VZCZCXRO3700
OO RUEHBW RUEHTRO
DE RUEHC #1791/01 1121655
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 211644Z APR 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 1413
INFO UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE IMMEDIATE 0714
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN IMMEDIATE 3666
RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA IMMEDIATE 3948
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 3470
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 041791 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: UNSC PREL UNMIK KV
SUBJECT: KOSOVO - INSTRUCTIONS FOR APRIL 21 COUNCIL 
DISCUSSION ON UNMIK 
 
¶1. The Department requests that USUN draw on the following 
points during the April 21 UN Security Council Debate on 
the Secretary General's report on UNMIK activities.  The 
three essential points that should be made are: 
 
-- The Republic of Kosovo has made great progress in its 
first two months after independence -- in particular, it 
has already begun to implement key provisions of the 
Ahtisaari Plan and other measures to safeguard the rights 
of minorities. 
 
-- We encourage UNMIK to respond robustly to provocations 
and challenges to peace and security in Kosovo. 
 
-- We are concerned by Belgrade's recent provocative 
actions in Kosovo, including its decision to hold 
municipal elections in Kosovo and its ongoing pressure on 
Kosovo Serbs to reject cooperation with Kosovo's 
authorities. 
 
¶2.  Begin specific talking points: 
 
-- We would like to thank the Secretary General for his 
report and for the UN's efforts in Kosovo during this 
difficult period.  We also wish to thank the leadership of 
UNMIK, SRSG Ruecker and his deputy, for striving to ensure 
peace and security even when presented with extremely 
difficult challenges. 
 
-- Today I would like to make three points. 
 
--  First, the Republic of Kosovo has now been an 
independent state for two months and is making great 
progress.  Its independence marked the end of the long, 
difficult process of Yugoslavia's breakup, which created 
many threats to international peace and security in recent 
years. 
 
-- Even as the Council has remain divided, the 
democratically elected government of Kosovo -- supported 
by 36 nations who have recognized Kosovo, including seven 
on this Council -- is steadfastly 
working to implement the Ahtisaari plan and offer a 
brighter future to the country and the region. 
 
-- We particularly commend the European Union for its 
leadership on this issue. The EU -- the regional 
organization with the greatest stake in Kosovo's 
democratic development -- has admirably assumed its 
responsibilities in this troubled part of Europe.  The 
United States strongly supports the EU's efforts to 
promote economic and democratic development in Kosovo and 
will engage actively as part of the 15 country steering 
group to help Kosovo implement the provisions of the 
Ahtisaari proposal. 
 
-- In Kosovo itself, we are pleased to see the country's 
leaders showing political maturity during a challenging 
time.  Kosovo is following through on its commitments, 
expressed most articulately in its declaration of 
independence, to create a democratic, just, and 
multi-ethnic state. 
 
-- In particular, Kosovo's leadership has demonstrated a 
steadfast commitment to act responsibly and ensure 
extensive protections for its citizens.  The Kosovo 
Assembly has adopted a constitution that enshrines the 
provisions of the Ahtisaari plan and has passed 19 of the 
30 laws required to implement the plan, including laws to 
protect minority rights, decentralize authority to local 
governments, and safeguard cultural and religious 
heritage. 
 
-- We continue to urge the Government of Kosovo and UNMIK 
to reach out actively to the Serb community in Kosovo and 
offer a positive alternative to isolation and separatism. 
We urge the Kosovo Serb community to reciprocate by 
engaging with the Government of Kosovo and UNMIK in its 
own best interest.  We are pleased to see that Prime 
Minister Thaci has included three ministers from minority 
communities in his government, two of them from the Kosovo 
Serb community, and has established an office directly 
 
STATE 00041791  002 OF 002 
 
 
under him to reach out to minorities. 
 
-- On June 15th, Kosovo's new constitution will enter into 
force.  The International Civilian Representative, named 
by the steering group, has certified that it is compliant 
with the Ahtisaari plan and international experts have 
stated that this constitution meets the highest standards 
for democratic self-governance.  Its adoption will 
complete the work begun in 1999 under UN auspices to build 
new institutions of democracy in post-war Kosovo. 
 
-- Second, Kosovo continues to face great challenges, and 
UNMIK and KFOR must continue to respond robustly to 
provocations and challenges to peace and security in 
Kosovo.  Immediately after independence, we saw violent 
mobs attack United Nations customs stations on the border 
with Serbia.  One Serb minister regrettably referred to 
this violence as "legitimate."  Several weeks later, we 
saw major, well-organized violence directed against UN and 
KFOR personnel in northern Mitrovica. 
 
-- Above all, this Council must stand united in condemning 
all acts of violence and destruction of 
property and condemning those who seek to foment or 
organize violence from within or outside of Kosovo.  Those 
who disagree with Kosovo's declaration of independence 
have a right to do so peacefully, but we should not tolerate 
violent acts of any 
kind. 
 
-- Moreover, we must condemn in the strongest possible 
terms the attacks on UNMIK and KFOR personnel using 
fragmentation hand grenades and military assault weapons that 
led to injuries among UN peacekeepers and the tragic death of 
an Ukrainian police officer.  We offer our heartfelt 
condolences to the Ukrainian government and the officer's 
family.  We call on the Council and UN staff to support 
UNMIK and KFOR leadership in carrying out their mandate to take 
all necessary actions to preserve peace and stability in 
Kosovo and to prevent, deter, and respond to any further 
incidents of this type. 
 
-- Also, we all agree that resolution 1244 remains in 
effect and that per this resolution the United Nations 
retains certain responsibilities for all of Kosovo's 
territory.  UNMIK must continue to control Kosovo's 
borders and ensure the implementation of all border 
administrative functions, including customs, throughout 
Kosovo. 
 
-- Third, we are deeply concerned by Belgrade's recent 
provocative actions in Kosovo, including its decision to 
hold municipal elections in Kosovo on May 11, despite 
repeated statements from UNMIK that these elections are 
not consistent with Resolution 1244.  We understand that the 
government of Serbia has decided to go ahead with these 
elections, regardless of the UN's position. 
 
-- We are also concerned by Belgrade's actions to pressure 
Kosovo Serbs from cooperating with authorities in 
Pristina or from interacting with their Albanian 
neighbors.  Belgrade's position runs contrary to the 
principle of multi-ethnicity that the UN has sought to 
foster in Kosovo over the last nine years. 
 
-- With the entry into force of Kosovo's new constitution 
in June, the UN role in Kosovo will necessarily have to 
adapt, particularly as other international presences begin 
to assume their responsibilities in an independent 
Kosovo. 
 
-- In its declaration of independence, Kosovo expressed 
deep gratitude to the United Nations for the role it has 
played in helping Kosovo recover from war.  The Council 
should work to ensure that this positive UN legacy in 
Kosovo continues. 
 
End Points. 
RICE