STATEMENT BY CAROLINE ZIADEH, SPECIAL REREPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
SECURITY COUNCIL BRIEFING ON UNMIK
New York
08 FEBRUARY 2024
Let me start by thanking you, Madam President, for this opportunity to brief the Security Council on the latest unfolding developments in Kosovo.
Almost one year ago, two agreements were reached, in Brussels on 27 February and in Ohrid on 18 March, setting forth a pathway towards negotiations and mutual engagement. However, with disagreement on the sequencing of the implementation, progress was stalled. Subsequent developments — such as the by-elections in four municipalities in northern Kosovo, resulting in mayors elected by barely 3.47 per cent of eligible voters, the ensuing clashes around those municipality buildings on 29 May, which resulted in significant injuries to civilians and personnel of the Kosovo Force (KFOR), and the serious security incident in Banjska on 24 September, which led to fatalities and is still under investigation — were serious setbacks.
Despite some of the positive momentum that re-emerged at the end of last year — with progress achieved over vehicle license plates, the energy road map, customs documentation and the participation of Kosovo Serbs in the initiation of the referendum to recall the mayors — unilateral actions on issues that clearly fall within the political dialogue process and its governing agreements are cause for great concern. Regardless which side takes them and what justifications are provided, and in the absence of unambiguous public communications, such actions predictably exacerbate an environment of insecurity and mistrust.
Recently, on 27 December 2023, the Central Bank Board of Kosovo adopted a regulation and announced that, as of 1 February 2024, the only currency allowed for cash transactions in Kosovo would be the euro. Limited public explanation was offered, despite the fact that, since 1999, the dinar has served as the de facto primary currency for cash and commercial transactions in Kosovo-Serb majority areas. Tens of thousands of individuals are affected, as is the economy, which depends on their purchasing power. More specifically, the regulation interrupts payments to individuals employed by Serbian-funded institutions in Kosovo, certain agricultural and social welfare subsidies and pension recipients. Small and medium-scale businesses, health and education services, including childcare, will also be severely affected, as they also have long become accustomed to receiving funds from Serbia. That decision, particularly as it relates to the short notice of its entry into force and the affected individuals’ future access to basic economic and social services, has become a matter of concern for local communities and international interlocutors.
Subsequently in response to the obvious concerns that that has raised, the Kosovo authorities, on 6 February, announced a one-month transitional period for its implementation, together with a communications campaign. Yet not all concerns seem to have been a cash-transfer truck was denied entry into Kosovo on 7 February, while the issue of 4 million dinars confiscated by the Kosovo police on 3 February in the Pejë/Peć municipality still awaits judicial and administrative action.
As highlighted by many international partners, such issues fall under the Brussels agreements of 2013 and 2015, in which the association/community of Serb-majority municipalities was decided on.
I would like to reiterate that, regardless of their legality or justification, actions must take into consideration their impact on the affected population. Otherwise, such actions not only increase tensions, but also weaken the potential for lasting peace and security across all communities in Kosovo. In the spirit of conflict prevention, more should be done to win the hearts and minds of non-majority communities.
On 26 January and 2 February, Kosovo police conducted operations targeting facilities used by the Serbian non-majority community in the municipalities of Dragash/Dragaš, Pejë/Peć, Klinë/Klina and Istog/Istok, as well as a community health centre in Pristina. The Kosovo police announced that, in all four municipal locations, various documents were seized, buildings were sealed and staff members were taken into custody for questioning and later released. Furthermore, during an earlier police operation in Pejë/Peć on 2 January, a team of journalists from Radio Goraždevac, the only Kosovo-Serbian media outlet in that region, reported being stopped and searched despite having presented valid press credentials.
As Council members are aware, the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and our main partners place the highest importance on ensuring the freedoms of the media and expression at all times.
Neither the Central Bank of Kosovo’s new regulation nor the recent Kosovo police operations have contributed to de-escalation, as repeatedly called for by international interlocutors. In that regard, I cannot overstate the critical deterrent role that KFOR continues to play on the ground today.
In all my statements, including the most recent on 6 February, I have reaffirmed the importance of upholding the rule of law, free from political influence, and have also reiterated that all related actions must be anchored in the principles of human rights. I will continue to call on both Pristina and Belgrade to engage actively and in good faith in the European Union-facilitated dialogue as the venue for tackling the most sensitive policy issues that affect the communities. It is crucial that efforts towards negotiated and mutually accepted solutions do not falter. Continuous efforts to build greater mutual trust and respect are the only viable path to stability, prosperity and security.
History has repeatedly shown that just solutions do not emerge from unilateral actions, but rather from sustained and painstaking commitment to open communication and dialogue. We will continue our efforts to encourage all stakeholders to prioritize trust and building trust, not only at the grass-roots levels but at all levels, including between communities and institutions. Trust develops only in an atmosphere that fosters mutual respect, open communication, fairness and both the perception and the reality of equal treatment.
In conclusion, let us recall once again that the only acceptable path ahead is one that is grounded in dialogue and compromise, embraces human rights and ensures the equitable application of the rule of law. I can assure everyone that UNMIK remains committed to providing its good offices towards achieving that ultimate goal