UN Security Council to Discuss Situation in Kosovo

In the report, obtained by Tanjug, Ban says that the UN force in Kosovo, UNMIK, is ready to fully support the investigation into allegations of human organ trafficking and also expressed his expectation that there will be visible progress towards an open dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina in the coming period.

The report, which refers to the period between October 19 and January 15 this year, notes that UNMIK presented the information and findings on the alleged human organ trafficking to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, ICTY, in 2003, and that in late 2008 and early 2009 it transferred all related documents to the EU mission in Kosovo, EULEX.

In Belgrade on Wednesday, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic addressed Ban's comments in the report about investigations into alleged organ trafficking.

In an interview for the Tanjug news agency, he said: “All war crimes committed during the wars in the former Yugoslavia have so far been investigated in scope of the mandate of UN Security Council which has been dully informed of the results of those investigations. Things have to be done in the same way this time as well.”

Jeremic cautioned that EULEX "cannot carry out the investigation by itself, since it lacks territorial jurisdiction over the countries in which such an investigation should be launched, as its mandate covers only Kosovo and Metohija".

"On the other hand, we have to make it possible for the investigative mechanism, whatever its nature, to have the capacity to protect witnesses," Jeremic added, noting that witness protection was also one of the important parts of Marty's report.

In his report to the Security Council, Ban expressed regret that the collapse of the ruling coalition in Pristina and the subsequent snap elections had postponed the launch of talks between Belgrade and Pristina.

The UN secretary-general said he hoped that there would be visible progress in the dialogue process and that the developments in Pristina would contribute to political stability that would lead to a prompt start to negotiations.

Ban assessed the overall situation in Kosovo as relatively quiet but still potentially unstable, noting that organised crime remains a concern, especially in relation to drug trafficking and smuggling.

Commenting on the situation in northern Kosovo, the UN secretary-general expressed regret that certain media outlets in Kosovo misrepresented the activities of UNMIK. Ban said that the media wrote that the UN body is the main obstacle facing Pristina as it aims extend its authority and implement its strategy for the north of Kosovo.

Kosovo's authorities, he added, especially those in southern Kosovska Mitrovica, regularly challenged the authority of UNMIK.

Ban wrote that the dispute over the new license plates might have a negative impact on the freedom of movement, as well as on the political and security situation. Kosovo authorities in 2010 tried to prevent cars with Kosovo plates issued in Serbia from entering the territory, a move that sparked controversy among Serbs.

Meanwhile, both Serbia and Kosovo have been lobbying hard in New York in the run up to today's session. Kosovo's acting foreign minister Vlora Citaku has met with ambassadors from Latin American, African and Middle Eastern states to urge them to recognise Kosovo's independence.

Jeremic said that Serbian diplomats have had intensive consultations with all UN Security Council member states over the past few weeks, all with the aim to secure the broadest possible support at today's session.

“I do not expect the debate to be completed today. This is just the beginning of the debate and talks in the scope of the Security Council. Serbia will continue to insist on the launching of a credible international investigation within the UN Security Council mandate,” the foreign minister underscored.