UN
Security Council reiterates that Kosovo Standards Plan should be basis for
assessing provisional institutions of self-government; In Presidential
Statement, Council Also Strongly Urges' Provisional Institutions to Demonstrate
Full Commitment to Multi-Ethnic Kosovo
M2 PRESSWIRE - May 3, 2004
The Security Council this afternoon reiterated that the Kosovo Standards
Implementation Plan, as presented on 31 March in Pristina, Kosovo (Serbia and
Montenegro), should serve as a basis for the assessment of progress of the
Provisional Institutions of Self Government in meeting the standards.
In a statement read by Council President Gunter Pleuger (Germany), the Council
strongly urged the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government to demonstrate
their full and unconditional commitment to a multi-ethnic Kosovo, in particular,
with respect to the protection and promotion of the rights of members of the
minority communities, as well as human rights, equal security, freedom of
movement and sustainable returns for all inhabitants of Kosovo.
According to the "standards before status" policy, the Provisional Institutions
had to achieve certain standards, or benchmarks, before the final status of
Kosovo could be addressed. The eight standards to be met concern: functioning
democratic institutions; the rule of law; freedom of movement; returns and
reintegration; economy; property rights; dialogue with Belgrade; and the Kosovo
Protection Corps. A document, "Standards for Kosovo", was supported by the
Council in presidential statement S/PRST/2003/26 of 10 December 2003 (see Press
Release SC/7651).
In today's statement, the Council reiterated that progress by the Provisional
Institutions of Self-Government in meeting the standards would be assessed
periodically and that the advancement towards determination of the future status
of Kosovo was conditional on the positive outcome of a comprehensive review.
The Council stressed that it was essential to review the following two key
sections of the document: "sustainable returns and the rights of communities and
their members" and "freedom of movement". The Council called on the Provisional
Institutions to take urgent steps on those two standards in order to reach out
to the Serb and other communities who had suffered most in the large-scale
inter-ethnic violence of 17-20 March, that had resulted in many dead and wounded
and the destruction of personal property and Serbian Orthodox churches and
monasteries.
The Council strongly condemned those events and called on the Provisional
Institutions of Self-Government and all political leaders to take responsibility
in the current situation, and to ensure that such acts and threats of violence
are not repeated. It also asserted that there must be rapid steps taken by the
Provisional Institutions to fulfil their commitment to rebuild or provide
appropriate compensation for damaged or destroyed property; to rebuild holy
sites; and to facilitate the return of those displaced from their homes.
The meeting was called to order at 12: 21 p.m. and adjourned at 12: 33 p.m.
Presidential Statement
The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2004/13 reads, as follows:
"The Security Council notes that the presentation of the Kosovo Standards
Implementation Plan (KSIP) on 31 March 2004 in Pristina, Kosovo (Serbia and
Montenegro), is a step forward in the standards process. The Council reiterates
that the KSIP should serve as a basis for the assessment of progress of the
Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG) in meeting the standards. The
Council in this respect urges strongly the PISG to demonstrate their full and
unconditional commitment to a multi-ethnic Kosovo, in particular with respect to
the protection and promotion of rights of members of the minority communities,
as well as of human rights, equal security, freedom of movement and sustainable
returns for all inhabitants of Kosovo. The Council reiterates further that the
progress by the PISG in meeting the standards, which should be reflected
throughout Kosovo, will be assessed periodically and that the advancement
towards a process to determine future status of Kosovo in accordance with
resolution 1244 (1999) conditional on the positive outcome of a comprehensive
review.
"The Security Council reaffirms its strong support for the Standards before
Status' policy, that was devised for Kosovo, and endorsed by this Council in
application of its resolution 1244 (1999). It recalls in this context the
document Standards for Kosovo', presented on 10 December 2003 and subsequently
supported by the Council in the statement of its President of 12 December 2003,
which outlined the standards that are to be achieved in order to reach the goal
of establishing in Kosovo a multi-ethnic, stable and democratic society.
"The Security Council stresses that it is essential, as indicated in the KSIP,
to review and revise in a timely manner two key sections of the document,
namely, on sustainable returns and the rights of communities and their members'
and on freedom of movement'. The Council calls on the PISG to take urgent steps
on these two standards in order to rebuild and reach out to the Serb and other
communities who suffered most in the large-scale inter-ethnic violence of 17-20
March 2004 that resulted in many dead and wounded and the destruction of
personal property and Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries in Kosovo.
"The Security Council, strongly condemning those events, emphasizes that no
party can be allowed to profit or to advance a political agenda through violent
measures. It calls on the PISG and all political leaders to take responsibility
in the current situation and to ensure that such acts and threats of violence
are not repeated. The Council underscores that immediate actions should be taken
aimed at the establishment of and public respect for the rule of law, including
prosecution of perpetrators, effective collection of illegal weapons and
combating organized crime. The Council urges the PISG to take concrete steps to
fulfil their commitment to rebuild multi-ethnicity and reconciliation throughout
Kosovo, as promised in the open letter of Institutional and Political Leaders of
2 April 2004. The Council asserts further that in addition there must be rapid
steps taken by the PISG to fulfil their commitment to rebuild or provide
appropriate compensation for damaged or destroyed property and to rebuild holy
sites and to facilitate the return of those displaced from their homes.
"When assessing the progress made by the PISG, the Security Council would pay
particular attention to the adoption and the implementation of laws and
regulations, policies and attitudes of the PISG, amongst others, in the
following areas: the fight against discrimination, corruption and economic
crimes, propagation of hate by the media, as well as the support for
multi-ethnicity and reconciliation, genuine devolution, orderly and sustainable
returns, effective functioning of the Assembly and of the political parties,
disciplinary procedures for the civil service, building up of a professional,
politically neutral and multi-ethnic administration, at central and local
levels, with a view to provide public services to every community on an equal
footing, efficient strategy for the return of refugees and Internally displaced
persons in safe conditions, a constructive engagement with UNMIK, and a full
participation in the direct dialogue with Belgrade.
"The Security Council underlines the importance that the Special Representative
of the Secretary-General, within his authority as set out in resolution 1244
(1999), inter alia, in the context of the review mechanism, continue to consult
closely with interested parties, in particular the Contact Group. The Council
reaffirms its intention to continue to consider the regular reports of the
Secretary-General, including an assessment from the Special Representative of
the Secretary-General, as to the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government's
progress towards meeting the standards. The Council takes note that the Contact
Group intends to make a substantive contribution to the regular reviews and to
submit its assessments to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General.
"The Security Council requests the Secretary-General in his next report to the
Council to include a comprehensive assessment of the violence of 17-20 March
2004.
"The Security Council requests also the Secretary-General to present
recommendations on possible new institutional arrangements respectful of the
objective of building a democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo to allow more
effective local government through devolution of central non-reserved
responsibilities to local authorities and communities in Kosovo, taking into
account relevant studies and recommendations of interested parties and
international organisations. How that local government is organized is a matter
for further discussion between interested parties in Kosovo.
"The Security Council welcomes the strong measures by the international presence
in Kosovo aimed at enhancing the security and protection of all communities, as
well as their religious, historical and cultural sites, with the goal of
ensuring lasting stability in Kosovo. It calls in this respect for the full
cooperation of the PISG and all concerned.
"The Security Council will continue to follow the matter closely."
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