S/PV.4473 Security Council

I should like to inform the Council that I have received a letter from the representative of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in which he requests to be invited to participate in the discussion of the item on the Council’s agenda. In conformity with the usual practice, I propose, with the consent of the Council, to invite that representative to participate in the discussion without the right to vote, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter and rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. There being no objection, it is so decided.

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations. After consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council: “The Security Council expresses its full support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General upon his assumption of the position as Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), as well as its appreciation to all the personnel of UNMIK for their untiring efforts in ensuring the full implementation of resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999. “The Security Council notes the progress made in the implementation of resolution 1244 (1999) and the Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Government, including the inauguration of the Kosovo Assembly following the elections on 17 November 2001 in Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It calls on Kosovo's elected representatives to resolve the deadlock over the formation of executive structures of the provisional self-governing institutions and to allow the functioning of those institutions, in accordance with the Constitutional Framework and the outcome of the elections which expressed the will of the voters. It supports the development of cooperation between UNMIK, Kosovo's elected representatives and the authorities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Such cooperation is vital in implementing resolution 1244 (1999). “The Security Council reaffirms the fundamental importance of the rule of law in Kosovo's political development and condemns any attempt to undermine it. It supports all efforts of UNMIK, together with the international security presence (KFOR) and the Kosovo Police Service (KPS), to combat all kinds of crime, violence and extremism. It supports the measures taken to bring persons responsible for criminal acts to justice, regardless of ethnic or political background. It calls upon the elected leaders of Kosovo to cooperate fully with UNMIK and KFOR in promoting the rule of law and a multi- ethnic Kosovo with security and freedom of movement for all.” This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2002/4. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.