UN peacekeeping chief concludes Kosovo tour, 1244 stays intact
UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Marie Guehenno concluded the three-day-long Kosovo fact-finding mission on Monday, making it clear the UN mandate in province remains defined under the provisions of Security Council resolution 1244, unless the 15-member body decides otherwise.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Guehenno, who is the first high ranking UN official to visit Kosovo since the Pristina parliament declared independence from Serbia in mid-February, met with a series of top leaders in Belgrade and Pristina, including Premier Vojislav Kostunica, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic and Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic.
His agenda in Kosovo included talks with UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker, President Fatmir Sejdiu, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and local Albanian and Serb leaders in apparent attempt to break a deadlock in functioning of key institutions, including judiciary, police, education, health services and customs.
Simultaneously with Guehenno's trip to Balkans, Security Council ambassadors gave a boost to negotiations on top international level, hoping to overcome divides between Russia and West on this volatile issue and come up with a legal framework for the European Union 2,200-strong mission to the province, while protecting Serbian interests.
However, no serious breakthrough in talks between US and Russia is expected prior to upcoming parliamentary elections in Serbia, but the general idea includes foggy co-habitation between UNMIK, EULEX, Kosovo institutions and Serb enclaves, as a basis for a conflict-free solution of a decade-long crisis.
Guehenno, reportedly, offered serious incentives to local Serbian leaders in northern Kosovo, especially in solving the problems in judiciary.
The Serbian stance in talks with top UN official remained unchanged, as caretaker premier Vojislav Kostunica warned that resolution 1244 has to be kept in place as the only legal basis for Kosovo's status, calling the EU's plan to take over the province's administration "illegal".
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced Guehenno's visit almost immediately after the unilateral declaration of independence on February 17, but the delay has been explained as a product of complicated circumstances surrounding this controversial issue.
Guehenno's task is to start of productive talks aimed at solving a series of troubling issues, including the Serbian presence in UNMIK-led institutions in Kosovo, including police, judiciary, education, health services and customs.
The discussions will also cover so-called dual international administration, created after the European Union agreed to deploy its 2,200 strong mission in Kosovo, creating the legal mess and unclear division of powers between two international organizations.
Guehenno, whose mandate on the helm of UN peacekeeping expires in June, has been dubbed as potential successor of UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker, who expressed rather large desire to leave the volatile province after a series of inner-conflicts with his fellow UN officials.
His visit to Kosovo came amid ongoing UN investigation into circumstances which led to violent clashes between Serb demonstrators and UN police in northern Kosovska Mitrovica in mid-March, which resulted with the death of a Ukrainian policeman and dozens of injured internationals and protesters.
The investigation, led by UN secretary-General's specially appointed representative, Ugandan lawyer Francis SSekandi, plans to cover wide range of issues including the personal responsibility for violence by local Serb leaders and UN officials, as well as the use of lethal or banned ammunition.
