8 Feb 2012

UN / KOSOVO

Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Edmond Mulet said today that the situation in Kosovo remains fragile and “optimistic assumptions that a durable solution will simply evolve even without a clear vision from a more united engagement of the international community, are bellied by the dynamics on the ground.” UNTV

Posted at: February 8, 2012 3:42 pm

Duration: 02:38

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / KOSOVO 
SOURCE: UNTV
TRT: 2.38
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ RUSSIAN / NATS

DATELINE: 8 FEBRUARY 2012, NEW YORK CITY/ FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior UN building

8 FEBRUARY 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council 
3. Med shot, delegates
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Edmond Mulet, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations:     
"The attention of this Council is presently drawn to other urgent crises. However I would be remised should I not take the opportunity today to say that the state of affairs in Kosovo still carries a number of risks which could become more entrenched with each passing year. Optimistic assumptions that a durable solution will simply evolve even without a clear vision from a more united engagement of the international community are bellied by the dynamics on the ground." 
5. Med shot, delegates
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Vuk Jeremić, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia:     
"Close to four years ago today the provisional institutions of self-governance of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia. Our measured reaction to the blatant violation of our constitution ensured that the peace was kept. This was the first time in the history of the Balkans that a development of such gravity did not result in armed hostilities. However, a comprehensive settlement to the underlying dispute between the parties has not yet been found."
7. Med shot, delegates
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Enver Hoxhaj, Representative of Kosovo:     
"Kosovo's participation in regional and global institutions is vital for the stability, security and development of Kosovo, the Western Balkans and even Europe. Therefore I would like to invite all Member States of the United Nations to support our participation in regional and global fora, as Kosovo's inclusion would respect the rights and the needs of all of Kosovo's citizens in our State."
9. Med shot, delegates
10. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vitaly Churkin, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations:     
"Our position of not recognising Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence remains unchanged. Security Council resolution 1244 remains fully in force and binding as the international legal basis for a settlement in Kosovo. With regard to the Secretary-General's report on UNMIK's activities, I'd like to make the following comments. The current trends in the province in general terms are correct in the report, but are extremely toned down. It clearly distances itself from the situation with regard to the security of minorities and the persecution of Serbia's cultural and religious heritage as well as the situation of IDPs."
11. Med shot, delegates
12. Wide shot, Security Council 
      
STORYLINE:

The Security Council met today (8 February) to discuss Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's report on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) as well as all the relevant resolutions related to the situation in Kosovo.

The Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Edmond Mulet, told the meeting that the situation on the ground remains fragile and pointed out that although the attention of the Council "is presently drawn to other urgent crises"; the state of affairs in Kosovo "still carries a number of risks which could become more entrenched with each passing year."

Mulet said that "optimistic assumptions that a durable solution will simply evolve even without a clear vision from a more united engagement of the international community are bellied by the dynamics on the ground."

The report documents recent clashes in the northern part of Kosovo, but also highlights the resumption of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina in Brussels following a three-month hiatus as well as other modest advances.

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vuk Jeremić, reminded the Council of Serbia's "measured reaction" to Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence four years ago, which he said "ensured that the peace was kept."

He noted that "this was the first time in the history of the Balkans that a development of such gravity did not result in armed hostilities" but stressed that "a comprehensive settlement to the underlying dispute between the parties has not yet been found."

Enver Hoxhaj, speaking on behalf of Kosovo, said that its participation in regional and global institutions "is vital for the stability, security and development of Kosovo, the Western Balkans and even Europe."

He called on all Member States of the United Nations to support Kosovo's participation in regional and global fora, as its inclusion "would respect the rights and the needs of all of Kosovo's citizens in our State."

Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, remarked that Russia's position "of not recognising Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence remains unchanged" and said that Security Council resolution 1244 "remains fully in force and binding as the international legal basis for a settlement in Kosovo."

With regard to the Secretary-General's report, he said that "the current trends in the province in general terms are correct in the report, but are extremely toned down."

Churkin noted that the report "clearly distances itself from the situation with regard to the security of minorities and the persecution of Serbia's cultural and religious heritage as well as the situation of IDPs."

Resolution 1244 established UNMIK in 1999 and mandates it to help ensure conditions for a peaceful and normal life for all inhabitants of Kosovo and advance regional stability in the western Balkans.