David Stanton
Question:13 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a report on the political situation in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14522/04]
View answerWednesday, 19 May 2004
Questions (22)
Written answers
The security situation in Kosovo has stabilised since the outbreak of ethnic violence on 17 and 18 March, in which 19 people were killed, many were injured and hundreds of families were forced to flee their homes. The violence was a serious setback for Kosovo, endangering progress made in recent years. In his statement to the UN Security Council on 11 May, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Kosovo, Harri Holkeri, acknowledged that the violence had challenged efforts to build a multi-ethnic Kosovo, in which all its citizens can live in peace and security.
Under the Irish Presidency, the European Council and the General Affairs and External Relations Council have considered developments in Kosovo closely. The EU has reiterated its strong support for the work of the UN Special Representative and of the UN Mission in Kosovo in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1244. The Council has reaffirmed its commitment to the policy of standards before status, and has called on Kosovo's political leaders to demonstrate unambiguously their commitment to a multi-ethnic Kosovo and to the security and rights of minority communities.
On 31 March, Special Representative Holkeri, together with Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi, presented the Kosovo standards implementation plan, which sets out in detail the actions and policies required if Kosovo is to achieve European standards in eight broad areas. We have welcomed the plan as an essential element in a strengthened policy of standards before status. A draft had been in preparation for some months, and following the violence in March it was revised to include a series of priority actions on the return of displaced persons to their homes. The UN has emphasised that the plan needs to be strengthened further, with additional emphasis on ensuring security, minority rights, the return of displaced persons, the strengthening of local government and economic development. It is clear that if the objective of an overall review of progress in mid-2005 is to be reached, the provisional institutions of self-government need to speed up implementation of the agreed policies, including on effective local government. The ethnic violence has seriously undermined trust between the communities in Kosovo. It is essential that the Kosovo Serb community has the confidence to engage fully in the political process. It is also clear that progress on the implementation of standards must involve a resumption of the direct dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which had begun to make some practical progress in early March, and which has been suspended since the outbreak of violence.
The violence in March drew international attention back to the situation in Kosovo, and to the danger that it could contribute to instability in the wider region. There is broad agreement that Kosovo's leaders and the international community have lessons to learn from what happened. The UN is reviewing its response to the events, and its structures in Kosovo. The EU is also considering how it can enhance its role in support of the policy of standards before status. In addition to the discussions at the formal meetings of the Council, I considered it important that Ministers have a detailed exchange of views on Kosovo at the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers in Tullamore on 16 April. The situation in Kosovo will remain on the European Union's foreign policy agenda for the remainder of Ireland's Presidency. The EU will remain in close contact with the United Nations, and also with the United States, Russia and the wider international community as we examine how the structures established by the international community to assist Kosovo under UN administration should be adapted to take account of recent developments and to promote the effective implementation of standards in the interests of all communities in Kosovo.