Source: United Nations (Video News)
Briefing by Caroline Ziadeh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, on the situation in Kosovo.
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UN Special Representative for Kosovo Caroline Ziadeh said that although the situation on the ground remains fragile, in her engagements with officials in Belgrade and Pristina, as well as with partners, she sees hope for a constructive dialogue and peaceful relations.
Briefing the Security Council today (30 Oct) about the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Ziadeh said, “Advancing and safeguarding human rights is at the very core of our mission in Kosovo. Against the background of recent developments, strengthening measures to further promote equality and non-discrimination are pivotal, in particular in upholding property rights, preserving cultural heritage, and fully observing the language rights of all communities.”
She also said, “A year since the serious security incident in Banjska/Banjskë, I continue to call for timely accountability for perpetrators through thorough, fair, transparent and independent judicial processes, which are essential for fostering stability. Such violence is unacceptable and should not be repeated.”
She continued, “In this regard, we note that the initial hearing on this case was conducted on the 9th of October at the basic court of Pristina against the three defendants who are in custody, out of a total of 45 accused in the indictment, who face a range of charges, including terrorism.”
She noted, “Serbian goods have now resumed crossing into Kosovo. It is imperative that the current bottlenecks will be expeditiously addressed. This recent progress underscores the potential for deeper work toward regional integration via constructive diplomatic compromises.”