S/PV.6353 Security Council

On behalf of the Council, I extend a warm welcome to His Excellency Mr. Boris Tadić, President of the Republic of Serbia. In accordance with the understanding reached in the Council’s prior consultations, I shall take it that the Security Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Mr. Lamberto Zannier, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. It is so decided. I invite Mr. Zannier to take a seat at the Council table. In accordance with the understanding reached in the Council’s prior consultations, I shall take it that the Security Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Mr. Yves de Kermabon for the European Union. It is so decided. I invite Mr. De Kermabon to take a seat at the Council table. In accordance with the understanding reached in the Council’s prior consultations, I shall take it that the Security Council agrees to extend an invitation under rule 39 of its provisional rules of procedure to Mr. Skender Hyseni. It is so decided. I invite Mr. Hyseni to take a seat at the Council table. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting in response to document S/2010/355, which contains a letter dated 2 July 2010 from the Permanent Representative of Serbia to the United Nations, addressed to the President of the Security Council. I shall now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Boris Tadić, President of the Republic of Serbia. President Tadić: I thank you, Madam, for calling this emergency meeting of the Security Council. Four days ago on Friday morning, close to 3,000 Kosovo Serbs assembled to protest the latest egregious violation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) by the ethnic Albanian secessionists based in Pristina — the forcible attempt by these authorities to establish a so-called Kosovo Government Office in the Serbian town of North Mitrovica. The Serbs came in peace, yet they were met with unprovoked violence. Two high-intensity bombs were thrown into the crowd. They came from within courtyards of homes owned by ethnic Albanian supporters of the 17 February 2008 unilateral declaration of independence (UDI). The facts that led to this flagrant act of terror — in which a dozen Serbs were seriously injured and one local Bosniak Muslim, a paediatrician, was killed — are clear and indisputable. They are the direct result of the conscious choice made by provocateurs to expand the scope of the post-UDI, Pristina-based parallel institutions to North Kosovo. I repeat — this was done deliberately in order to increase inter-ethnic tensions and sabotage the quest for comprehensive peace. It was yet another destructive consequence of a sinister plan — sponsored in part by the so-called International Civilian Office headed by Pieter Feith — to unilaterally impose an illegal and unwanted regime in that part of our province. This was done not only against the will of the Kosovo Serbs, but despite the opposition of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), the European Union (EU) Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and other responsible stakeholders, including the Security Council, which never approved the blueprint of UDI — the so-called Ahtisaari proposal. It means that the secessionists continue to blatantly disregard international law, rejecting the universal principles of the United Nations Charter. This is absolutely unacceptable. We urge the international community to ensure that nothing like what happened on Friday is ever repeated, and to make sure that the illegal office in North Mitrovica remains closed. We call on UNMIK to make use of its reserved powers under resolution 1244 (1999) and to restore the province’s legitimate legal framework discarded by the secessionists. We call on the EU to compel EULEX to exercise its executive authority and swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators of all crimes against Kosovo Serbs, the most vulnerable local community in Europe today. And we call on NATO to maintain its present troop levels and exclusive static presence at all Serbian holy sites it currently protects. Finally, we call on all responsible stakeholders to avoid ever again putting themselves in a position of supporting any additional destabilizing acts by Pristina. The ethnic Albanian authorities have to be told what the consequences will be should they try unilateralism again. Otherwise, Serbia will have no choice but to reassess its relations with the international presence in the province. Attempts by Pristina to unilaterally impose any post-UDI institution on the local Serbian community, absent the consent of all stakeholders, will not be tolerated by Serbia — no office, no courthouse, no telecommunications infrastructure, and no other act of aggression that is in violation of resolution 1244 (1999). On 22 January, when I last addressed this Council (see S/PV.6264), I harshly condemned the illegitimate strategy that has led us back to the Security Council today, underlining that it could only be forced upon the Serbian community in North Kosovo by a draconian, undemocratic set of measures. Those who announced and actively supported it — they and they alone — would have to bear the sole responsibility for the destabilizing atmosphere such conflict-inciting designs would obviously produce. This is exactly what was attempted on Friday. I derive no satisfaction from this fact. It is incredibly disappointing that some in Pristina still believe in unilateralism and that they believe it can ever provide an answer to any of the open issues we have an obligation to resolve peacefully. The bottom line is that the Security Council must not tolerate unilateralism. Opposing one-sidedness is its fundamental mission. So let me make myself clearly understood. Differences on UDI notwithstanding, whoever does not condemn unilateralism of any sort in Kosovo, as Serbia has, will be responsible for any future violence, deaths, and acts of terror that may take place in the province. We must never forget that the circumstances that have led us to this point are rooted in the March 2004 pogrom planned and orchestrated by the authorities in Pristina. In less than 72 hours, 35 Serbian holy sites, many of them hundreds of years old, were set ablaze by tens of thousands of ethnic Albanian militants throughout Kosovo. Nineteen people were killed, 500 were injured, and more than 5,000 Kosovo Serbs were ethnically cleansed from their homes. A profoundly terrible consequence arising from these atrocities committed against Kosovo Serbs was that they triggered the abandonment of the international community’s standards-before-status approach. Pristina’s violent behaviour was rewarded by some, and UDI was the result. What about today? Will violence be rewarded again? Will those who show a willingness to commit it gain further advantage? Is leverage in any discussion to come proportional to a readiness to engage in it? These are profound questions that we will have to urgently address, for how they are answered will contribute to determining whether the emerging norms of global governance will favour violence. This is not just about Kosovo; it is a litmus test about how problems in the world will be tackled in the decades to come. “Only on a scrutiny of truth can a future of peace be built” (A/PV.883, para. 7), Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld said in 1960. The undeniable truth in this case is that the architects of the flagrant act of terror in North Mitrovica deserve the denunciation of this Council and the States Members of the United Nations, for what happened on Friday illustrates the ongoing, inherently dangerous consequences of UDI. The truth about UDI, however uncomfortable it may be for some to hear, is that it cannot lead to peace and stability, for peace is the product of agreement, just as stability is the result of consensus. UDI rejected them both at the moment of its stillbirth. It has clearly divided the world and brought into question the fundamental tenets of the contemporary international system. That is why, in reality, the stubborn continuation of attempts to implement UDI can only produce what everyone responsible must seek to avoid, namely, a long-term freeze in Kosovo’s limbo. It is our shared responsibility to find a way to overcome the present impasse. I want to be very clear on that. Unilateralism has got us nowhere. It is time to chart a course towards a secure future for all the residents of our southern province, for all the citizens of our country and for all the nations of our region. The only way to establish stability in Kosovo is to implement in full the Secretary-General’s six-point plan — which, let me remind everyone, was welcomed by the entire Council in November 2008 — irrespective of Member States’ differing positions on Pristina’s UDI. The Secretary-General’s six-point plan therefore contains the only legitimate framework for working out a number of delicate practical issues, from the rule of law to guaranteeing lasting international protection for Serbian holy sites. It also comprises, among others, topics such as health care, education, telecommunications, electricity, the privatization of socially owned enterprises, property restitution and the return of more than 200,000 Kosovo Serb and Roma internally displaced persons. No sensible impediment stands in the way of anyone’s sincerely engaging right away, through the six-point plan, to find pragmatic arrangements that would benefit all the residents of the territory. Rapid breakthroughs in the areas covered by the six-point plan would help to build much-needed confidence between the parties. Our number one priority should be to set the stage for the peace process between Serbs and Albanians to begin in earnest, and for it to result in an agreement that everyone can endorse. The significance of the landmark Kosovo case before the International Court of Justice must be restated in this Chamber. It is, after all, the first time that the Court has been asked to consider the legality of a unilateral attempt to partition a United Nations Member State in peacetime, in defiance of its Constitution and against the will of the Security Council. It is also the first time all five permanent members of the Council have participated in a proceeding before the Court. A record number of countries have presented their views, making it the largest case in history. Accordingly, the Court’s conclusions will have extensive consequences for the entire United Nations system. We have strong expectations that the Court will not legitimize Pristina’s UDI. Any other outcome would mean that no border anywhere in the world would remain safe from separatist ambitions. That would inevitably produce instability in all corners of the world as the number of ethnic conflicts multiplies. A substantial majority of Member States and of countries seated in the Security Council have continued to abide by their binding obligations under our 1945 Charter and resolution 1244 (1999) to respect Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. On behalf of my nation, I would like to reiterate our deep gratitude for their support. We know that maintaining that position is not easy for everyone, owing to the pressures that unfortunately continue to be exerted by those with the capacity to do so credibly. But we also know that, tomorrow, some other country might find itself in a similar situation, and that the world would then rapidly discover that the rushing river let loose by Kosovo’s UDI had become an uncontrolled cascade of secession across the world. That is why we strongly urge all non-recognizing Member States to stay the course. The International Court of Justice will be reporting back to the General Assembly in the near future. Serbia will surely join the great many interested countries in the ensuing debate. One can reasonably predict that fundamental concerns about preserving basic international norms will compel the majority to encourage the parties to arrive at consensual solutions on all outstanding issues peacefully and through dialogue. But let us be frank with each another — there is no open question in Kosovo that is not related to status, either directly or indirectly. It is impossible to think that negotiations on anything can take place outside that context. We must not ignore this obvious reality and waste an unprecedented chance to find a mutually acceptable comprehensive settlement between Serbs and Albanians. I am aware of the fact that some powerful voices are against a consensual solution, but I remain profoundly puzzled as to why they would reject it out of hand. There is nothing to be lost by working together to reach a truly sustainable outcome. Moreover, it is absolutely clear that no democratic leadership in Serbia will ever under any circumstances, implicitly or explicitly, recognize UDI. We have not consented to it and we never will. That principled position is set in stone and will not change, come what may. There are those who expect us to yield eventually. That will not happen. We will continue to use all the diplomatic resources at the disposal of a sovereign State to oppose the unilateral attempt to partition our country. No peaceful, democratic and proud nation whose territorial integrity is under threat would act differently. I want to be very clear. We will pursue a compromise with Pristina constructively and in good faith, as if it had never attempted UDI. But make no mistake; my country is equally prepared to resist UDI incessantly for as long as no compromise appears on the horizon. This past Friday’s tragedy reminds us of the fear and violence that are at the heart of unilateralism. But it can also teach us that the failure of one thing — UDI — can be repaired by the success of another, namely, the establishment of harmonious peace between two vibrant and proud nations, Serbs and Albanians. I would like to conclude by saying that the time for anyone to try half-measures devoid of real imagination or foresight has come to an end. We have entered a period of consequence and momentous choices where only results matter. We are determined to reach a sustainable agreement on the final status of Kosovo. We have no right to fail in this task. We have no intention of humiliating anyone. What we seek is a just status that all parties can embrace. That is the only way to secure original gains, reinforce shared priorities and complete the democratic transformation of the Balkans. What everyone needs to do is to reject the extremist voices that find comfort in the old ways and that believe that it is impossible for Serbs and Albanians to normalize their relations by reaching a historic compromise. That has been our vision all along, because we believe that comprehensive peace is essential for securing a shared prosperous future in the European Union.

I thank His Excellency President Tadić for his statement. At this meeting, the Security Council will hear a briefing by Mr. Lamberto Zannier, to whom I now give the floor. Mr. Zannier: I would like to brief the Council on recent developments in Kosovo, and in particular on the incident that took place recently in northern Mitrovica that tragically led to the death of one person. The Kosovo authorities decided to inaugurate, on 2 July, a civil services centre in an ethnically mixed area of northern Mitrovica known as the Bosniak Mahalla. We understand that the centre would provide local communities with birth, death and marriage certificates, identification cards and travel documents issued by the Kosovo authorities, all of which are currently provided by offices located in the southern part of Mitrovica. At around 8.30 a.m., a large number of Kosovo Serbs started gathering near the East Bridge in northern Mitrovica to protest the opening of the centre, which they claimed not to have been done in consultation with the local Kosovo Serb community and which, we understand, is part of the Kosovo authorities’ efforts to establish their institutions throughout the territory. Those efforts are opposed by Kosovo Serbs in the north. Elsewhere, Kosovo Serbs have been making increasing use of the services of Kosovo civil registry offices. After a siren sounded at 9 a.m., the number of protesters increased significantly, to about 1,500 to 2,000. The Kosovo police and the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) created a buffer between the protesters and the centre. The Kosovo Force (KFOR) was also present and ready to assist if necessary. At 9.50 a.m., several shots were heard and an explosive device went off close to the crowd heading towards the centre. Some 600 to 700 people broke through the security cordons and, at about 10 a.m., once they reached the front of the centre, demanded that the sign bearing the inscription “Republic of Kosovo, Ministry of Internal Affairs” be removed from the front of the building. Once the sign was removed, the protesters began to disperse and, an hour later, all roads were cleared. However, as a result of the explosion, 12 people were injured — seven Kosovo Serb females, four Kosovo Serb males and one Kosovo Bosniak, Dr. Mesud Dzeković, who was not participating in the protest and later died at the hospital while being treated for his injuries. At around 2 p.m., the emergency siren sounded again, calling on residents of northern Mitrovica to gather to mourn the loss of Dr. Dzeković. The Belgrade-appointed head of the Kosovska Mitrovica region, addressing a crowd of up to 3,000 people, stated that the Kosovo Serbs would continue to protest the integration of northern Kosovo into Pristina-based institutions, branded the explosion a terrorist attack and criticized EULEX’s approach as not being status- neutral. The evening of 2 July was calm and no incidents were reported. The victim’s funeral took place on 3 July in northern Mitrovica, with a large gathering and the participation of the Serbian Minister for Kosovo. The event passed peacefully. The Kosovo police and EULEX, which, together with KFOR, are deployed in the area, continue to investigate the incident in order to arrest the perpetrators. However, since the incident, the security situation in northern Kosovo is more tense than usual. Yesterday morning, a Kosovo Serb member of the Assembly of Kosovo, Mr. Petar Miletić, was shot in both legs by unknown assailants outside his house in northern Mitrovica. His wounds are not life-threatening and his condition is reported as stable. Following the 2 July incident, I expressed my deep concern over the violence that occurred and offered my condolences to the family of the victim. I called on all sides to refrain from provocative statements and to remain calm, and on all competent law enforcement authorities to take urgent measures to bring the perpetrators to justice. I would like to ask the Council today to support those messages to the family of Dr. Dzeković and to the communities in Kosovo, as well as to Pristina and Belgrade, and to help ensure that there is no further escalation in the situation in northern Kosovo. While both Pristina and Belgrade strongly condemned the incident and called for the arrest of the perpetrators, each side has claimed that the other is responsible for provoking the incident. On the one hand, the Kosovo authorities called on Belgrade to distance itself from “such violent acts that are a product of Belgrade policies” and emphasized that they would keep the civil services centre open and would not halt the extension of their institutions into northern Kosovo. On the other hand, the Serbian Council for National Security and other Belgrade representatives blamed Pristina for the incident and branded the inauguration of the centre as a provocation and a violation of the principles of the Security Council and the European Union, “which have not endorsed the so- called strategy for northern Kosovo”. In that regard, I would like to recall the concern expressed by the Secretary-General in his latest report (S/2010/169) over the risk of tensions should the implementation of policies and strategies for northern Kosovo not take place in conditions of transparency and dialogue with local communities and all relevant stakeholders. I would therefore like to reiterate the Secretary-General’s call to all sides to commit to dialogue as a necessary process to address the challenges faced in northern Kosovo. Events over the past few days point to the need to initiate that dialogue as a matter of urgency. For our part, we will remain engaged with all sides in order to encourage such dialogue, help defuse tensions and maintain peace and stability on the ground, in close coordination with EULEX and KFOR.

I thank Mr. Zannier for his statement and give the floor to Mr. Yves de Kermabon, head of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo.

I would like to thank the Security Council for having invited us here today. First of all, I would like to condemn the incidents that took place Friday morning, and in particular the loss of human life. I also wish to extend my condolences to the family of Dr. Dzeković. I would like to start by reminding the Council that the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) is deployed throughout the whole of Kosovo, pursuant to the mandate entrusted to it by the Council of the European Union within the framework defined by the report of the Secretary-General dated 24 November 2008 (S/2008/692) and welcomed by the Security Council in its presidential statement of 26 November 2008 (S/PRST/2008/44). This mandate entrusts the Mission with clear operational responsibilities, particularly in the maintenance of law and order. I would now like to go over the incidents that have just unfolded in Mitrovica. Following the decision of the Kosovo institutions to open a branch of their Ministry of Interior and Local Affairs in the Bosniak Mahalla neighbourhood of Mitrovica, north of the Ibar river, the following events took place on Friday 2 July. Early in the morning, Kosovar Serb demonstrators gathered near the building to express their opposition. Local police and EULEX police units were present. The demonstration took place peacefully, and the demonstrators handed a petition to the Ministry’s workers, asking them to close the branch. At about 10 a.m., an explosion was heard in a parallel street, around 600 metres from the premises of the Ministry office. The local police quickly went to the site and coordinated rescue operations. Some 10 people were injured, and an eleventh, of Bosniak-Kosovar origin, died that afternoon after his evacuation to Mitrovica hospital. The EULEX Mission has firmly condemned this act of violence. It turned later out that the explosion resulted from the detonation of a grenade. It will be understood that the explosion created a certain amount of confusion, forcing EULEX to forbid access to the street leading to the Ministry offices. The situation rapidly calmed down, with the crowd dispersing early in the afternoon. The victim’s funeral took place without incident the following day, attracting a few hundred people, who later dispersed. The situation has been calm since then. Unfortunately, yesterday, Monday, a Kosovar Serb, Mr. Petar Miletić, Secretary-General of the Independent Liberal Party and a member of the Kosovo Parliament, sustained a bullet wound. It should also be emphasized that the Kosovo police, who wanted to investigate the incident, were forbidden access to Mitrovica Hospital, in the North of Kosovo, by Kosovar Serbs, in violation of the proper functioning of law and order. Lastly, I should mention that EULEX personnel have been the target of threats from radical elements in northern Kosovo that highlight the risks incurred by those cooperating with the Mission. Such threats are unacceptable, and I can only condemn them as strongly as possible. The investigation of Friday’s events is being led by the local police force from Pristina, with assistance from EULEX. The Serbian police have offered to assist in conducting the investigation and the Mission is cooperating with them. Members of the Council should know that all necessary steps have been and will continue to be taken to arrest the guilty as quickly as possible. Nonetheless, I should emphasize that the investigation is ongoing and we therefore cannot go into detail. Certain allegations that have appeared in the press are based purely on speculation, and it is important that the investigation be conducted with the calm that this kind of situation demands. What is needed from now on is moderation and restraint. In conclusion, I emphasize that there has never been any risk of a general deterioration of the security situation in the city and even less so in the rest of Kosovo. EULEX has acted in strict compliance with its mandate at all times, and will continue to do so with the support we have thus far enjoyed both from Pristina and from Belgrade. We are aware of the prevailing tensions, and I therefore call on the relevant authorities in Belgrade and Pristina to continue to support us in implementing our mandate.

I now give the floor to Mr. Skender Hyseni. Mr. Hyseni: I appreciate the opportunity to present the views of my Government on the specific topic under discussion, but at the same time I also feel it crucial to react both to some of the points made regarding the subject itself and to some of the general observations made by President Tadić. The Government of the Republic of Kosovo is the sovereign Government of an independent State, determined to exercise its authority throughout the country and to be as connected as possible to all of its citizens, regardless of their ethnic or religious background. It is within that framework, and entirely in accordance with that line of reasoning, that my Government decided to establish a local office in Bosniak Mahalla — a community service centre — with the sole objective of bringing the most basic services closer to the average Kosovar. The establishment of such an office constitutes no threat to anyone whatsoever, yet on hearing President Tadić’s statement one could conclude that it does indeed represent some kind of threat, not to honest Kosovar citizens but to criminals in the North — the hardliners who organized the violent protest in Mitrovica, with the obvious support, unfortunately, of the authorities in Belgrade. All Kosovars were deeply saddened by the death of Mr. Dzeković and the injuries inflicted on the other protesters. My Government is doing everything it can to investigate the incident, to find the perpetrators and to bring them to justice. Kosovo police will work very closely with the international presence in that part of Kosovo in an effort to swiftly find out who the perpetrators were and bring them to justice. I am not going to rush, to jump to any conclusions. I am not going to act as prosecutor, investigator or judge. We heard from President Tadić that the perpetrators are already known and are, inevitably, Albanians. And according to President Tadić, no one else could do such a horrible thing but Albanians. We also heard some history today from back in 2004. But unfortunately, President Tadić failed to go further back in history. If he deems it appropriate to mention 18 Serb citizens killed in 2004 — which we so unspeakably regret — he should have mentioned 15,000 Albanians slaughtered in 1999. President Tadić should have also briefed Council members on the mass grave recently uncovered in Serbia, with close to 300 bodies of Albanians killed during the war. And those bodies were taken away to Serbia in an effort to cover up crimes against humanity. The community office, or community service centre, is an office of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo and will remain as such. Kosovo will continue to work very hard to meet and respond to all of the requests, concerns and grievances of its Serbian population. I wish to specifically invite the attention of the Council to the recent local election in Partesh municipality, the youngest of the Serb majority municipalities. We saw a heavy turnout by the Serb population for that election — over 65 per cent of that municipality’s Serb population participated in a very regular voting. I have a press statement here from the State Secretary of the Serbian Ministry for Kosovo, Mr. Ivanović. I quote, “Participation of over 65 per cent of the population in this election is something that worries us”, and he called on Belgrade to do something about it. It is a crucial moment for the Government of Serbia to undertake steps, because the situation is getting out of control. There is a reason why I specifically took this as an example. I wish to ask a question: How does a situation become out of control if decent members of a community participate in a regular electoral process in an effort to elect their own representatives? Our Government office in Mitrovica will continue to work. It is not illegal. How can acts by a Government within its own territory be considered illegal? And to the honourable Council I say that instead of making any other calls today, there is a single call that, I believe, would be and should be very helpful — that is to call on Belgrade to stop interfering, to stop obstructively manipulating the Kosovo Serbs just because they wish to work with us, just because they wish to be part of the progress that the youngest State in the world is making. Yes, another very sad event did take place yesterday. A member of the Kosovo parliament from the Serb community was wounded by still-unknown perpetrators. Mr. Petar Miletić is a very honest Kosovo Serb citizen who is working very hard for the benefit of his own ethnic community. He, like many other Kosovo Serbs, chose to work with Kosovo authorities and to be part of those authorities, with a single objective, a single aim, a goal — to improve the conditions of his own ethnic community. Besides that, he also chairs a community consultative council, a very important body within the office of the President of Kosovo. It is human beings that have suffered in Mitrovica this past Friday. I will not reveal much detail of the investigation. I was on the telephone with the Interior Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Mr. Bajram Rexhepi. The vast investigation is progressing. But what I can say is that those hand grenades most probably were thrown from the very crowd, from the very protestors. This does not make me happy, but it is just for the sake of stating the facts, because hearing allegations that Albanian secessionists, Albanian terrorists, did throw the bombs, without any investigation having yet taken place, is in the best case, awkward. The so-called long line of violent attempts is a fantasy. If there has been a long line of violence in northern Kosovo and among other hardline Serbs, including the burning of Gate 31 and the attacks on the Mitrovica district court — all of that was done by hardliners of the Serb community in the north, with the very obvious support, unfortunately, of the authorities in Belgrade. I have a call to make, and it is on President Tadić. I would ask him, for the sake of the Kosovo Serbs, to please leave them alone, to work with us for their benefit, and to talk to us, as authorities of the Republic of Kosovo, on the many practical issues that would, on the one side, help relations between our two countries, and, on the other, have a critical impact on the well- being of the Serb community. No one should reward violence. The members of the Council should trust me when I say that we Kosovars would be the last to suggest or advocate rewarding violence because we have been subject to violence for decades — for more than a century — and we know who caused that violence. The fantastical stories of angels and demons should stop because there are neither angels nor demons in the Western Balkans. We continue to hear how thousands of angels in Bosnia and Kosovo were killed or, conversely, how thousands of Albanian angels killed many Serbian demons. These kinds of stories have to stop for the sake of the future, because we know who called for violence in the former Yugoslavia. We all know who caused the violence. We all know who the first and — in terms of numbers — the biggest victims were in the former Yugoslavia. I acknowledge that there were victims on all sides, but if we want to speak of history, let us display all of history, not only parts of history. I do not think that would serve the future; quite the opposite, it will obstruct severely, almost irreparably, the future if we continue to go back to history repeatedly. I have just a very short concluding remark. The International Court of Justice ruling is expected soon. I wish once again, very loudly, to declare Kosovo’s trust and conviction that the ruling will be free, fair, unbiased and just. We have no reason to doubt international justice. We should avoid even giving the impression that justice is only good if it is good for me, because justice is either good or it is not good at all, for everybody. Regardless of the Court ruling and the timing of the ruling, again it is crucial that, first, the Republic of Serbia cease once and for all its obstructive interference in Kosovo, because it is severely undermining our joint efforts — and “joint” means Kosovo, the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo and other international presences — to finally restore the rule of law throughout Kosovo. The institutions and Government of Kosovo are very determined and are not going to give up this goal of restoring the rule of law everywhere in Kosovo and of being a Government at the service of every single citizen of Kosovo. I thank you, Madam, for the opportunity to present the views of Kosovo. I regret, however, that instead of talking today about the future relations between Kosovo and Serbia, we have heard yet again that there is no such thing and that the Serbian Government will never talk to the Kosovo Government about anything but, as they said, status. That is regrettable because it is only talks between the countries on mutual relations and on issues of mutual interest that can take both countries forward to European and NATO integration. Kosovo is very resolved and very determined to pursue the goal of good-neighbourliness, including with the Republic of Serbia.

I thank Mr. Hyseni for his statement. I now give the floor to the members of the Security Council who wish to make statements.

Please accept our congratulations, Madam, on your assumption of the Council presidency for July. I would like to welcome the President of Serbia, Mr. Boris Tadić; the Foreign Minister of Kosovo, Mr. Skender Hyseni; the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Lamberto Zannier; and the head of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), General Yves de Kermabon, to the Security Council Chamber today. The United Kingdom regrets the violence that took place in Mitrovica on 2 July. I would like to extend our sympathy to the family of Mr. Mesud Dzeković, who was killed on Friday, and all of those who were injured, as well as the Kosovan Minister of Parliament, Mr. Petar Miletić, who was attacked on Monday. Last week, the United Kingdom’s Minister for Europe, David Lidington, visited Mitrovica to meet representatives of the local communities. I would like to underline his statement that there can be absolutely no place in Kosovo for violence as a means to secure political objectives. Nevertheless, let me also take a moment to mark the substantial progress that Kosovo has made since its independence in 2008. As the Secretary-General has noted in his two most recent reports (S/2010/5 and S/2010/169), there has been an overall decrease in the number of security incidents. We note General De Kermabon’s assessment that in the past few days there has never been a risk of a general deterioration of the security situation, either in Mitrovica or in the rest of Kosovo. We welcome the prompt action of the Kosovo police and EULEX in responding to last Friday’s incident. We call on them to undertake their investigation thoroughly, fairly and swiftly to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice. While the investigation is under way, all parties should refrain from speculation about the identities of those who may have committed this crime. The investigation must be allowed the space necessary to establish the facts. All parties should refrain from making any provocative statements or taking actions that might cause the current calm but tense atmosphere to deteriorate again. The United Kingdom supports the valuable work that EULEX is doing in Kosovo. It is important that Belgrade and Pristina continue to cooperate with EULEX so that the rule of law and higher standards of governance and justice can be delivered to all of Kosovo’s communities. The main peaceful protest that took place last Friday was against the opening of an office in North Mitrovica that will issue documents, such as driving licences and identity cards, to the citizens who are resident there. The United Kingdom entirely supports the right of citizens to peaceful protests, but we would also underline that all citizens of Kosovo have a right to expect that such public services be available to them. Claims by President Tadić that the Government of Kosovo should bear responsibility for Friday’s events because of its decision to open the community services centre or that the international civilian representative should do so because he supported that decision are plainly unjustified. It was a criminal act and the individuals responsible for it must be held to account. The United Kingdom strongly encourages deeper cooperation between Belgrade and Pristina and echoes the Secretary-General’s call for flexibility and pragmatism in finding solutions. Last Friday’s incident reinforces the need for all parties to work together, through dialogue and with transparency, in the interests of all communities in Kosovo. We urge all parties to concentrate their efforts on dialogue and cooperation. We remain committed to working with Kosovo, Serbia and the wider international community in promoting stability, reconciliation, regional cooperation and economic progress so that both countries can advance towards an European Union perspective in parallel with their neighbours. Continued disagreement over status issues will only serve as a distraction from achieving that important strategic objective.

The Russian delegation actively supported Serbia’s initiative to convene an urgent Security Council meeting on the deteriorating situation in Kosovo. It has come about because of the explosion in northern Mitrovica on 2 July during a peaceful demonstration by local Serbs. As is well known, owing to that terrorist act, one person died and 11 were injured. We condemn that crime with the utmost resolve. We extend our condolences to the bereaved families and friends of the deceased and to all those who were injured. In his statement before the Security Council today, the President of Serbia, Mr. Tadić, spelled out Serbia’s accurate assessment of the events and the situation in the province as a whole. We share that view. As recently as May this year, during the Council’s discussion (see S/PV.6314) of the Secretary- General’s report (S/2010/169) on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), we drew the international community’s attention to the fact that the situation in the province was far from stable and that it was of particular concern. Above all, our concerns were related to the Pristina authorities’ insistence on somehow implementing the so-called strategy for northern Kosovo in brazen breach of resolution 1244 (1999), which remains the main international legal platform for a Kosovo settlement. Like our Serbian colleagues, we warned that any unilateral steps in that direction could undermine the very complex national situation in the province in the midst of growing discontent with the socio-economic situation and a high level of crime and corruption. Regrettably, such warnings were not heeded. On 2 July, despite the protest of the local Serbian population, the Kosovo authorities, with the support of some representatives of the international community, including the Special Representative of the European Union and the so-called international civilian representative, Mr. Feith, there was an attempt to open a branch of the provisional institutions of Kosovo in northern Mitrovica. That was an act of brazen provocation aimed at undermining stability in the areas of the province populated by Serbs. We have received information that plans are under way for other similar destabilizing steps. All necessary measures should be taken to prevent such provocation. We believe that those who should be brought to justice must include not only the perpetrators of those barbaric crimes, but also those who in fact provoked them through their obstinate and cavalier actions seeking to promote the strategy for northern Kosovo. We are awaiting information from the head of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) on how the investigation will be conducted. The incident in northern Mitrovica clearly showed that, despite the Security Council’s mandate concerning the reconfiguration of UNMIK, EULEX is increasingly departing from the status-neutral principle, which undermines the standing of that international presence. We again call on EULEX to comply with the principles of resolution 1244 (1999) and to act in a balanced way, mindful of the interests of both sides, under the central coordinating role of UNMIK. We call on Brussels to monitor that closely and to rectify the actions of its representative, Mr. Feith. It is high time for EULEX and UNMIK, as well as those capitals that have influence over Pristina, to engage in serious clarifications with the Pristina authorities. Today’s provocative statement by Mr. Hyseni merely reaffirms and confirms that need. The complex and often explosive situation in Kosovo confirms the need to preserve the Security Council’s leading role in a Kosovo settlement. We consider any deviation from that principle unacceptable lest the fragile situation in the province descend into widespread destabilization. The events to which I have referred underscore the need for continued political efforts to help develop a legally correct and fair resolution of the Kosovo issue in line with resolution 1244 (1999). Russia will continue to work towards that.

I would like to thank Mr. Zannier and Mr. De Kermabon for the details that they have provided on the incident that occurred in Kosovo at the end of last week. I welcome the President of the Republic of Serbia. I also welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kosovo and thank him for his statement. The explosion that happened on Friday morning in Mitrovica took one person’s life and injured several others. France condemns that act. We ask that the authorities do everything necessary to find those who were responsible and ensure that they are brought to justice. As General De Kermabon explained to us, an inquiry is under way and it is still too early to draw conclusions about what happened. I welcome the professionalism and the efficiency shown by the Kosovo police and the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) at the time of such events. We call on all those who can respond in some way to cooperate with the Kosovo police and EULEX to enable them to successfully carry out their inquiry. As serious and condemnable as that event may be, it is an isolated one. The situation in Kosovo remains stable, thanks in particular to the presence of EULEX and the efforts being made for several months by local authorities to engage the various communities in a constructive dialogue. In that regard, we welcome the fact that EULEX, acting strictly in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999), can continue to fully play its role. The vast majority of the population wants to live in peace, including in Mitrovica. The role of the international community and the parties directly involved must be to ensure that such incidents do not recur and that they are dealt with calmly and professionally so that the inhabitants of Kosovo can live the normal life to which they all aspire. We believe that using such events politically should be avoided. That does not contribute to the peace. As we regularly do, we call on Serbs and Kosovars to renew dialogue and to focus their efforts on finding pragmatic solutions to the population’s real problems. The European Mission plays a key role in facilitating that dialogue, which I welcome. We hope that one day Serbia and Kosovo will both be part of the European Union. That future is being prepared today. We call on politicians to strive towards that goal on the basis of the realities, because only by acknowledging the realities will accession to the European Union be possible. Denial leads nowhere. We call on the parties to avoid that impasse.

I would like to begin by thanking you, Madam President, for convening today’s meeting. I would also like to welcome His Excellency President Boris Tadić of Serbia to today’s meeting, as well as to thank Mr. Lamberto Zannier, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, for his briefing. I have also listened carefully to the statements by Mr. Hyseni and Mr. De Kermabon. Last Friday there was a mass incident of explosions in North Mitrovica that resulted in human causalities. We condemn such an act of terrorist violence and would like to express our profound sympathy with and condolences to the families of the victims. It is our hope that the parties concerned will make concerted efforts to ensure the stabilization of the situation on the ground and the safeguarding of the legitimate interests of all ethnic communities. The parties concerned should at once initiate an investigation into this incident and bring the perpetrators to justice in order to avoid any repetition of such incidents. The situation in Kosovo remains delicate and complex, and it has a bearing on the peace and stability of the Balkans and of Europe as a whole. The Chinese position on the issue of Kosovo has been consistent and clear-cut. We respect and support the maintenance of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and support the Government and people of Serbia in their endeavour to achieve the goals of long-lasting peace, stability and prosperity. It is obvious that the best way to solve the Kosovo problem is to reach a settlement acceptable to both parties through their negotiations. Unilateral actions will not only be unhelpful in solving the problem but will instead complicate the situation, negatively impacting the peace and stability of the region. Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) remains the legal basis for solving the Kosovo problem, and thus it should be honoured. We support the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) in its continued implementation of its mandate in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999). It is our hope that UNMIK will give its attention to the causes of this incident and take corresponding measures to address the situation. The parties concerned should continue to support UNMIK in the conduct of its work.

Let me also join others in congratulating you, Madam President, on your assumption of the presidency for this month. I also wish to thank Mr. Zannier and General De Kermabon for their comprehensive briefings and to welcome President Tadić and Foreign Minister Hyseni back and thank them for their statements. We regret the tragic death of Dr. Mesud Dzeković, an ethnic Bosnian pediatrician, and the injuries to several others that occurred on 2 July in North Mitrovica related to the opening by the Government of Kosovo of a citizens’ services centre there. We echo the calls for calm and restraint made by the Government of Kosovo, and we join in condemning violence and the threat of violence. We urge all parties to avoid any escalation of tensions. As we learn more about the incidents that led to the loss of life and to injuries, it is becoming clear that this was an isolated criminal act, not a planned act of terrorism. We urge local law enforcement authorities, including those from the Kosovo police and the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), to continue to investigate the incident and to ensure that those who are responsible for criminal acts are held accountable. We welcome the assistance offered by the Kosovo Force (KFOR) in responding to the incident. We frankly do not see that an isolated criminal act such as the one on 2 July warrants an emergency meeting of the Security Council. The President of Serbia has asked for this urgent meeting to discuss the serious deterioration of the security situation, but if we are to discuss that situation, we should also discuss the threats and intimidation against ethnic Serb citizens of Kosovo, such as Petar Miletić, who was shot on 5 July, as we heard, and was reportedly accused of being a traitor by the perpetrator. If we are to condemn provocations, then we should also condemn the provocation by a senior Serbian Government official calling any Kosovo Serb who supports the Kosovo Government an accomplice to Albanian terrorists. Let me repeat what President Tadić mentioned in his statement, something we wholeheartedly agree with. He said that what everyone needs to do is to reject the extremist voices who find comfort in the old ways. In that way, it would be good to hear President Tadić also denounce the 5 July incident and the extremist statement by a member of his Government. The decision by the Government of Kosovo to open a citizens’ service centre was the right one, and one that is within its prerogative as an independent and sovereign State recognized by many in this room and beyond. Recognizing the delicate balance among minority communities in the north, the Government of Kosovo opened the centre in a low-key, non-provocative and transparent manner. The opening was also part of a larger strategy, endorsed by all of Kosovo’s communities and by members of the international community, to extend the benefits of good, accountable and legitimate government to all of Kosovo’s citizens, including its citizens in the north. It is our understanding that, in a spirit of transparency, the Government of Serbia was informed in advance of the opening of the centre. It is unfortunate that the efforts of the Government of Kosovo to assist those most in need in the north were subsequently disrupted by attempts to politicize the citizens’ services centre and destabilize the situation in northern Kosovo. We must also emphasize that any violence and provocative actions by demonstrators are also unacceptable. The 2 July incident is representative of the continuing underlying tensions that exist in the north and the continuing need to strengthen the rule of law and protections for all communities there. In that regard the Kosovo police and EULEX must continue their work and use the resources at their disposal to ensure that those who would use violence or the threat of violence do not succeed in destabilizing the region. Finally, we urge the Governments of Serbia and Kosovo to work together as neighbours in order to foster further regional stability and to prevent further violence.

I would like to begin by thanking you, Madam President, for your kind comments to my Ambassador, Ambassador Claude Heller, regarding the manner in which he served as Council President in June and by wishing you every success during the month of July. I also wish to endorse what other delegations have said in welcoming the President of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Boris Tadić; the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Zannier; and Mr. De Kermabon, representative of the European Union and the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo; and of course Mr. Skender Hyseni. My delegation would like to begin by expressing its regret over the violent inter-ethnic incidents in recent months in the northern region of Kosovo, including those in recent days. Since last May we have indicated our concern to this Council, because those acts involve violations of the human rights of the civilian population and have led to the loss of innocent lives. We also wish to express our concern that the recurrence of those incidents could lead to an unstable situation in the region, which would make it difficult to reach a peaceful solution to the situation of Kosovo, one acceptable to both parties. For Mexico, the stability and development of Kosovo and the region depend on reconciliation between the communities. That is why we support the work of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to facilitate dialogue and cooperation between the parties, the local communities and the relevant international and regional organizations, in conformity with resolution 1244 (1999). We would like to reiterate in that respect the importance of the Security Council exhorting the parties to respect international law, abstain from any act of provocation that could increase the tension or violence, and promote efforts to bring about an environment of calm, stability and political dialogue, an environment of tolerance and reconciliation. That is very important, particularly to avoid tensions before the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. We are convinced that a lasting solution to the status of Kosovo must respect international law, including resolution 1244 (1999). That resolution continues to be the legal framework for bringing about that solution, and that is why the United Nations is the main forum in which to promote it, through dialogue and in collaboration with regional organizations such as the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. In my delegation’s opinion, in order to prevent new outbreaks of violence and instability in the northern Kosovo, it remains essential that the process of reconciliation be accompanied by policies that are aimed at guaranteeing the socio-economic stability of the communities in a non-discriminatory manner. It is especially important to bring the perpetrators of the acts of the past few days to justice once the investigations into the case have been concluded. With regard to Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence, we remain alert for the advisory opinion to be issued by the Court. We consider it essential to use all of the mechanisms for the peaceful solution of disputes in order to arrive at agreements on the final status of Kosovo that will guarantee the political, economic and social development and thus respect for the human rights of all its inhabitants. The delegation of Mexico firmly believes that all of the parties have the capacity to overcome past divisions and create a new environment that will make possible future solutions based on international law. We hope that peaceful and constructive dialogue will bring about mutually acceptable solutions that will promote the stability of Kosovo and the Balkans region.

At the outset, allow me to congratulate you, Madam President, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council and assure you of the full cooperation and support of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I would also like to express our appreciation to Ambassador Heller and his delegation for the great diplomatic skill with which they conducted the work of the Security Council during the month of June. I would like to thank Mr. Lamberto Zannier, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), and General De Kermabon for their briefings. I would also like to welcome the participation in today’s meeting of the President of Serbia, Mr. Boris Tadić, as well as Mr. Skender Hyseni. Bosnia and Herzegovina condemns the tragic event that occurred in the town of Mitrovica on 2 July 2010, in which one person was killed and 11 others were wounded. We regret the loss of life, and we wish to express our deepest condolences and sympathies to the families and friends of the victims. Furthermore, we would like to call for an investigation into the incident and for those who are responsible to be brought to justice. We wish to appeal to the parties to act in a responsible manner and refrain from provocation so that peace may prevail. Bosnia and Herzegovina strongly encourages the continuation of the process of reconciliation, dialogue and confidence-building, facilitated and mandated by United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo.

I welcome His Excellency Mr. Boris Tadić, President of the Republic of Serbia, and thank him for his statement. I thank Mr. Lamberto Zannier for his briefing, and I also appreciate the additional comments and information provided by the representative of the European Union. I thank Mr. Hyseni for his remarks. We deeply deplore the incident of 2 July in the city of Mitrovica, which resulted in one tragic death and the injury of several other people. We extend our condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased, and we join in condemning violence and calling for restraint. We expect appropriate measures to fully investigate the incident and to bring those responsible to justice. Although the overall security situation in Kosovo remains largely calm, the risk of ethnic tensions in the north has increased after this tragic incident. All concerned must ensure that Kosovo is a place where ethnic tolerance and multiculturalism allow for peaceful coexistence among communities. It should be remembered that resolution 1244 (1999) remains in force and therefore continues to be the key parameter guiding the international community concerning the situation in Kosovo. That position was expressed by Brazil in the public hearings conducted at the International Court of Justice in December 2009, as part of the proceedings related to the advisory opinion on the unilateral declaration of independence by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government of Kosovo. As the Security Council continues to be seized of the matter, the opinion of the Court, possibly later this year, will be a crucial element to bear in mind. Until such time, UNMIK should continue to play its constructive role in promoting engagement between Pristina and Belgrade. We expect both parties to cooperate fully with the Mission. Success in this area will benefit all. In this case, our collective duty is to ensure that every minority community can be protected from threats or acts of intimidation and harassment. We join the Secretary-General’s call to all sides to commit to dialogue, to help diffuse tensions and to keep peace and stability in the region.

Let me first thank you and your country, Madam President, on assuming the presidency of the Council and thank the delegation of Mexico for their outstanding work last month. We thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Zannier and General De Kermabon for their comprehensive briefings. We also thank His Excellency President Tadić and His Excellency Foreign Minister Hyseni for their statements. We have listened to them very carefully. Like other speakers before us, and in line with the statement made by High Representative Ashton, we condemn the act that led to the death of Mr. Dzeković and the injury of several others during the protests in North Mitrovica on 2 July. We call on the Kosovo police to investigate that deplorable incident with the support of European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and to bring those responsible to justice. We expect all parties to fully cooperate in this effort. We would like to express our gratitude and appreciation for the professional work of EULEX and the International Security Force in Kosovo (KFOR). We do not believe that the incident that we have been informed about today constitutes a threat to international peace and security, and what General De Kermabon has said to us about the security situation confirms this evaluation. At the same time, the latest events clearly show the importance of the presence of EULEX in northern Kosovo in order to avoid a further deterioration of the security situation. Austria fully supports the efforts of the European Union Mission to exercise its mandate, including in northern Kosovo, in full conformity with resolution 1244 (1999). We call on all sides to refrain from any escalation and to ease the existing tensions. We are quite aware of the continuing fundamental disagreement between Belgrade and Pristina on the status issue, and the position of my Government and my country on this matter is known. But we do not believe that this disagreement can or should preclude sustained efforts by all parties — and let me repeat, by all parties — towards greater stability, a peaceful dialogue and pragmatic solutions. That kind of pragmatic dialogue is exactly what is needed today in Kosovo and in the region, and that kind of dialogue also includes the need for increased cooperation by all sides with EULEX and the other international actors in Kosovo. Let me underline that that dialogue would also be in the interest of the European perspective of the entire region, as well as of its constituent parts.

At the outset, I should like to associate myself with previous speakers and congratulate you, Madam President, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council this month, and to thank the delegation of Mexico for its presidency last month. I should also like to welcome President Boris Tadić of Serbia and thank him for his statement. I also thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Lamberto Zannier and General De Kermabon of the European Union for their briefings, and Mr. Skender Hyseni for his statement. On 17 May, we heard a briefing from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Kosovo (see S/PV.6314) on the latest developments in the province. He informed us that the situation remained fragile, given the interruption in the dialogue and reconciliation process and the absence of solutions to a number of sensitive issues, notably missing persons, property, public services and the economy. We had hoped for positive developments and the resumption of dialogue to reduce tensions in northern Kosovo. However, the bombing that took place in North Mitrovica on Friday, which killed one person and injured 10, has dashed those hopes. We are further concerned about the armed attack that took place yesterday against Mr. Petar Miletić, a member of Parliament. Lebanon strongly condemns these attacks and all acts of violence in Kosovo. We reiterate our call for calm and for all parties to act responsibly and to refrain from any act that could lead to the escalation of tension and violence. In that context, we stress the importance of the role of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo in facilitating national reconciliation and consolidating security. Lebanon also stresses the need to promote conditions conducive to reducing tensions and invites Belgrade and Pristina to resume constructive and direct dialogue to prevent any deterioration of the security situation. We urge all influential parties in northern Kosovo to assist and encourage local communities to resume dialogue towards resolving sensitive issues, given their detrimental impact on the security of Kosovo and the Balkan region.

I wish you every success in your presidency, Madam, and assure you of the support of my delegation. I also thank the delegation of Mexico for its successful presidency in June. I shall be extremely brief. Allow me first to echo previous speakers in welcoming His Excellency Mr. Boris Tadić, President of the Republic of Serbia, and in thanking him for his statement. I also thank Mr. De Kermabon and Mr. Zannier for their comments. Like the rest of the world, my delegation learned of the unfortunate events in northern Kosovo on Friday that led to one death and numerous injuries. My delegation firmly condemns such violence and extends its condolences to the families of the deceased pediatrician. We are gratified that all have condemned these events and that the necessary inquiries are under way. The incident of Friday, 2 July, arose from the prevailing situation in Kosovo, in particular the tension among communities emerging, inter alia, from the issue of Kosovo’s status. My delegation reiterates in that regard its well-known position by reaffirming its support for the international process aimed at securing the national sovereignty of the territory. We seek a settlement based on resolution 1244 (1999) and support the mandate of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. Gabon also strongly favours dialogue and cooperation, which are essential to resolving the situation in Kosovo. We also feel that the Secretary-General’s six-point plan is an important contribution to the search for a negotiated solution to the problem of Kosovo.

I wish to start by congratulating you, Madam, on having assumed the presidency of the Council for the month of July. I also thank Ambassador Heller and the delegation of Mexico for having ably presided over the Council during the month of June. I welcome His Excellency Mr. Boris Tadić, President of the Republic of Serbia, and thank him for his statement. I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Lamberto Zannier for his briefing on the situation in northern Kosovo. I also thank Mr. De Kermabon of the European Union and Mr. Hyseni for their statements. We condemn the recent bombing attack in North Mitrovica and deplore the resulting of loss of life and injuries. It is important that the perpetrators of these acts be brought to justice in order to prevent their recurrence and to foster a sense of community among the communities. We encourage all sides to remain calm and to avoid any action that could exacerbate the fragile security situation any further. We also call on the parties to exercise restraint, mutual respect and tolerance in the interest of peace. It is important for the authorities in Kosovo to desist from taking any unilateral action in northern Kosovo that is of a provocative nature and could further aggravate the situation. There is a need to ensure adequate protection of the lives and property of the minority populations in northern Kosovo. We call on all the relevant players in the region to play their part in promoting and safeguarding peace. We welcome the continuing efforts of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo to promote security and stability in Kosovo and the entire region. We also commend the Mission for its work in encouraging reconciliation and facilitating dialogue. However, the recent incidents are a reminder of the need for the parties to commit themselves to dialogue and the implementation of resolution 1244 (1999).

I would like to congratulate you, Madam, and the Nigerian Mission on assuming the presidency of the Council for July. I also thank the Mexican Mission for the excellent way in which it conducted the presidency last month. I would like to welcome His Excellency Mr. Boris Tadić, President of Serbia, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, His Excellency Mr. Skender Hyseni. I would also like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Zannier and General De Kermabon for their briefings. We condemn the use of violence last week in northern Kosovo, which caused the death of one person and left several wounded. We express our condolences to the family of the deceased and our sympathies to the wounded. We call on all parties to refrain from making provocative statements that could further escalate the violence in the region. A new era will start with the announcement of the consultative opinion of the International Court of Justice, and we hope that the parties will seize this new opportunity to solve their problems through dialogue. In this sense, we deem it necessary to prevent violent actions on the ground that could jeopardize dialogue among the parties. It is therefore crucial to elucidate last week’s incident and to find the perpetrators. In the same vein, it is of the utmost importance that the international police and troops in Kosovo remain vigilant and continue to monitor the situation carefully in order to prevent an outbreak of violence. In conclusion, let me underline that Turkey attaches great importance to the security and well- being of all the communities in Kosovo. It is of vital importance that all individuals in Kosovo feel safe and secure. Bosniak Mahalla is a multiethnic world that constitutes a small-scale illustration of ordinary life in Kosovo. As such, all necessary measures should be taken for the security of the Bosniaks, Turks, Albanians and Serbs living there.

I, too, would like to congratulate you, Madam, on your assumption of the presidency, and to thank the delegation of Mexico for its excellent work in the previous month. I welcome President Boris Tadić of Serbia and to thank him for his statement. I also wish to welcome Foreign Minister Hyseni of Kosovo and to thank Special Representative Zannier and Mr. De Kermabon for their briefings. First of all, I would like to express my condolences over the loss of life and to convey my sympathy to the injured in the violence in North Mitrovica. Japan condemns that violent act. Such cowardly action hampers the ongoing effort to improve security and strengthen the rule of law in Kosovo with the support of the international community. Every effort must be made to prevent the recurrence of such attacks. It is important that the due process of law be brought to bear against those responsible for this criminal attack. At the same time, we are pleased to note that the overall security situation is calm. We hope that the Government of Kosovo will continue to stabilize security and improve the rule of law in the territory, in cooperation with United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, the European Union Rule of Law Mission and the Kosovo Force. Enhancing security and the rule of law is important to the stabilization and development of both Kosovo and the entire region. It is essential for all parties to tackle those challenges through dialogue and cooperation. We urge both Pristina and Belgrade to engage in constructive dialogue and address the challenges so as to enhance the lives of all of Kosovo’s residents. In my view, the human security approach is the most pertinent thing when we talk and think about the people of Kosovo, because it aims at creating conditions in which every individual, irrespective of ethnic group, is entitled and given an opportunity to live a peaceful, secure and dignified life. With that approach in mind, Japan will continue to cooperate to achieve sustainable economic development and peaceful coexistence among the diverse ethnicities in Kosovo, including in the northern provinces.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Nigeria. I would like join those who have already welcomed His Excellency President Boris Tadić and thanked him for his statement to the Council. I also thank Mr. Lamberto Zannier, Mr. De Kermabon and Mr. Hyseni for their briefings. The recent incident in Mitrovica that resulted in loss of life and several injuries was indeed regrettable. We urge all parties to act with restraint and to avoid provocative actions or pronouncements that may trigger further violence. There is a need to sustain efforts at building confidence among communities. In that context, we call on all parties to engage assiduously in promoting reconciliation and a peaceful settlement of pending issues through the time-tested principles of compromise and mutual respect. We reiterate that issues related to northern Kosovo and Kosovo in general should be addressed through peaceful means and close cooperation and coordination between all actors. In that regard, we urge all countries of the region, relevant stakeholders and the international community to commit to efforts towards the peaceful settlement of the Kosovo issue. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. The President of the Republic of Serbia has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I give him the floor. President Tadić: I would like to express my gratitude for the statements I have heard here today in the Security Council, including those by Mr. Zannier, Mr. De Kermabon and the Ambassadors of Member States represented here. In reference to the statement by Mr. Hyseni, I would say that a few ethnic groups have lived together for centuries in Kosovo and continue to do so today, including Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Bosniaks, Romas and Egyptians. Many peoples live in Kosovo today, and in the Balkans in general. Those proud nations have lived next to each other for centuries. There have been oscillations in our relations throughout history, but I respect all peoples and nations living in the Balkans today, including in my country of Serbia and in our southern province. But I do not know about the so called Kosovar identity. That is a new creation. I am sure that, if so called Kosovars are living under a new identity in other parts of Kosovo, they are not living in communities in which Serbs are the majority. That is especially the case in the northern part of Kosovo. Ethnic Serbs citizens of Serbia are living in Kosovo. They do not recognize the illegal unilateral attempt at cessation by ethnic Albanian citizens of Kosovo. Let us be very clear — the Security Council continues to support the position against the unilateral declaration of independence. Resolution 1244 (1999) is still our legal framework. Kosovo is therefore not a State. It has no sovereignty. This is not only Serbia’s position or that of the majority of the States Members of the United Nations; it is the position of the Security Council. Mr. Hyseni should accept that reality once and for all. To my great regret, the representative of the United States has just supported the establishment of the Pristina office in North Mitrovica, saying “it was the right thing to do”. That is disappointing. Everyone knows that the office is unwanted by Kosovo Serbs; everyone knows that this was a provocation; and everyone knows that it will not contribute to stability on the ground. Yet, it was supported. This means that “proving” Kosovo’s so called sovereignty is more important than restoring stability. Now I know the position, and I am greatly worried because of it, but I will continue to pursue a policy of peace and to pledge our commitment to finding a compromise solution to Kosovo’s future status. Some have mentioned history and 1989. I am very sorry about what happened in 1989. We could go back even further in history, to 1973, 1968 and 1941, but that would get us nowhere — like the unilateral declaration of independence, which was the consequence of the 2004 pogrom. So let me make a fundamental distinction between the sovereign State I represent and the authorities in Pristina. We prosecute our criminals. Those who committed atrocities in 1999 are brought to justice. Mass graves are uncovered and those who are responsible for them will go to jail. Some of them are already in jail. But no one went to jail for the hate crimes and ethnic cleansing of 2004. No one was held responsible by the ethnic Albanian authorities. The violence was seen as acceptable. It is a legacy of the Kosovo Liberation Army’s value of terror that surfaced yet again on Friday. That needs to be condemned. By definition, a community service centre that has been established against the will of the community itself is a clear act of aggression — an illegitimate act. So let me ask a simple question. What would happen if the Republic of Serbia established its own community service centre in Pristina to issue Serbian passports to the massive number of Kosovar Albanians who are asking for Serbian passports even today? Would the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), the Kosovo Force (KFOR) and Kosovo police special units defend such an office? Would KFOR and EULEX assist us? I am sure that they would not. We have to have consistent policies. We have to take into consideration both points of view, and we have to be very careful in order to find a real compromise solution that would bring peace and stability to the region. Serbia is committed to continuing such efforts in order to create a stable and prosperous region. Serbia respects all Serbian citizens and all people living in the region. We are pursuing such efforts, and I hope that, at the end of the day, we will all be together in the European Union. But before that, we have to find a real compromise solution in which both sides get something. It is not a compromise solution when one side gets everything and the other side — Serbia — loses everything.

Mr. Hyseni has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I now give him the floor. Mr. Hyseni: I would like to make a brief explanation. Kosovo is composed of the ethnic groups that make it up. Regardless of whether one is Albanian, Serb, Turk, Bosnian or Egyptian, we sometimes refer to them as Kosovars. This refers to the name of the land, of the country, not by the name of the ethnic group. So there is nothing wrong with referring to a Kosovo citizen as a Kosovar. I do not see anything wrong in that. Otherwise, speaking along ethnic lines, Kosovo is composed of the ethnic groups that we all know. The community service centre is not Pristina’s office. It is an office of the Republic of Kosovo in Bosniak Mahalla that has been opened after profound deliberations and profound assessments of need to offer citizens in the North the services they need. Again, I can assure the Council that the opening of this community service centre is directed against nobody; it is aimed at serving every single citizen in that part of Kosovo. We have heard again about terror on Friday. What we saw on Friday was an isolated criminal act that occurred amidst a protest rally — an apparently quite violent protest rally — with, evidently, a number of well-armed protesters. That is what the investigation will show at the end of the day. But let us wait for the conclusion of the investigation. This violent protest rally was organized to further the aim of undermining any positive process in that part of Kosovo. I have to emphasize once again that, unfortunately, it was organized with the backing and support of the authorities in Belgrade, who offer overwhelming support for the hardliners in the North of Kosovo. Serbia is welcome to work with us as two sovereign and neighbouring States. I am certain that the day will come when the two countries will work together for the benefit of peace in the Western Balkans and for the benefit of the European perspective of all seven countries of the Western Balkans. I am not certain when that will occur, but I am also very confident that the day will come when the Republic of Serbia will have an embassy in Kosovo. I do not expect that to happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. But I am confident that the day will come that it will happen. There is no other way forward but by mutual recognition — if not official, formal recognition now, at least practical recognition that Kosovo does exist; and that roughly 2.5 million Kosovars — we will take a census soon and see how many we are — of Albanian, Serb, Turk, Bosnian and Egyptian ethnicity, and so on and so forth, do exist in our country, just as they do in Serbia with its honourable citizenry in Serbia. Therefore, I am not willing to talk about history. The Council can rest assured that many in Kosovo like to refer to history in order to not forget what happened, so that the future is not a repetition of the past. Otherwise, we are not willing to refer to history because we have suffered so much, and everybody who has paid close attention to the history of our part of the world is aware of the immense suffering of the Albanian population there in the first place. The former Yugoslavia is gone for good, and not because of us. If it had depended on us, it might still be there. It is gone because of the efforts of the Republic of Serbia to put everyone else under its domination — all its constituent units, and Kosovo was a constituent unit of the Federation — with the right of veto at the federal level. Whatever the Council hears these days about how it is only the Republic of Serbia that still cherishes the values of the Non-Aligned Movement, I can assure it that that is not true. In conclusion, that is why I call on all members of the Security Council to exercise their influence so that Kosovo receives further recognition as an independent and sovereign State. By recognizing Kosovo, in the long run the Council will help to establish peace, safety and security throughout the Western Balkans.

There are no further speakers inscribed on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present state of its consideration of the item on its agenda.