Stability, de-escalation main priorities in Kosovo - Guterres's report on UNMIK

NEW YORK - In the latest report on the situation in Kosovo-Metohija, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the UN Security Council's main priority is to "maintain stability in Kosovo and promote the de-escalation of tensions in the north."

"As the Council president in October, Brazil may consider changing the format of the meeting from an open briefing to closed consultations. This could allow for a more candid discussion of challenges to the implementation of the February agreement," said an analysis of Guterres's report, published by the organisation Security Council Report.

"Council members are united in supporting the EU-facilitated dialogue to establish conditions for the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. Deep divisions among permanent members, however, have continued to characterise the Council’s approach to the issue. Among the five permanent Council members, France, the UK, and the US recognise Kosovo’s independence and tend to be supportive of its government; China and Russia do not recognise its independence and strongly support Serbia’s position and its claim to territorial integrity. Seven elected members (Albania, Gabon, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Switzerland, and the UAE) recognise Kosovo’s independence while three (Brazil, Ecuador, and Mozambique) do not.

The issue of modifying UNMIK’s mandate with a view to its possible drawdown is another point of contention among Council members.

The US has been the most vocal proponent of ending UNMIK’s mandate and reducing the frequency of briefings, citing the level of stability in Kosovo. Similarly, the UK has called for a review of UNMIK’s mandate, arguing that conditions on the ground have completely changed since UNMIK was established 23 years ago."

"Russia, however, has opposed the idea of altering UNMIK’s mandate and cutting its budget, advocating instead for maintaining the open and regular nature of Council meetings on the situation in Kosovo," the analysis said.

The report outlines developments in Kosovo-Metohija between February this year, when Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Pristina's PM Albin Kurti agreed to an "EU proposal to normalise relations between Kosovo and Serbia," and September, when EU foreign policy and security chief Josep Borrell attributed the deadlock in the talks to "Kurti’s insistence that Serbia formally recognise Kosovo as a prerequisite for advancing the February agreement," adding that Vucic had accepted the EU’s proposal on implementing the political aspects of normalisation simultaneously.

"Kurti was not ready to move forward and start a credible process towards establishing the Association/Community”, Borrell said at the time, adding that Kurti had "insisted instead on formalising de facto recognition (of Kosovo) as the first step."

Guterres notes that the UN SC will "continue to monitor diplomatic efforts to advance the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and any efforts towards reaching a final, legally binding agreement on Kosovo."