UN / KOSOVO

STORY: UN / KOSOVO

TRT: 2.37

SOURCE: UNMIT

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / RUSSIAN / NATS

DATELINE: 10 MAY 2007 - NEW YORK CITY

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

2. Wide shot, Security Council meeting

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Johan C. Verbeke permanent Representative of Belgium and Head of the Security Council Mission to Kosovo:

"Kosovo Albanians and Kosovo Serbs still live to a large extent separately from each other. Full and lasting reconciliation with a view to the establishment of a truly multi-ethnic society will require a sustainable commitment by all stake holders."

4. Cutaway, delegates

5. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Ambassador Vitaly I. Churkin, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation:

"We once again assert opposition with regard to the fact the the United Nations Special Envoy, Mr. Ahtissari lan cannot provide a platform for a final solution from the Security Council on Kosovo. The adoption of an agreement on the basis of that report will not only provide a clear negative precedent for global practices, but is flawed with dangerous consequences for regional and international stability."

6. Wide shot, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations and security Council President for the month of May approaching journalists

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations and security Council President for the month of May:

" We are open to strengthening some parts particularly dealing with IDP's that Ambassador Churkin mentioned, the return of the IDP's; but we will see whether we can come to an agreement. I believe the votes are there for supporting the Ahtissari plan, assuming there is no Russian veto."

8. Cutaway, hands of journalist taking notes

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations and security Council President for the month of May:

"This is a European issue, the Europeans have come up with what they think is the best way to deal with this, they're willing to take responsibility."

10. Wide shot, Ambassador Vitaly I. Churkin approaching journalists

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Vitaly I. Churkin, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation:

"We need to know whether Resolution 1244 has been implemented and today in the course of the discussions I haven't heard a single speaker assert that the resolution on the standards have been fully implemented."

12. Cutaway, journalists

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Vitaly I. Churkin, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation:

"I don;t think the international community can be intimidated by any kind of threat of violence and in fact one statement I was encouraged to hear in Brussels from the Secretary-General of NATO, is that NATO is not going to allow violence and that violence should not be allowed to dictate the political process."

14. Wide shot, Ambassador Churklin leaves the journalists.

STORYLINE:

Although the overall security situation in Kosovo is calm, tension is palpable in the ethnic Albanian majority Serbian province that the United Nations has administered since 1999, according to a new report by on last month's Security Council fact-finding mission made public today.

The report, based on the mission's findings, noted that "while the Kosovo Albanian community is confident about the future, the Kosovo Serb community is apprehensive about its prospects for the future."

Although Kosovo, where Albanians outnumber Serbs and others by nine to one, remains divided between the two communities, the report said that there were encouraging signs, such as "the commitment to build a Kosovo for all its communities, conveyed by Kosovo's political leaders."

Just as divided are the positions of Serbia and Kosovo Serbs, on the one hand, and Kosovo Albanians and non-Serb communities, on the other, regarding the province's future.

While Belgrade and Serbs residing in Kosovo were adamantly against a solution that would lead to independence, the province's Albanians were optimistic that a solution would be reached soon.

In March, a report was issued by the Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the future status process Martti Ahtisaari, who said the only viable option for Kosovo was a phased process of independence.

The fact-finding mission's report also expressed concern at the very low numbers of internally displaced returning to their homes. Despite there being mechanisms in place for people to repatriate, many are discouraged by complex procedures, security concerns and limited economic prospects in the province where unemployment hovers near 60 per cent.

Last week, Mr. Verbeke briefed the Council on the mission's visit, which was undertaken based on a Russian proposal, to Pristina, Belgrade, Brussels and Vienna.