Everything told yesterday about Kosovo at UN Security Council meeting

At this focus meeting of discussions was the Kosovo Special Unit action in the north and the arrest of Serbian citizens, as well as a UNMIK official.

The secretary-general's report includes UNMIK's work from January 16th to May 15th this year, in which it stresses that tensions between Pristina and Belgrade remain the obstacle to the constructive continuation of dialogue.

Chief of UNMIK, Zahir Tanin, has presented the report for the three-month work of this mission in Kosovo, saying the situation on the ground and Kosovo reports- Serbia is still fragile.

He said today's meeting of the UN KS coincided with Resolution 1244 to end the Kosovo war and that during these years there has been progress in Kosovo.

The lack of additional commitment of the parties can be reversed, which has often happened. Productive commitments between Kosovo and Serbia have not occurred since autumn 2018. The 100 per cent tax imposed by Pristina on Serbian goods and those from Bosnia still continue, despite the call for its removal. Belgrade has a stance on lifting the tax as a condition for continuing EU-backed talks. Pristina leaders have also had” conditions, says Tan's report.

He called on leaders of all sides to exercise their responsibility, so that the complex situation can lead away from serious escalation, without threats and ultimatum.

“I hope that all engaged parties can work together that the previous meeting in Paris is used by parties to turn to the fundamental issues affecting people's lives”, the report says.

Tanin has talked about Kosovo Police action in the fight against crime and corruption, where two UNMIK members, a Russian and a local member were arrested after obstructing police in carrying out the tasks. Speaking about UNMIK member Tan's announcement of non-grained persons has moons that such a thing does not apply to members of the UN mission.

In his address, Serbia's diplomatic chief, Ivica Dacic, has again accused official Pristina of failing to implement Brussels' agreements, including the formation of association of Serbian municipalities. While police action in the north against organised crime has called it unacceptable in order to intimidate Serbs in Kosovo.

Thaci's statement makes us wonder what we've done so far. The question is whether that actually was the dialogue. Serbia has asked for dialogue, but this is an insult to the international community that no agreements have been implemented. As a responsible partner Serbia has implemented all the agreements, but Pristina representatives have said they will not apply it very clearly and have threatened the EU by saying they will join Albania and annex three municipalities in Serbia. Who can convince us that Pristina will not behave the same way in the future. Now come also the threats of Albania's prime minister for joining Kosovo”, Dacic said.

He has also talked about police action in northern Kosovo, as according to him the excessive use of the police force was in order to intimidate Serbs in Kosovo, and that this unacceptable act if it is not punished, the Serb population in Kosovo will be afraid”.

“Even UNMIK members are no longer safe in Kosovo when its members are unwanted if they fail to adapt to Pristina. Without any body, Pristina has offered the mission to reconsider its presence in the north. We are far from the stable situation in Kosovo. Risking the situation may be costly and that recent developments show that no one can assume the responsibility of this”, he said.

Daciq said that “Pristina is planning an attack on the north” and demanded that “be prevented from causing a new bloodshed”.

While immediate was the response of Kosovo's ambassador to the US, Vlora Citaku. She said she was grateful. UNMIK for the contribution, but no longer sees reason to continue the mission.

The “Security Mechanism and KFOR guarantee it in the safety of our people. Can anyone in this room tell me what UNMIK's business is in Kosovo? The resources of this mission can be much better exploited elsewhere”, she said.

At this meeting, she also mentioned the police operation in the country's north, saying police have been exiled to fight crime and corruption.

“Kosovo police is an organisation that operates with the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. She has proved that she is willing to cooperate in the fight against crime. Kosovo police have organised a successful operation aimed at fighting corruption in several countries, and the operation has come after several months' investigations. Twelve locations have been raided, 19 police officers arrested. They are citizens of Kosovo. Kosovo police have not faced resistance during the implementation of the plan, with the exception of where in Zubin Potok, where police faced armed resistance, gun shootings and roadblocks placed on the road”, Citaku has said, adding that several civilians have been arrested for this.

“Among them has been a diplomat of the Russian community, Mikhail Krasnoschenkov. He has used the UN official vehicle with UN license plates to stop action. Police during the investigation have found a motor vehicle in the official vehicle to cut down trees to be placed as barricades. He has refused to co-operate with the Kosovo Police and has refused to show identification documents. After that, Kosovo police have continued to arrest him, where he was sent to the police station and kept in custody. She has even been given medical treatment. So nothing serious”, she said.

According to her, Kosovo has been a host of very large numbers of foreign diplomats.

There has never been any truth that Kosovo Police target foreign diplomats. Russian diplomat Mikhail Krasnoschenkov was willingly made the obstacle or shield of criminal gangs. What would happen if one of us here prevented a police operation here, or Moscow, or Berlin, or anywhere in the world. The Kosovo government has fully respected international legislation regulating diplomatic status, it has nothing to do with UNMIK. Should we understand that the UN mandate has expanded to include even preventing law enforcement in their mandate. A member of the UN mission in Kosovo puts the lives of our officials at risk. We're looking for UN investigation into this unprecedented behavior”, she said.

Citaku has also mentioned the Serbian prime minister's statement about Kosovars who had said they were people coming from the mountain. She has said she would like to hear these statements in the UN as well.

I would like to hear them repeat these statements for Kosovo's men and women that make us proud in art, sports and other fields. And before the families of martyrs who made the last sacrifice for freedom. The words spoken outside and thoughts inside of the people of Kosovo are that we will never be listed by Serbia. This room will not be distracted by haters. The Republic of Kosovo will never stop its path to peace with our neighbours, including Serbia. Come visit Kosovo and see for yourself the progress we have made. See our mountains that we're proud of coming from”, she said.

While United States representative Jonathan Cohen has demanded that Kosovo and Serbia resume dialogue at this meeting.

“must remove obstacles and return immediately to dialogue. That means lifting the fee on Serbian products and no more provocations. Kosovo's independence is reality, both sides must move on their European path. We must engage in law enforcement, in combating smuggling and corruption”, he said.

Cohen has also mentioned the police operation in Kosovo, and the obstacles imposed by the Russian diplomat.

The May 28th police operation has occurred in many Kosovo countries. It is depressing that Kosovo police have faced barricades and have been wounded. The involvement of UNMIK personnel and cars is distressing. Post-operation investigation is important to present facts. The obstruction of a legal exercise is not in the interest of people in Kosovo. These events show that the parties should immediately return dialogue to the two countries”, he said.

And German Deputy Ambassador to the UN Jürgen Schulz has asked Kosovo to lift the fee for products of Serbia and Bosnia. He has also called on Serbia to stop calling for Kosovo's non-recognition.

“We plan Kosovo to lift the fee to the products of BiH and Serbia, because it is contrary to the CEFTA agreement. We also call on Serbia to stop calls for non-recognition of Kosovo. Stability for both countries in the region is in the interest of all. Divisions on ethnic lines do not contribute anything”, he said.

Regarding the UNMIK mission, he stressed that it must be revised.

“While seeking to become a strategic review of the UNMIK mission. The mission must adapt to the new environment in Kosovo. It is time for change, as Kosovo institutions have taken over the role of UNMIK”, he has said.

Schulz has opposed the Russian Federation's representative for what he said about the countries that support Kosovo.

I want to say that what happened in the history of the conflict in 1998 and 199 is a unfortunate story, and these do not help anyone. I don't want to sit on that level and hold on to further comments”, he said.

While Russia's UN ambassador accused Kosovo's Ambassador Vlora Citaku of lying to justify police action in the north.

The illegal action is so clear. Kosovo police have conducted an invasion of northern Kosovo. The Russian official in the UN mission was beaten and Citaku offered us a version of the event that is contrary to logic. She did not even say his name exactly”, the Russian diplomat said.

He also spoke of adopting the resolution on the Serbian genocide in Kosovo, saying it was intended to distract problems until it spoke out against forming the Kosovo Army, which, according to him, is contrary to Resolution 1244. The Russian diplomat also said there is no alternative to continuing Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

France's representative at today's UN session urged Pristina to lift taxes on Serbian goods and urged all sides to refrain from raising tensions, saying the current situation is not sustainable.

Speaking of the Kosovo Police operation in the north against organised crime and corruption, the French diplomat stressed that France supports the fight against crime and corruption, respecting the rule of law and the local context.

On the other hand, the UN representative of Great Britain welcomed Germany and France's efforts to organise a meeting to resolve the problem and invited representatives of Belgrade and Pristina to find a solution and reach a stable agreement. He also welcomed Pristina's efforts to fight corruption and organised crime, as well as UNMIK's efforts on persons found.

Chinese Deputy Ambassador to the UN Wu Hayto said China is concerned about obstructing the UN mission's work in Kosovo and that the arrest of Russian UNMIK member UNMIK is unacceptable.

According to him, the best way to resolve problems is under Resolution 1244, stressing that it is important that the UN Security Council help both sides reach an agreement.

And according to the head of the UN session from Kuwait, there should be concern over increasing Pristina-Belgrade tensions, and invited parties to refrain from provocative statements and provocative actions, to pave the way for an overall agreement on normalising relations between the two sides.

But after the end of the meeting, there has been fierce controversy between Kosovo's ambassador to Washington, Vlora Citaku and Serbian diplomacy chief Ivica Dacic. While the latter has seen his lies no longer being sold, he has physically attacked and insulted Ambassador Citaku.

Serbian top diplomat Ivica Dacic has even used this Security Council meeting to make slander and accusations towards Kosovo, separately regarding police action in northern Kosovo against police officials suspected of smuggling and organised crime.

Teuta Sahaqi, Consule General of the Republic of Kosovo in New York, who was present at the UN meeting.

She indicated that Citaku's ambassador during her speech said that “Kosovo is not the product of session from Serbia but the product of decolonisation from it”.

“Daciqi started immediately with grave insults and words saying she [Chitaku] is lying and that it's not true”, Sahati said

As after the end of this meeting, Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli has called the total theatre today's session of the UN Security Council.

Pacolli, through a Facebook post, has called the UNMIK chief's report to today's UN meeting unacceptable. While condemning the appearance of Serbian diplomacy chief Ivica Dacic, who according to Pacolli, has served with lies and shameful counterfeits.

“The UN Security Council's meetings for Kosovo are outdated and completely unnecessary and only to make some UN officials happy, as if they do something. Total theater”, he wrote.

Similarly, Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj has responded to UNMIK chief's statements in Kosovo, Zahir Tanin, who said the Russian official has been mistreated during the police action against organised crime and corruption.

Hoxhaj has seen the strange fact that 20 years after the adoption of Resolution 1244, which brought peace to Kosovo, Secretary General's Special Representative Tanin would misuse the Security Council in this way by spreading false news.

He through a post in his Twitter account said the truth is that an official of UNMIK has directly intervened, preventing police action against organised crime and corruption in the country's north.