S266/05
Summary of the remarks to the press by EU HR Javier Solana and UN Special Representative Soren Jessen-Petersen following the meetings in Pristina
Pristina, 20 July 2005
Mr Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), made the following remarks to the media after his meetings with political leaders in Pristina on 20 July: "For me it is a great pleasure to be back in Pristina at a very important moment. A moment in which the process of analysis of the standards and decentralisation is taking place and a moment in which a new page, probably, of the history of Kosovo is beginning to be written. I would like to tell you that, from the European Union, we will continue to support Kosovo, we will continue to accompany you on the journey that I think would lead to where the dreams of many people are lying now. But I would like to say that I have been a little surprised to see what I would call – what is to my mind – a slow-down on the process of the standards, the process of decentralisation. I think that is a mistake. This is the moment in which the leaders of Kosovo, the Government, should do the opposite, should move faster to prove that the process of the standards and the process of decentralisation is something which they believe, they believe whole-heartedly, and they want to move it forward. From that point of view I would like to make a clear point, as I have made to all the leaders I have met today, but also to say it publicly: I think for instance that the pilot projects are not sufficient in number, I would like to see more pilot projects operational, in particular more pilot projects for the Kosovo Serbs. They have only one; they should at least have, at this point in time, two that are operational. I like to say once again that I will be coming back at the end of the month of August, early September, to continue being (inaudible) with your leaders in this important moment in which you are living. I hope very much that everybody will grasp this opportunity they have, offered by you at this moment with the support of the United Nations, the support of the international community, and that everything will be done in the right manner. So I say only until the end of August, I will not say goodbye because I will be coming back in late August, early September. I hope at that time, it will be a sentiment of hope, and a sentiment of constructiveness in the cooperation of everybody. Thank you."
FOR FURTHER DETAILS: The Spokesperson of the Secretary General, High Representative for CFSP +32 (0)2 285 6467 / 8239 / 6217 / 5150 / 5151 +32 (0)2 285 5694 internet: http://ue.eu.int/solana
e-mail: presse.cabinet@consilium.eu.int
The following is a summary of the questions and answers at the press conference: Question from the BBC: Mr Solana, you have been in Belgrade and you met the Serb representatives there, high officials, you met also the Albanians in Kosovo together. So, can you be a bit specific, what was your message to Belgrade (during the visit on 19 July) and what was your message, your concrete message, to Pristina today? Javier Solana: As I said, in Belgrade we talked about many things. Practically, Kosovo was not the most important one that we spoke (about) last night because as you know we had to talk a lot about the State Union of Serbia-Montenegro to which we devoted most of the time. As you know it is an important issue, which is also a point in the debate. But as far as Kosovo (is concerned) I told the leaders there that to my mind representatives of the Kosovo Serbs here should participate in the institutions that exist. That, as you know, is a position that I have defended from the very beginning and I keep defending it. Secondly, to the Pristina leaders I said what I said to you: That the process of the standards, the process of decentralisation, pilot projects cannot be slowed down, on the contrary, this is a moment, as I said before, when you are going to be watched by the international community, when you are going to be under analysis that is being done by someone appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations, you have to prove that you want to move in that direction that that is the action that will construct a Kosovo in which the peoples of all ethnicities will be able to live together in a multi-ethnic Kosovo. Question: (in Serbian, no translation) on Kosovo Serbs and support from UNMIK. Javier Solana: That is not a question for me, I cannot speak on behalf of the Kosovo Serbs, and I cannot speak on behalf of UNMIK. Therefore, I cannot answer your question. Question from Reuters: If Kosovo moves sufficiently on decentralisation, will it have done enough in your opinion for negotiations on status to begin? Javier Solana: That is something that has to be judged by the Security Council of the United Nations. Soren Jessen-Petersen then replied to the last question and spoke on several additional points. To the question about the Kosovo Serbs not having received enough support from UNMIK, he said he was surprised because, throughout the period in which the Kosovo Serbs had not participated in the institutions they had always urged Belgrade to give them the green light, and they had stayed in touch on an almost daily basis with the Kosovo Serbs. In many ways, he said, they had been trying to act on behalf of or in the interest of the Kosovo Serbs. He recognized that in many areas the Kosovo Serbs might be disappointed but stressed that the only right response was that as long as the Kosovo Serbs were being denied the opportunity to participate, nobody could really take care of their interests. They (the Kosovo Serbs) were the real victims of this policy. He agreed with Mr Solana that there had recently been a slow-down in the implementation of some of the standards. There were three reasons for that slow-down: 1. there needed to be a stronger commitment on the part of the Kosovo Albanian leadership; 2. as long as Belgrade denied the Kosovo Serbs the opportunity to be part of the process, there would be limits to progress on returns and on freedom of movement. 3. considerations in both Belgrade and Pristina were more and more linked with considerations on status discussions. There was clearly a slow-down and all sides were responsible for ensuring that progress continued.
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Question on administrative measures to punish those not taking up reforms and on the repercussions of the slow-down. Soren Jessen-Petersen replied that if there was any kind of negligence in the performance, if there were violations of rules, he was talking about a stronger commitment on the part of the Government here, and also on the part of the opposition parties. The implications of a slow-down would be reviewed in the comprehensive review by Ambassador Eide. He clarified that, on the subject of pilot projects, Mr Solana's point was that the pilot projects of direct interest to the Kosovo Serbs must include at least two cadastral zones. Question: on whether Mr Jessen-Petersen would still be signing the administrative direction on decentralisation by Friday. Soren Jessen-Petersen: There was a meeting right then at 16:00 between the minister, the Kosovo Serbs, and UNMIK to discuss two issues. He needed first to see what the final answer was on the cadastral zones, as he had made clear. Secondly, he would also like to see a list of the counsellors that would be appointed in these pilot projects. He needed to know that there was already a list ready. ________
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