Reconfiguration of the UN mission in Kosovo

Friday 25. July 12:00 - 14:00
Location: DGAP, Berlin

 

Almost half a year ago, Kosovo declared its independence. Since then, Germany as well as 42 other countries have recognized the former Serbian province, whose own constitution recently entered into force. Now UNMIK, the UN mission which has been responsible for the building of democratic and legal structures in Kosovo for the past nine years, is facing a new challenge: responsibility is largely to be shifted to the European Union.

Foto Rücker Kosovo_2.jpg (580x386, 202.797 Bytes)

But Russia and Serbia reject this procedure and question the deployment of the EU rule of law mission EULEX. What are the consequences of the reconfiguration of the UN mission? What problems arise in its implementation? What should be the role of the EU and the international community? This was the topic of a lecture by Dr. Joachim Rücker, until recently head of the UNMIK in Kosovo and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, on July 25th, 2008 at the DGAP.

Overcoming conflicting positions

“It was important for the UN to develop a strategy which “as far as possible overcomes the conflicting positions of two groups of UN member states,“ Rücker says. The UN Secretary-General’s concept, which foresees the adaptation of UNMIK to the changed conditions in Kosovo therefore includes, among others, talks with the Kosovan government as well as with the Serbian president about practical policies in the areas of police, the legal system and customs. The shift of responsibility from UNMIK to the rule of law mission EULEX throughout Kosovo should take place by the end of October. According to Rücker, the new government in Belgrade should also contribute to peace and stability; particularly after the arrest of Karadzic, it deserves our confidence. “All in all, I think that we now have a good base to consolidate and further expand the successes in the stabilization of Kosovo.“

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