UNSC Discusses Kosovo Behind Closed Doors

According to unnamed diplomatic sources cited by news agency Tanjug, Western delegates have insisted that the session be closed to the public. 

The Security Council held consultations on Wednesday to discuss a letter sent by the Serbian government urging the UN body to prevent Pristina's authorities from taking control of two border points and customs controls in northern Kosovo.

In July, the Kosovo government sent some members of its police to these two border points to enforce a trade ban on goods entering the country from neighbouring Serbia. At the time, this provoked outrage among local inhabitants, who are predominantly Serb and do not recognise Kosovo's declaration of independence. 

Jeremic confirmed that Serbia had addressed a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon requesting that the UN Security Council prevent Pristina authorities from again taking control of the two checkpoints in the north.

Jeremic also used the correspondence to reiterate that the Security Council and the international mission in Kosovo, through KFOR and EULEX and in accordance with UN Resolution 1244, are responsible for the situation in Kosovo.

The foreign minister pointed out that if Pristina’s announcements of the use force by the end of this week results in the compromising of stability and human casualties, “the responsibility will lie in the court of those mandated to prevent such moves" – primarily the European Union and NATO.

Jeremic used the letter to urge the UN “to take all necessary measures to prevent any action that is not authorised by the Acting Special Representative of the Secretary General or the Security Council".