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DE RUEHC #4780/01 0160312
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O 160310Z JAN 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0267
INFO SECURITY OFFICER COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 004780 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV UNSC
SUBJECT: KOSOVO - STATEMENT FOR JANUARY 16 UNSC 
CONSULTATIONS ON UNMIK REPORT 
 
 
¶1.  The Department requests USUN to draw on points in 
paragraph 2 during the January 16 UN Security Council 
consultations on the Secretary General's report on the 
work of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). 
 
¶2. Begin Points: 
 
-- Thank you, Mr. President.  I would like to thank 
Special Representative Joachim Ruecker for his 
presentation.  Mr. Ruecker and his team at UNMIK have done 
an extraordinary job in Kosovo under challenging political 
circumstances. 
 
-- While the Security Council has focused much attention 
on Kosovo's status, we must not lose sight of the work 
that remains to help Kosovo become a more secure, 
democratic, and well-governed society.   The United States 
is encouraged by the "steady progress in all substantive 
areas of standards implementation" outlined by the 
Secretary General in his recent report.  Nevertheless, we 
 
SIPDIS 
note that this progress is uneven and must be accelerated 
in key areas, such as the return of displaced persons. 
 
-- With that in mind, I would like to make six points. 
 
-- First, we congratulate the people of Kosovo for the 
successful conduct of the November parliamentary and 
municipal elections. 
 
 -- We strongly agree with the Secretary General's 
assessment that the free and fair conduct of elections 
that have taken place since the United Nations began to 
administer Kosovo in 1999 demonstrates the increasing 
maturity of Kosovo's new democratic institutions.  We also 
congratulate the new Kosovo government, represented here 
by Prime Minister Thaci, on their formation and for 
including Kosovo Serbs and minorities in ministerial 
positions. 
 
-- Second, I would like to reiterate what Ambassador 
Reucker has told the Council today and in delivering 
previous reports, that UNMIK has done virtually everything 
it can do in the absence of a final status determination. 
 
--  This Council designed UNMIK, Mr. President, to help 
Kosovo recover from the war that was waged against its 
civilians and to help build functioning democratic 
institutions.  UNMIK has largely accomplished this core 
mission.  As proof of this, we only need to look to Kosovo' 
s five rounds of free and fair elections, its ten fully 
functioning ministries, its legislative assembly, and its 
multi-ethnic police force that meets international 
standards.  Yet without clarity on status, Kosovo will be 
unable to take the next step in its democratic evolution. 
 
-- Third, we note with concern both that Belgrade called 
upon Kosovo Serbs to boycott the November elections and 
the well-documented incidents of intimidation and pressure 
against those Serbs who did want to participate. 
 
-- I would like to welcome President Tadic to the Council 
today.   I know that we differ on what needs to happen, 
but I look forward to working with Serbia to build a 
strong relationship.  I also want to take this opportunity 
to urge his government to lift its opposition to Serbs who 
want to participate in Kosovo's democratic institutions. 
There are Kosovo Serbs who want to work with the 
international community and the Government of Kosovo. 
Belgrade's actions and support of parallel governance for 
Kosovo Serbs will only lead to the further marginalization 
of this community. 
 
-- Fourth, we note with concern that Belgrade has recently 
opened an office of its government in northern Kosovo 
without UNMIK coordination or permission. 
 
-- This action was a challenge to UNMIK's authority 
pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1244.  It was also 
contrary to the pledge made by Belgrade not to engage in 
provocative acts. 
 
- Fifth, we join with the Secretary General in noting our 
concern that Kosovo's minorities are still subject to 
harassment, discrimination, and isolation. 
 
-- We believe the Security Council must continue to 
 
STATE 00004780  002 OF 002 
 
 
support efforts to protect and promote multi-ethnicity in 
Kosovo, to ensure that the rights of Kosovo's minorities 
are fully protected, and to support their full integration 
into Kosovo's social and political life. 
 
-- Sixth, we welcome that the Secretary General, in his 
report, expressed a willingness to continue to assist 
Kosovo on the path toward sustainable stability. 
 
-- Until the Security Council decides otherwise, 
resolution 1244 will remain in effect.  In this 
connection,  we note the European Union Council's 
readiness to play an enhanced role in Kosovo.  Because 
Europe is the region most affected by new instability in 
the Balkans, we applaud their willingness to assume 
greater responsibilities.  In particular, we welcome the 
incorporation of the standards implementation process into 
the broader and more challenging process of Kosovo's 
European integration. 
 
-- We also agree with the Secretary-General that the OSCE 
should continue to play an important role in Kosovo.  The 
OSCE's work -- including democratization, institution 
building, and human rights monitoring -- is aimed 
primarily at ensuring the rights of Kosovo's minorities. 
A cessation of OSCE activity in Kosovo would hinder 
international efforts to build sustainable multi-ethnic 
institutions at all levels of Kosovo's government.  We 
therefore call on the OSCE to continue its solid work. 
 
--  In conclusion, Mr. President,  the Secretary General's 
report underscores yet again that the lack of resolution 
on Kosovo's status is preventing Kosovo from fully 
developing its democracy and is preventing the further 
development of the region. 
 
-- Therefore, the United States believes that the time has 
come to resolve Kosovo's status.  We note that the 
recommendations of the Secretary-General's Special Envoy 
Martti Ahtisaari remain on the table.  They provide a 
blueprint for building not only a more secure, prosperous, 
and democratic Kosovo, but also the certainty and 
stability that will allow all the people of the Balkans to 
realize their natural aspirations of fully integrating 
into Europe.  We hope that in the coming weeks and months 
the international community will be able to work in 
harmony to help Kosovo continue to move forward. 
 
Thank you. 
 
End Points. 
RICE