22 Mar 2013

UN / KOSOVO

A senior United Nations (UN) envoy warned today (22 March) that ongoing tensions and incidents on the ground must not be allowed to jeopardize the political talks between Serbia and Kosovo which have resulted in important positive developments and must be permitted to achieve their potential. UNTV

Posted at: March 22, 2013 4:34 pm

Duration: 03:32

Available in: SD

DOWNLOAD

Full script

STORY: UN / KOSOVO
TRT: 3.32
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / SERBIAN / ALBANIAN / NATS

DATELINE: 22 MARCH 2013, NEW YORK

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations Headquarters

22 MARCH 2013, NEW YORK

2. Wide shot, Security Council meeting
3. Cutaway, delegates
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Farid Zarif, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo:
"The political dialogue is now at a critical stage, and the parties are poised to make fundamental progress. Alongside this, stability on the ground remains fragile, and is likely to continue to remain so while these talks delve into topics which are, at once, the most sensitive and the most essential."
5. Cutaway, delegates
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Farid Zarif, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo:
"Incidents and tensions continue to occur on the ground, underscoring the need for energy and effort to be rededicated by all the international presences, alongside the negotiations. Simply, it is imperative that the inevitable problems and setbacks on the ground, however difficult they may be for those affected, are not permitted to undermine the atmosphere and the potential for progress in the vital political talks."
7. Cutaway, delegates
8. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Ivica Daèiæ, Prime Minister, Serbia:
"For a visible and sustainable development of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, a strong political will is of utmost importance, as well as the political courage and readiness of all the participants in the dialogue to compromise. Serbia is fully committed to the success of the dialogue; it is not ready, though, for humiliation and double standards. I do hope, however, that the dialogue in Brussels, with the support of the international community, will bring about just, lasting and sustainable solution and that we shall all turn to the future."
9. Cutaway, delegates
10. SOUNDBITE (Albanan) Hacim Thaci, Representative of kosovo:
"The consolidation of Kosovo's statehood is tangible. Kosovo is now recognized by more than half of the UN member states, and the geography of its recognition has proven to be an irreversible process. Many other countries are in the process of recognition of the statehood and independence and I can assure them that this is the most just decision they can make for Kosovo and its citizens."
11. Cutaway, delegates
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
"While the progress at the political level has been significant, the United States remains concerned about continuing security incidents, especially in the north. As the Secretary-General noted in his report, the overall number of recorded incidents affecting minority communities declined in 2012. Still, we are disturbed by the uptick of violent acts in recent months, much of which appears intended to harass and threaten those who are cooperating with Kosovo authorities to normalize relations. These acts represent a serious threat to peace and security. They must not be tolerated."
13. Cutaway, delegates
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Michael Tathan, Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations:
There is more work to do. It is crucial an agreement is reached on 2 April and that its implementation begins immediately. Serbia must do all it can to ensure agreements are communicated to and accepted by the local communities in northern Kosovo. And Kosovo must make greater efforts to show that it is working in support of the rights and culture of all its minority communities. The Secretary-General's most recent report indicates a reduction in 2012, compared to the previous year, in the overall number of recorded incidents affecting minority communities. We hope that trend will continue and indeed intensify. There is, of course, no room for complacency in this area."
15. Cutaway, delegates
16. Wide shot, Security Council

STORYLINE:

Addressing the Council the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Kosovo, Farid Zarif said that "the political dialogue is now at a critical stage, and the parties are poised to make fundamental progress."

Zarif added that "alongside this, stability on the ground remains fragile, and is likely to continue to remain so while these talks delve into topics which are, at once, the most sensitive and the most essential."

The head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) also reported that incidents and tensions continue to occur on the ground, underscoring the need for energy and effort to be rededicated by all the international presences, alongside negotiations.

He stated that "simply, it is imperative that the inevitable problems and setbacks on the ground, however difficult they may be for those affected, are not permitted to undermine the atmosphere and the potential for progress in the vital political talks."

Meanwhile, Serbia's Prime Minister Ivica Daèiæ noted that after years of conflicts and tensions in the Balkans, the region had yet to enter a new era of cooperation, confidence-building and dialogue. He added that "for a visible and sustainable development of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, a strong political will is of utmost importance, as well as the political courage and readiness of all the participants in the dialogue to compromise."

Serbia, he said, was "fully committed to the success of the dialogue."

And Kosovo's Representative, Hacim Thaci, stressed that "the consolidation of Kosovo's statehood is tangible". He said that Kosovo was now recognized by "more than half of the UN member states", and he added that "many other countries are in the process."

United States (US) Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo said that while progress at the political level had been "significant," her country remained concerned about continuing security incidents, "especially in the north".  She said that the US was disturbed "by the uptick of violent acts in recent months, much of which appears intended to harass and threaten those who are cooperating with Kosovo authorities to normalize relations."

British Ambassador Michael Tathan noted that there was "more work to do", and said that it was "crucial" that an agreement be reached on 2 April when a new set of talks between Serbia and Kosovo is supposed to take place.
 
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008, but Serbia does not recognize the declaration. Tensions between ethnic Serbs and ethnic Albanians have flared up over the years, particularly in the north of Kosovo – which has an ethnic Serbian majority, unlike the rest of Kosovo, where ethnic Albanians are the majority – sparking concerns from UN officials.

Belgrade and Pristina have been engaged in high-level talks on a range of practical matters, facilitated by the European Union, with the most recent round held earlier this week in Brussels, and the next one scheduled for 2 April.