Security Council

4543^rd Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL DEPLORES KOSOVO ASSEMBLY’S RESOLUTION CONCERNING

PROVINCE’S ‘TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY’, IN PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT

Says Issue Outside Assembly’s Competence,

Concurring with Special Representative, Who Yesterday Vetoed Resolution

The Security Council this afternoon deplored the adoption by the Assembly of Kosovo, in its session on 23 May, of a resolution on the protection of the territorial integrity of Kosovo, concurring with the Secretary-General's Special Representative in Kosovo that such resolutions and decisions by the Assembly on matters which did not fall within its field of competence were "null and void". 

Through presidential statement S/PRST/2002/16, read out by Council President Kishore Mahbubani (Singapore), the Council called on Kosovo's elected leaders to focus their attention on the urgent matters for which they were responsible, in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999) and the Constitutional Framework.  Concrete progress in those areas was of paramount importance to improve the life of the people. 

Under a related term, the Council reiterated its full support for the Special Representative and urged Kosovo's leaders to work in close cooperation with the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the international security presence (KFOR) with a view to promote a better future for Kosovo and stability in the region. 

Today's action by the Council followed a veto yesterday by the Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Michael Steiner, of a Kosovo Assembly resolution that sought to challenge the border agreement signed in February 2001 between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. 

Following his action, Mr. Steiner said, in a statement issued yesterday, that the Assembly’s action was a violation of Kosovo’s Constitutional Framework and the Assembly cannot take up issues concerning foreign relations.  Such matters were within the competence of the Special Representative only.

Prior to the adoption today of the presidential statement, the Council yesterday issued a press statement indicating its rejection of the Kosovo Assembly resolution and expressing its full support for Mr. Steiner's decision. 

Today's meeting began at 1:42 p.m. and adjourned at 1:46 p.m.

The full text of the presidential statement, which will be issued as S/PRST/2002/16, reads as follows:

“The Security Council reaffirms its previous relevant resolutions and statements regarding Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in particular the statement of its President of 7 March 2001 (S/PRST/2001/7) and 9 November 2001 (S/PRST/2001/34).

“The Security Council deplores the adoption by the Assembly of Kosovo, in its session of 23 May 2002, of a ‘resolution on the protection of the territorial integrity of Kosovo’.  It concurs with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General that such resolutions and decisions by the Assembly on matters which do not fall within its field of competence are null and void.

“The Security Council calls on Kosovo’s elected leaders to focus their attention on the urgent matters for which they have responsibility, in accordance with resolution 1244 (1999) of 10 June 1999 and the Constitutional Framework.  Concrete progress in those areas is of paramount importance to improve the life of the people.

“The Security Council reiterates its full support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General.  It urges Kosovo’s leaders to work in close cooperation with the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the international security presence (KFOR) with a view to promote a better future for Kosovo and stability in the region.  All steps undermining those efforts are detrimental to this common objective.”

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