UNMIK/PR/419
PRISTINA - The SRSG, Dr Bernard
Kouchner, has told the UN Security Council that now is the time to move
into the next phase for Kosovo. That means developing the institutions
of self-government and defining substantial autonomy.
Dr Kouchner gave the Security Council a robust speech - in which he made it clear that he believes it is too early to discuss Kosovo's final status. However he said that there should be central, Kosovo-wide elections early next year. This, he said, is in line with what Kosovars want. But unlike their calls for independence, the roadmap for the future would continue to be UN Resolution 1244.
Changes in Belgrade necessarily have to be taken into account, in both relationships with the Kosovar Serbs and the Kosovar Albanians. A dialogue is already starting to develop between UNMIK and Belgrade with contacts on economic and judicial issues.
The question of the continued detention of Albanians in Serb jails was raised by the SRSG.
"I hope deeply as do they that the detained Kosovo Albanians held can benefit very rapidly from an amnesty law," he said. " I'm confident relations will improve even though the concerns were amplified by the recent prison strike in Serbia which led to protests day and night in front of our offices."
Dr Kouchner also raised the issue of the 23rd December elections in Serbia. He emphasised that there has been no request from Belgrade about holding them. But he did voice concerns that the voters lists in Kosovo would be incomplete. He said it would be technically impossible because of a lack of people available to assist in its organisation as well as continued security issues.
The Security Council heard that Kosovars had made last month's municipal elections a success, making the often difficult transition to democracy. The SRSG highlighted the fact that all parties have pledged to work together for a unified administration.
"This is where genuine democracy should begin - at the local level," he said.
Again he said that there would be by-elections in the predominately Serb municipalities of Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok.
However, Dr Kouchner urged members not to be too quick to think that the municipal elections had brought with them instant changes.
"We should acknowledge that the situation in Kosovo has not changed. The war is not over. Peacemaking is still necessary and difficult to implement. Notwithstanding the success of the municipal election Kosovo remains a society in crisis," he said.
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