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DE RUEHC #9953 2061928
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O 241923Z JUL 08
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TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0000
INFO UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
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UNCLAS STATE 079953 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: UNSC PREL UNMIK KO
SUBJECT: KOSOVO - GUIDANCE FOR JULY 25 UNSC DEBATE ON UNMIK 
 
¶1.  The Department requests that USUN draw on the following 
points during the UN Security Council discussion on the UN 
Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), scheduled to take place on Friday, 
July 25. 
 
¶2. Begin Points: 
 
Mr. President: 
 
We welcome the Secretary General,s quarterly report on 
UNMIK.  UNMIK has accomplished a great deal in Kosovo during 
this period under very difficult circumstances, and I would 
like to take this opportunity to thank former SRSG Reucker 
and his deputy Larry Rossin for their hard work and 
significant achievements during their tenure.  I would like 
to formally welcome the appointment of Mr. Lamberto Zannier 
as the Secretary General,s new Special Representative in 
Kosovo.  Mr. Zannier is well qualified to assume this role 
and the United States is confident in his ability to 
consolidate UNMIK,s considerable achievements in preserving 
peace and stability in Kosovo.  He and his staff have the 
support of the United States as they work to implement the 
Secretary General,s plans to reconfigure UNMIK. 
 
I welcome Foreign Minister Hyseni to the Council and 
congratulate him on his historic appointment as Kosovo's 
first Foreign Minister and on the progress his government is 
making as it charts its new independent course. 
 
I also welcome Foreign Minister Jeremic here today and 
congratulate Serbia on demonstrating its commitment to rule 
of law through the arrest of Radovan Karadzic.  The new 
Serbian government is making commendable efforts to improve 
relations with the EU and we encourage Serbia to further 
illustrate these pro-democracy gestures by engaging 
constructively with the EU on Kosovo. 
 
Today, I would like to make three points. 
 
First, this is a time of great promise for all the people of 
Kosovo.  The July 11 donors conference in Brussels exceeded 
expectations with pledges totaling 1.9 billion dollars.  The 
Conference underscored the commitment of key members of the 
international community to help foster economic growth, 
support regional stability, and encourage prosperity for all 
the people of Kosovo.  I am pleased to note that, since 
Kosovo's declaration of independence on February 17, a 
constitution and 41 laws have been passed with strong 
commitments to protection of minority community rights as 
well as religious and cultural heritage in line with the 
recommendations of former UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari. 
Furthermore, three minorities including two ethnic Serbs 
continue to serve as ministers in Kosovo,s government; 
ethnic Serbs are active in several of Kosovo,s local and 
central government institutions; 43 countries have recognized 
Kosovo,s independence; and Kosovo has applied for membership 
in the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.  The 
government of Kosovo and the vast majority of Kosovo,s 
citizens -- from all ethnic groups -- have shown goodwill and 
restraint, despite continued provocations by hardline 
opponents of Kosovo,s independence.   The progress and 
stability in Kosovo has been laudable and should be commended 
by all members of the Council. 
 
Second, despite this progress, we share the Secretary 
General,s concern regarding the continuing lack of control 
on the Serbia-Kosovo border.  Smuggling remains rampant, and 
the threat of violence from hardliners remains worrisome.  We 
call on Serbia to end its manipulation of ethnic-Serb police 
officers in Kosovo and to support all authorities in their 
efforts to restore legitimate customs and other normal border 
functions. 
 
The threat of violence against those who would seek to 
re-impose order on the border is part of a larger pattern of 
ongoing provocations that must cease.  I draw your attention 
to a few examples. 
 
-- Tragically, a UN policeman was killed when the UN and KFOR 
responded to March 17 violence by Serb assailants and Serbian 
Ministry of Interior personnel. 
 
-- Despite UNMIK's declaration that May 11 Serbian local 
elections contradicted UNSC 1244 and their results in Kosovo 
were invalid, Serbian authorities have supported individuals 
that have no legal standing, creating conflict with the 
legitimate local authorities appointed by UNMIK and recently 
recognized by the Government of Kosovo. 
 
-- And, as we have noted on several occasions, we deplore 
ongoing efforts by hardliners using financial levers and 
physical intimidation to coerce ethnic Kosovo Serbs not to 
participate in Kosovo institutions. 
 
We call on the new government in Belgrade to halt the 
destabilizing policies of the past and to support legitimate 
efforts at building reconciliation and stability. 
 
We also share the Secretary General,s concern about the 
property dispute at the Decan Monastery.  This issue 
highlights an important principle as the Government of Kosovo 
and the international community work to ensure that minority 
cultural and religious rights are respected within 
independent Kosovo, as stipulated in the Ahtisaari plan.  We 
continue to insist that the Government of Kosovo and 
municipal authorities must respect UNMIK Executive Directives 
issued prior to June 15.   The SRSG,s letter to Bishop 
Teodosijie and the Mayor of Decani is a step in the right 
direction.  Looking ahead, the International Civilian 
Representative will exercise oversight to ensure that the 
Government of Kosovo meets its obligations to protect the 
rights of minority communities and their cultural and 
religious heritage. 
 
Third, as this Council has remained deadlocked and unable to 
provide guidance to the Secretary General regarding UNMIK,s 
future, we welcome and fully support the Secretary General,s 
announced decision to reconfigure UNMIK in light of new 
realities on the ground in Kosovo, particularly as Kosovo's 
new constitution has come into force.  This decision by the 
Secretary General is completely in line with his existing 
authorities under resolution 1244.  We look forward to quick 
progress on UNMIK,s reconfiguration and its carrying out of 
the residual functions as the Secretary General has 
previously outlined.  As we have consistently held since a 
broad international coalition moved to implement the plan of 
former Special Envoy Ahtisaari, UNMIK must adapt to the new 
reality of Kosovo,s independence and the establishment of 
the International Civilian Office and the EU,s Rule of Law 
Mission, EULEX. 
 
Specifically, we welcome and fully support the decision by 
the Secretary-General to authorize transfer of 
responsibilities regarding rule-of-law from UNMIK to EULEX. 
EULEX will play a critical role in supporting the development 
and enforcement of rule of law throughout Kosovo.  It is for 
that reason that the United States will contribute police and 
judicial personnel to the EU-led mission.  We look forward to 
EULEX's early deployment throughout Kosovo and encourage the 
UN and the EU to conclude technical negotiations that would 
allow for full EULEX deployment as soon as possible.  All 
parties must recognize that the deployment of EULEX 
throughout Kosovo will help ensure stability for all 
ethnicities in Kosovo. 
 
This Council can still contribute to the preservation of 
UNMIK,s tremendous legacy of having preserved peace and 
stability in Kosovo since its establishment in 1999.  We call 
on all Council members to support the Secretary General as he 
exercises his authority under resolution 1244 to guide UNMIK 
as it makes a key transition in Kosovo.  We also ask that 
Council Members support the members of the International 
Steering Group and the EU as they work to take on the 
responsibility of international supervision of Kosovo, and by 
extension the preservation of UNMIK,s positive legacy. 
 
End Points. 
RICE