Security Council meeting. UN Special Representative for Kosovo: Parties seek dialogue and peaceful relations, but situation on the ground remains unstable Peace and Security
Following meetings with officials in Belgrade and Pristina, as well as with local political and civil society actors and international partners in recent months, UN Mission in Kosovo Head Caroline Ziade noted the parties’ desire for constructive dialogue and peaceful relations, although the situation on the ground remains unstable. She said this at a Security Council meeting on Wednesday.
“During my last visit to northern Kosovo in September, civil society organizations, political actors and local residents expressed serious concerns about the negative impact of recent unilateral actions on their economic, social and political rights,” Ziade said.
In particular, the recent closures of Serbia Post offices and municipal institutions run by the Serbian government have limited the Kosovo Serb community’s access to basic services. This has compounded the difficult situation resulting from the effects of earlier measures, such as the regulation of the Serbian dinar and the closure of branches of the Serbian savings bank, Postanska Stedionica.
Representatives of the Kosovo Serb community are also concerned that the Pristina authorities may seek to establish control over Serbian-funded educational and health facilities.
The Head of Mission, who is also the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Kosovo, spoke of an increase in the arrests of Kosovo Serbs for alleged public order offences. She expressed concern about people being detained for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
“In recent weeks, there have been several allegations of excessive use of force and ill-treatment by police during arrests and police custody in northern Kosovo. The Kosovo Police Inspectorate is currently investigating these allegations,” Ziade said.
“The promotion and protection of human rights is at the core of our mission in Kosovo. In light of recent events, it is crucial to strengthen measures to further advance equality and non-discrimination, in particular in the protection of property rights, the preservation of cultural heritage and the full respect for the linguistic rights of all communities,” she added.
The need to build trust
Ziade also recalled that Kosovo and Serbian negotiators met in Brussels last Thursday, with the facilitation of the European Union.
“This dialogue, which we strongly support, remains central to resolving outstanding issues, including the establishment of the Association/Community of Municipalities with a Serb Majority. Success will be achieved through constructive, open approaches and respect for the hard-won agreements that have been forged over several years,” the Special Representative said.
She also noted the need to build trust at all levels. The findings of the recent Trust Index report, prepared within the framework of a project supported by the UN Mission in Kosovo, show a lack of trust in institutions and growing pessimism about the future of intercommunal trust.
“However, the majority of Kosovo Albanian and Kosovo Serb respondents see reconciliation as a prerequisite for a better future,” Ziade stressed.