts to help improve stability in Kosovo.  We would also like to thank the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Mr Lamberto Zannier, for his leadership and hard work.

Mr President,

The Secretary-General’s report illustrates that Kosovo is continuing to make good progress in a number of areas:  rule of law, security and community reconciliation.  We acknowledge the contribution of the United Nations in achieving this progress.  It is also positive that 317 Kosovo Serb Police Officers have been reintegrated into the Kosovo Police Service and that the Kosovo Security Force has now reached Initial Operating Capability.  We commend the role that EULEX and KFOR have played in achieving this.

The United Kingdom welcomes the start of criminal proceedings against those involved in deliberate attempts to damage vehicles belonging to the international missions in Kosovo.  As the President of Kosovo has said, such attacks are unacceptable.  

Mr President,

It is important to note that a growing number of UN Member States - now 62 - have recognised Kosovo.  Kosovo has also become a member of the five World Bank Group institutions with the active support of over fifty further countries which, while not yet formally recognising Kosovo, have shown by their votes that they accept that the Republic of Kosovo is now a permanent fact on the international scene, and should be allowed to play its part independently in relevant international institutions.  Altogether, almost sixty per cent of the membership of the United Nations has now accepted the fact of Kosovo’s existence.  We hope that those who have not yet done so will soon follow their example.  

Mr President,

With UNMIK now having concluded its reconfiguration, more autonomy being given to Kosovo institutions and EULEX establishing a presence in all regions of Kosovo, UNMIK needs to ensure that it focuses on those areas where it can play a useful and relevant role.  Equally, it is correct that UNMIK’s resources should be commensurate with the size of its responsibilities.  We welcome UNMIK’s willingness to engage in a number of areas, such as assisting the Kosovo Property Agency, supporting Kosovo’s engagement with external organisations where necessary and promoting returns and reconciliation.  We also underline our full support for the valuable work that EULEX is carrying out throughout Kosovo.  

We call on the Government of Kosovo to continue to engage constructively and pragmatically with UNMIK for the benefit of all Kosovans.  Nothing in that cooperation diminishes Kosovo’s status.  

Mr President,

One of the key challenges facing Kosovo in coming months is to ensure the success of the local elections.  This will only be achieved by encouraging the participation of all of Kosovo’s communities.  Kosovan Serbs, and their friends in the international community, should recognise the practical benefits of decentralisation and local elections.  Whatever differences we have on status, we can surely agree that Kosovo Serbs need effective and legitimate locally-elected leadership.  Only through wide participation can there be viable local government which can secure funding for the benefit of its communities.  

The Government of Kosovo must reach out to all communities and ensure it does all it can to ensure Kosovan Serbs recognise the benefits that local representation will bring them.  

We also call on the Government of Serbia to continue to engage with the European Union to improve conditions for Kosovo Serbs.  We welcome recent progress on the ground, and look forward to further early steps on customs, justice and other issues.  We disagree with the Serbian Government’s view that conditions for successful local elections do not exist, and regret that the Serbian Government will not support them, but we welcome the repeated assurances given by representatives of the Government of Serbia that Belgrade will not seek to punish those Kosovo Serbs who do take part.  We believe that Kosovo’s Serb community would benefit from the rule of law and the opportunity to play a part in running their own communities.  

The proposed EU House in the North should enable the citizens of north Kosovo more easily to recognise the benefits that a European perspective can bring them, for example the European project funding, scholarship or business start-up opportunities and information about the European Union.

Mr President,

The United Kingdom remains committed to supporting the international community’s efforts to promote stability, reconciliation and economic progress in Kosovo so that it can advance towards an EU perspective in parallel with its neighbours.  

Thank you Mr President.

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