Security Council

4473^rd Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL EXPRESSES FULL SUPPORT FOR NEW SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR KOSOVO

The Security Council this afternoon expressed full support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Michael Steiner, upon his assumption of the position as Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

In a statement read out by its President, Adolfo Aguilar Zinser (Mexico), the Council called on Kosovo's elected representatives to resolve the deadlock over the formation of executive structures of the provisional self-governing institutions, in accordance with the Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Government and the outcome of the 17 November 2001 elections in which the province's voters expressed their will.

The statement also called upon the elected leaders of the province to cooperate fully with UNMIK and the international security presence -- KFOR -- in promoting the rule of law and multi-ethnicity, security and freedom of movement for all.

The meeting began at 1:53 p.m. and adjourned at 2:01 p.m.

The full text of the presidential statement, to be issues as S/PRST/2002/4, reads as follows:

“The Security Council expresses its full support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General upon his assumption of the position as Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), as well as its appreciation to all the personnel of UNMIK for their untiring efforts in ensuring the full implementation of resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999.

“The Security Council notes the progress made in the implementation of resolution 1244 (1999) and the Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-Government, including the inauguration of the Kosovo Assembly following the elections on 17 November 2001 in Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.  It calls on Kosovo’s elected representatives to resolve the deadlock over the formation of executive structures of the provisional self-governing institutions and to allow the functioning of those institutions, in accordance with the Constitutional Framework and the outcome of the elections which expressed the will of the voters.  It supports the development of cooperation between UNMIK, Kosovo’s elected representatives and the authorities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.  Such cooperation is vital in implementing resolution 1244 (1999).

“The Security Council reaffirms the fundamental importance of the rule of law in Kosovo’s political development and condemns any attempt to undermine it.  It supports all efforts of UNMIK, together with the international security presence (KFOR) and the Kosovo Police Service (KPS), to combat all kinds of crime,

violence and extremism.  It supports the measures taken to bring persons responsible for criminal acts to justice, regardless of ethnic or political background.  It calls upon the elected leaders of Kosovo to cooperate fully with UNMIK and KFOR in promoting the rule of law and a multi-ethnic Kosovo with security and freedom of movement for all.”

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