New York - The United Nations said Wednesday Kosovo's
independence has propelled the body into assuming a political role to
try to solve the sovereignty dispute between Kosovo and Serbia.
Serbia still claims Kosovo as its territory after Pristina
declared independence in February, adopted a constitution in June and
was recognized by a total of 52 governments, including the United
States and many European nations.
The UN Mission in Kosovo, which began its work in 1999, is fast
changing because Kosovo now is ruled by a government. UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon has ordered an accelerated reconfiguration of the
mission so it can readjust to circumstances in the former Serb
province.
The reconfiguration involves reducing UNMIK's size and functions.
'We need to be able to concentrate on the areas where we can still
make a difference for good, rather than attempt to continue functions
which are neither relevant nor needed,' Lamberto Zanier, the UN
special envoy for Kosovo, told an open session of the UN Security
Council.
'UNMIK's role is becoming much more political, for example
providing an interface for the process of dialogue between Belgrade
and Pristina,' he said.
Zanier said the reconfigured UNMIK will play the role of an
interlocutor for both sides even though Belgrade and Pristina may
interpret the UN role in a different manner.
UMIK was sent in 1999 to help the territory recover from the
destruction of the war and after Serb security forces were driven out
by NATO. The UN has helped establish new institutions in Pristina,
trained the police and a civilian administration. With a new
government in Pristina, the UN mission's original mandate has become
irrelevant.
Ban had informed the council that UNMIK has ceased to carry out
most of its tasks after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.
'The reconfiguration is both timely and necessary, and is being
accelerated in order to adapt it fully to the prevailing
circumstances on the ground,' Ban said.
'It is taking place in a transparent manner with respect to all
stakeholders and is consistent with the UN position of strict
neutrality on the question of Kosovo's status,' he said.
The European Union was sending a law and order mission to assist
Kosovo as a full-fledged state.
Ban said the EU mission, known as EULEX, will be deployed
throughout Kosovo in coordination with UNMIK, while the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will focus on assisting
the reconfigured UN mission.
Kosovo has disagreed with the way UNMIK was reconfigured while it
was accepted by Serbia.
Ban said in his report that the new Kosovo government in Pristina
had rejected the new lineup of UNMIK and preferred a 'quick
deployment' of EULEX and would cooperate with it instead.
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