UN to assume political role in Kosovo

Nov 26, 2008, 21:26 GMT

New York - The United Nations said Wednesday Kosovo's independence has propelled the body into assuming a political role to try to solve the sovereignty dispute between Kosovo and Serbia.

Serbia still claims Kosovo as its territory after Pristina declared independence in February, adopted a constitution in June and was recognized by a total of 52 governments, including the United States and many European nations.

The UN Mission in Kosovo, which began its work in 1999, is fast changing because Kosovo now is ruled by a government. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has ordered an accelerated reconfiguration of the mission so it can readjust to circumstances in the former Serb province.

The reconfiguration involves reducing UNMIK's size and functions.

'We need to be able to concentrate on the areas where we can still make a difference for good, rather than attempt to continue functions which are neither relevant nor needed,' Lamberto Zanier, the UN special envoy for Kosovo, told an open session of the UN Security Council.

'UNMIK's role is becoming much more political, for example providing an interface for the process of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina,' he said.

Zanier said the reconfigured UNMIK will play the role of an interlocutor for both sides even though Belgrade and Pristina may interpret the UN role in a different manner.

UMIK was sent in 1999 to help the territory recover from the destruction of the war and after Serb security forces were driven out by NATO. The UN has helped establish new institutions in Pristina, trained the police and a civilian administration. With a new government in Pristina, the UN mission's original mandate has become irrelevant.

Ban had informed the council that UNMIK has ceased to carry out most of its tasks after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.

'The reconfiguration is both timely and necessary, and is being accelerated in order to adapt it fully to the prevailing circumstances on the ground,' Ban said.

'It is taking place in a transparent manner with respect to all stakeholders and is consistent with the UN position of strict neutrality on the question of Kosovo's status,' he said.

The European Union was sending a law and order mission to assist Kosovo as a full-fledged state.

Ban said the EU mission, known as EULEX, will be deployed throughout Kosovo in coordination with UNMIK, while the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will focus on assisting the reconfigured UN mission.

Kosovo has disagreed with the way UNMIK was reconfigured while it was accepted by Serbia.

Ban said in his report that the new Kosovo government in Pristina had rejected the new lineup of UNMIK and preferred a 'quick deployment' of EULEX and would cooperate with it instead.