GUIDANCE FOR 6/17 UNSC DEBATE ON KOSOVO

UNCLAS STATE 061197 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSC PREL PGOV KO SUBJECT: GUIDANCE FOR 6/17 UNSC DEBATE ON KOSOVO ¶1. The Department Requests that USUN draw on the following points for use during the June 17 UN Security Council discussion of Kosovo. ¶2. Begin points: Mr. President, -- I would like to welcome Special Representative Zannier and thank him for his leadership of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). The United States fully supports the reconfiguration of the UN Mission in Kosovo as outlined in the Secretary-General's reports of June 2008, November 2008, and March 2009, and commends Special Representative Zannier for his dedication to carrying out the Secretary General's directives and to the overall development of Kosovo. -- The latest Secretary-General's report demonstrates that Kosovo continues to develop the institutions of a multi-ethnic democratic state. Kosovo has enacted a wide-ranging body of laws to promote and implement the principles of its June 2008 constitution, which upholds the rights of all communities and supports the preservation of cultural heritage. These laws are fully consistent with the plan proposed by former UN Special Envoy Maarti Ahtisaari. -- Kosovo's independence is irreversible. Sixty members of the United Nations have now recognized the Republic of Kosovo as an independent state, including nine members of this Council. Kosovo has established government ministries, a security force that is being instructed by NATO, a police force, and other institutions to foster and protect the rule of law. Kosovo recently selected an Ombudsperson to ensure the compliance of public institutions with the law and guard against abuse of authority, and has chosen the Kosovo members of the Constitutional Court, including minority representatives. -- PM Thaci has publicly restated his government's commitment to the return of Serbs and other minority communities to Kosovo -- most recently at the rebuilding of a Serb home in central Kosovo, which the government funded. -- Kosovo is increasingly active in regional and international organizations. It was recently invited to become a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and is awaiting the results from the vote to join the World Bank (WB),which are expected to be announced mid-June. Membership in international financial institutions will help Kosovo build economic stability and prosperity for all its citizens and will advance the integration of Kosovo,s economy into the global financial system. -- In light of these developments, UNMIK's presence has been substantially reduced, and the European Union now serves as Kosovo's primary international adviser. The United States fully supports further downsizing of UNMIK's presence, recognizing that UNMIK still has a valuable role to play in facilitating Kosovo,s participation in regional organizations such as the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA). Kosovo's participation in these organizations promotes regional stability, cooperation, and growth and is in the interest of the entire region. -- As the Secretary-General's report indicates, practical cooperation between Kosovo officials and UNMIK representatives continues. The Government of Kosovo confirmed in its Declaration of Independence that it would act consistent with principles of international law and resolutions of the Security Council, including resolution 1244, and it continues to work with the UN mission. -- We welcome the continued progress of the EU's Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and its deployment throughout Kosovo. The mission reached full operational capacity in April, and provides valuable rule of law assistance to the Government of Kosovo which will improve security for all of its communities. We welcomed EULEX's and KFOR's firm response to recent violence over the reconstruction of ethnic Albanian homes in northern Kosovo, in support of a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all, regardless of ethnicity. -- It is in the interest of all of Kosovo's ethnic communities to fully participate in its democratic institutions. We regretfully note that the Government of Serbia continues to support parallel structures in Kosovo that seek to cement divisions and sow tensions. In this context, we underscore Kosovo's sovereign right to bar official visits by Serbian officials intending to establish or support these parallel structures. We encourage authorities in Belgrade to fully cooperate with EULEX as well as to support the integration of Kosovo Serb communities into Kosovo institutions. In particular, we encourage the Government of Serbia to allow Kosovo Serbs to return to their positions in the Kosovo police force and to support other pragmatic solutions that will improve the welfare of Kosovo Serbs. -- Regrettably, the Government of Serbia also continues to block goods from Kosovo, even though UNMIK has certified twice that Kosovo,s new customs stamp is compliant with UN Security Resolution 1244. We encourage Serbia to support intra-regional trade, in keeping with its Central European Free Trade Association (CEFTA) commitments. -- The stability of the Western Balkans remains a high priority for the United States. We strongly support the region's integration into European institutions, and its full participation in the Euro-Atlantic community. We recognize that Kosovo and other countries in the region still face many challenges, and pledge our continued support for their progress and development. We will continue to work with Kosovo, Serbia, and other countries to promote lasting peace and prosperity in the Western Balkans. End Points. CLINTON