Kosovo at Security Council agenda on 21 October

Russia currently heads the Security Council's monthly presidency. Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia explained that on October 8th the Security Council will physically assemble in its hall, 7 months after holding virtual street meetings due to Avid19. The Kosovo meeting is currently not known in what form. In April the meeting took place virtually.

According to preliminary reports of the secret counseling report.org Special Envoy and Chief of Staff UNMIK, Zahir Tan, will brief the Security Council on recent developments in Kosovo. By 9 October, Security Council members will take over UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' Kosovo report. On its basis, Security Council members prepare the word they will hold at the meeting.

Recent Developments

Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq signed the agreement on 4 September to normalise economic relations. The signing took place at the White House in the presence of US President Donald Trump, after delegations held two days of talks in the presence of the American administration. The agreement focuses mainly on improving economic relations between the two countries and reconfirms some of the previously established agreements, such as the one for establishing railway transport and building a highway between Pristina and Belgrade. Also agreed to postpone with a year Kosovo's quest for membership in international organisations and the Serbian campaign to convince countries that have recognised Kosovo to reverse recognition.

Further agreements include improving relations with Israel: Kosovo and Israel recognise each other, and Serbia place its embassy in Jerusalem. Both Kosovo and Serbia have agreed to call the Hezbollah terrorist organisation. When they spoke about the media, both Vucié and Hoti gave different interpretations of the agreements. Vuciq said Serbia has not signed trilateral agreements, but only bilateral agreements with the US, which does not include recognition of a third party, making allegations for Kosovo. Hoti, however, called the agreement forward to reach the final agreement and mutual recognition.

The high-level talks between Belgrade and Pristina, led by the European Union, were held in July, after a 20-month break.

Vuciq and Hoti agreed to hold dialogue at the summit held 10 July with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. On September 7th, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell organised a meeting with Vuciq and Hoti in Brussels. Prior to the meeting, Vučić and Hoti issued a joint statement confirming the continuation of the EU-led Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and stressed the priority the countries' EU integration has. They said the agreement signed in Washington could contribute to the achievement of the comprehensive “comprehensive, legally binding agreement for normalising relations”.

The same day European Commission spokesman Peter Stano voiced concern about Serbia's decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem, a decision that conflicts with the EU's common position on the status of Jerusalem. In response to Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, he said the decision to shift the embassy would be discussed by the government and that the decision would depend on other factors, including the development of further relations with Israel.

On 24 June, the Special Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment together with Kosovo Special Chambers (KSC) against President Hashim Thaci, among other things for crimes against humanity and war crimes. Thaci was questioned by prosecutors in The Hague, where he volunteered on 13 July. He dismissed all charges. On September 24, the Special Prosecutor's Office arrested former U officer CK, Salih Mustafa under an arrest warrant issued by Kosovo Special Chambers. So far no details have been given about the specifics of the charges brought against Mustaf.

Key Issues and Options

Maintaining stability in Kosovo remains the main concern of the Security Council. The Security Council will continue to monitor diplomatic efforts to progress with the Pristina- Belgrade dialogue and any kind of effort to reach the final agreement for Kosovo.

While the EU-organised Belgrade-Pristina dialogue continues, one of the issues that concerns the Security Council is the failure to implement existing agreements, particularly the one for the establishment of Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo, inhabited by the Serb majority. The question of the role she might play relates to her U n NICH in implementing existing agreements. The Security Council will closely follow developments related to Kosovo Special Chambers, KSC. One of the issues the Security Council will deal with is Kosovo's co-operation with the KSC, bearing in mind that some Kosovo political actors have criticised the work of the KSC. If Kosovo is to limit co-operation with the Special Chambers, the Security Council will issue a statement urging Kosovo authorities to stick to its commitments to the tribunal.

Some Security Council members, especially those of the P3, (France, Great Britain and the US) continue to seek to reduce UNMIK's reporting cycle to the Security Council and close UNMIK, given the relative stability at the base. While the Security Council has reached an agreement in February 2018 on lowering the frequency of reporting, it could ask the UN Secretary General to make a strategic review of UNMIK, given the mission's effectiveness.

Dynamica in Security Council and Larger

Kosovo remains a <x0-second issue of low intensity” for the Security Council, the Security Council has long said, citing this technical term to say that Kosovo is not an emergency issue for the Council. The term has its own explanation in conflict vocabulary. For the Security Council, Kosovo is a closely pursued issue by countries with particular interests for the region. This partly due to the superiority that regional organisations, such as the EU, NATO and O The SEU has anything to do with problems related to Kosovo.

Also, very different positions continue to exist among permanent members of the Security Council, when it comes to Kosovo. France, the United Kingdom and the US have recognised Kosovo's independence and have support trends for its government. China and Russia do not recognise Kosovo's independence and strongly support Serbia's position. Among the Security Council elected members Ireland and Norway have recognised Kosovo. The US is a follower of UNMIK closure, given the level of stability in Kosovo. The US also says UNMIK has overloaded staff and exploits resources that are far greater than its responsibility, resources that can be used elsewhere where there are more emergency situations. The issue of modification of UNMIK's mandate and its possible closure could be decided in order of the day in the following period, if the number of Council members supporting this position increases.

While UN missions around the world are being discussed regularly by the Security Council, the mandate of UNMIK is limitless. Any attempt to change the mandate will require new resolution, which is rejected and could be blocked by Russia.