Thank you Mr. President,
I am honored to address the Security Council for the very first time since the proclamation of Kosovo as an Independent and Sovereign Nation. The Security Council has played an important role in all of the phases of the disintegration of Yugoslavia. I am therefore pleased and honored to inform you on the progress made recently in my country and the challenges awaiting us.
As you know, on 17 February, the elected Members of Kosova Parliament have proclaimed Kosova an independent state following the recommendations of the Special UN Representative for Kosovo, President Marti Ahtisaari. Although only eight weeks have passed since the proclamation of independence, a considerable number of UN member countries have recognized Kosova as independent and have offered their support in building Kosovo as a stable, multiethnic and democratic country. In particular we are pleased with the fact that 2/3 of the EU member countries and 3/4 of the NATO member countries have recognized our new state.
However, the independence itself did not resolve all of the numerous and serious problems that my country faces. As you know, Kosova is a poor country, and the economic investment and development are much needed there. Kosova and its institutions have a long way to go in order to ensue rights for all of the citizens, in particular the ethnic minority which did not support the independence of the country.
Fortunately, Kosova has a serious plan, through which we plan to deal with the following critical challenges: President Ahtisaari’s comprehensive plan. President Ahtisaari’s recommendations include diverse measures, through which the rights, the culture and the identities of the minorities are preserved. In brief, it is a good basis to build a society which is more just. Through the Declaration of Independence we have pledged to implement this plan in full.
Within a few weeks of functioning as an independent country, the Kosovar institutions have undertaken serious steps to implementing the provisions emerging from President Ahtisaari’s Plan. For example, the Kosova Assembly has approved 19 laws emerging from the comprehensive agreement for the status, which regulate important fields such as the cultural heritage, decentralization, minorities protection etc. We are seriously working in drafting 11 remaining laws, which emerge from President Ahtisaari’s Plan.
Kosova now has its new Constitution. Our Constitution, which is a product of an intensive cooperation with our citizens, and the extraordinary help of international experts, is in full agreement, and I can say this freely, with the highest European standards. We have ensured that every provision of Ahtisaari’s Plan be guaranteed with the Constitution. The Constitution will enter into force on 15 June, and as such it will be the most important document through which the citizens of Kosovo express their will to establishing a strong, functional and democratic country.
We are well aware that the implementation of the Ahtisaari Plan doe not only mean approving laws. Kosovo Government is prepared to take sincere measures for the Ahtisaari Plan to become a reality on the ground, and we are convinced that though fully implementing this project we will be improving the quality of citizens’ lives. We have already made serious plans for the creation of protected zones around the Serb Orthodox Sites. We are also sincerely committed to decentralizing the governance, in order to empower the minorities at the local level.
In order to fully abide to the spirit of President Ahtisaari’s Plan, it is necessary to reach an agreement between our people. To push this process forward, I have already opened a special office in my cabinet, which deals exclusively with community rights. The Government has allocated extra means in order to support the special projects destined for the minorities. Also, I would like to emphasize that my Government is multiethnic. In my Government three of the Ministers and several Deputy Ministers are representatives of the minority communities.
Also, in agreement with President Ahtisaari’s Plan, we are assuming our responsibilities with regards to the international presence as well. Kosova has even officially called and welcomed the establishment of the International Civilian Representative Office, which will monitor the implementation of the President Ahtisaari’s Plan, and we have welcomed the arrival of the EU mission in the field of law and order, which I believe is a mission which will help us in building and advancing the police and justice sectors. We will continue to offer our full cooperation for the international presence in Kosova.
Yet, Kosovo’s independence was not welcomed by all. In particular, as we all know, our neighboring country Serbia has strongly opposed the Independence of Kosova. I would like to confirm before you the readiness and the willingness to establish good neighborly relations with Serbia. Our states have an urgent need to cooperate in many domains of mutual interest.
It is regrettable that Belgrade continues to encourage the Serbs living in Kosovo to refuse every form of cooperation with the Kosovar institutions. Serbia was the one to instruct the Kosovar Serbs to withdraw from the local Government and put an end to their participation in the Kosova Police Service. Through such political activity they aspire the institutional division of our country along ethnic lines. In fact these political activities only undermine and isolate the Kosovar Serbs, many of whom want to cohabitate with their Albanian neighbors. Regardless of the separate and different stances that you, honored Ambassadors might have regarding the independence of my country, I am certain that each one of you agrees with our aim of having citizens of different ethnicities living together and working in democratic institutions.
Finally, I want to express my and my people’s gratitude for the persistent work which the UN has done in Kosova. For the assistance provided in restarting after the war, with erecting and establishing democratic institutions. In nine years, the UN has administered Kosovo, although gradually it has transferred to the Kosovar institutions most of the competencies in governing. We believe that the UN will continue to play a role in Kosovo even after the 15 June, when the new Constitution enters into force. The relations with the UN will be reshaped with the reshaping of the realities on the ground. We as a Government expect to have fruitful cooperation with the UN, adapting to the new circumstances.
The destruction of Yugoslavia has created many challenges for the Security Council and the international community in general. This process in now finally closed with the independence of my country. While we are concluding a sad chapter in the history of a region of turmoil, I believe we will work together so that the history of UN indolent and commitments in Kosovo be a success story. Together we can ensure that the UN heritage in my country be that of peace, security and democracy.
Last modified: July 28, 2022