UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO VISIT KOSOVO AND BELGRADE, 15-18 JUNE

UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO VISIT KOSOVO AND BELGRADE, 15-18 JUNE

All 15 members of the Security Council will travel to Kosovo and Belgrade from 15 to 18 June to see first-hand the political and security challenges faced by the United Nations in the province, as well as to convey to the people of Kosovo the need to reject violence and take part in elections later this year.

Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury of Bangladesh, who is leading the mission, likened the undertaking to something of a “mobile Security Council”.  It is the first Council mission in which all members are participating and the first to be led by a Council President.

The delegation is scheduled to leave Friday evening and arrive in Pristina, Kosovo, on Saturday.

The Council members will meet with the leadership of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), as well as with Kosovo’s Albanian and Serb leaders, and visit the northern city of Mitrovica and the largest detention centre in Kosovo, the Dubrava prison.

They will discuss the current security challenges facing the Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the impact of the regional situation.

The mission is expected to convey a strong message to the Kosovo Serb community that its participation in the upcoming elections and in the UNMIK-led process is vital.

Meetings with the Kosovo political leadership are expected to focus on the need to reject all forms of violence; condemn extremist and terrorist activities; ensure public safety and order; promote inter-ethnic reconciliation and inclusion; and support implementation of Security Council resolution 1244.

A press conference is scheduled in Pristina on Sunday evening after the mission’s last briefing in Kosovo.

The trip will end in Belgrade, where members will meet with Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, Prime Minister Zoran Zizic and Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic

Following those meetings, the mission has scheduled a press conference.

The mission, which is expected to return to New York late Monday, will prepare a report and brief the Security Council on Tuesday afternoon.

In addition to Ambassador Chowdhury, the following members are scheduled to take part in the mission:  Ambassador Shen Guofang (China), Ambassador Alfonso Valdivieso (Colombia), Ambassador Jean-David Levitte (France), Ambassador Richard  Ryan (Ireland), Ambassador M. Patricia Durrant (Jamaica), Counsellor Mamounou Touré (Mali), Ambassador Anund P. Neewoor (Mauritius), Ambassador Ole Peter Kolby(Norway), Ambassador Sergey V. Lavrov(Russian Federation), Minister-Counsellor Christine Lee (Singapore), Ambassador Othman Jerandi  (Tunisia), Minister-Counsellor Volodymyr Krokhmal(Ukraine), Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock (United Kingdom) and Ambassador James B. Cunningham (United States).

Programme of Council Mission(subject to change)

Friday, 15 June

Depart New York for Pristina

Saturday, 16 June

Arrive Pristina

Meeting with Hans Haekkerrup, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo and other senior officials of the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)

Meeting with Momcilo Trajkovic, Head of the FRY Government Committee on Kosovo

Sunday, 17 June

Meeting with the Regional Administration, Kosovo Albanian and Kosovo Serb leaders in Mitrovica

Visit to Dubrava Prison

Special session of the Interim Administrative Council with selected members of the Kosovo Transitional Council

Meeting with KFOR

Press Conference in Pristina

Monday 18 June

Depart Pristina for Belgrade

Meetings with President Vojislav Kostunica, Prime Minister Zoran Zizic, and Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic

Press conference

Depart from Belgrade for New York

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