KOSOVO - INSTRUCTIONS FOR APRIL 21 COUNCIL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 041791

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL UNMIK KV
SUBJECT: KOSOVO - INSTRUCTIONS FOR APRIL 21 COUNCIL
DISCUSSION ON UNMIK


1. The Department requests that USUN draw on the following
points during the April 21 UN Security Council Debate on
the Secretary General's report on UNMIK activities. The
three essential points that should be made are:

-- The Republic of Kosovo has made great progress in its
first two months after independence -- in particular, it
has already begun to implement key provisions of the
Ahtisaari Plan and other measures to safeguard the rights
of minorities.

-- We encourage UNMIK to respond robustly to provocations
and challenges to peace and security in Kosovo.

-- We are concerned by Belgrade's recent provocative
actions in Kosovo, including its decision to hold
municipal elections in Kosovo and its ongoing pressure on
Kosovo Serbs to reject cooperation with Kosovo's
authorities.


2. Begin specific talking points:

-- We would like to thank the Secretary General for his
report and for the UN's efforts in Kosovo during this
difficult period. We also wish to thank the leadership of
UNMIK, SRSG Ruecker and his deputy, for striving to ensure
peace and security even when presented with extremely
difficult challenges.

-- Today I would like to make three points.

-- First, the Republic of Kosovo has now been an
independent state for two months and is making great
progress. Its independence marked the end of the long,
difficult process of Yugoslavia's breakup, which created
many threats to international peace and security in recent
years.

-- Even as the Council has remain divided, the
democratically elected government of Kosovo -- supported
by 36 nations who have recognized Kosovo, including seven
on this Council -- is steadfastly
working to implement the Ahtisaari plan and offer a
brighter future to the country and the region.

-- We particularly commend the European Union for its
leadership on this issue. The EU -- the regional
organization with the greatest stake in Kosovo's
democratic development -- has admirably assumed its
responsibilities in this troubled part of Europe. The
United States strongly supports the EU's efforts to
promote economic and democratic development in Kosovo and
will engage actively as part of the 15 country steering
group to help Kosovo implement the provisions of the
Ahtisaari proposal.

-- In Kosovo itself, we are pleased to see the country's
leaders showing political maturity during a challenging
time. Kosovo is following through on its commitments,
expressed most articulately in its declaration of
independence, to create a democratic, just, and
multi-ethnic state.

-- In particular, Kosovo's leadership has demonstrated a
steadfast commitment to act responsibly and ensure
extensive protections for its citizens. The Kosovo
Assembly has adopted a constitution that enshrines the
provisions of the Ahtisaari plan and has passed 19 of the
30 laws required to implement the plan, including laws to
protect minority rights, decentralize authority to local
governments, and safeguard cultural and religious
heritage.

-- We continue to urge the Government of Kosovo and UNMIK
to reach out actively to the Serb community in Kosovo and
offer a positive alternative to isolation and separatism.
We urge the Kosovo Serb community to reciprocate by
engaging with the Government of Kosovo and UNMIK in its
own best interest. We are pleased to see that Prime
Minister Thaci has included three ministers from minority
communities in his government, two of them from the Kosovo
Serb community, and has established an office directly

STATE 00041791 002 OF 002


under him to reach out to minorities.

-- On June 15th, Kosovo's new constitution will enter into
force. The International Civilian Representative, named
by the steering group, has certified that it is compliant
with the Ahtisaari plan and international experts have
stated that this constitution meets the highest standards
for democratic self-governance. Its adoption will
complete the work begun in 1999 under UN auspices to build
new institutions of democracy in post-war Kosovo.

-- Second, Kosovo continues to face great challenges, and
UNMIK and KFOR must continue to respond robustly to
provocations and challenges to peace and security in
Kosovo. Immediately after independence, we saw violent
mobs attack United Nations customs stations on the border
with Serbia. One Serb minister regrettably referred to
this violence as "legitimate." Several weeks later, we
saw major, well-organized violence directed against UN and
KFOR personnel in northern Mitrovica.

-- Above all, this Council must stand united in condemning
all acts of violence and destruction of
property and condemning those who seek to foment or
organize violence from within or outside of Kosovo. Those
who disagree with Kosovo's declaration of independence
have a right to do so peacefully, but we should not tolerate
violent acts of any
kind.

-- Moreover, we must condemn in the strongest possible
terms the attacks on UNMIK and KFOR personnel using
fragmentation hand grenades and military assault weapons that
led to injuries among UN peacekeepers and the tragic death of
an Ukrainian police officer. We offer our heartfelt
condolences to the Ukrainian government and the officer's
family. We call on the Council and UN staff to support
UNMIK and KFOR leadership in carrying out their mandate to take
all necessary actions to preserve peace and stability in
Kosovo and to prevent, deter, and respond to any further
incidents of this type.

-- Also, we all agree that resolution 1244 remains in
effect and that per this resolution the United Nations
retains certain responsibilities for all of Kosovo's
territory. UNMIK must continue to control Kosovo's
borders and ensure the implementation of all border
administrative functions, including customs, throughout
Kosovo.

-- Third, we are deeply concerned by Belgrade's recent
provocative actions in Kosovo, including its decision to
hold municipal elections in Kosovo on May 11, despite
repeated statements from UNMIK that these elections are
not consistent with Resolution 1244. We understand that the
government of Serbia has decided to go ahead with these
elections, regardless of the UN's position.

-- We are also concerned by Belgrade's actions to pressure
Kosovo Serbs from cooperating with authorities in
Pristina or from interacting with their Albanian
neighbors. Belgrade's position runs contrary to the
principle of multi-ethnicity that the UN has sought to
foster in Kosovo over the last nine years.

-- With the entry into force of Kosovo's new constitution
in June, the UN role in Kosovo will necessarily have to
adapt, particularly as other international presences begin
to assume their responsibilities in an independent
Kosovo.

-- In its declaration of independence, Kosovo expressed
deep gratitude to the United Nations for the role it has
played in helping Kosovo recover from war. The Council
should work to ensure that this positive UN legacy in
Kosovo continues.

End Points.
RICE