April 22, 2024
Caroline Ziadeh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), recalled a common observation from consultations she held with political actors in Pristina and Belgrade — dissatisfaction with progress achieved through political dialogue. Tensions have simmered in recent months due to an inability to address long-standing issues through dialogue — both between Pristina and Belgrade and between the Kosovo Serb communities and the Pristina central authority. In December 2023, Kosovo Serbs in Leposavić, North Mitrovica, Zubin Potok and Zvečan collected enough signatures to begin recalling the mayors elected in those towns in April 2023 by less than 4 per cent of total registered voters, a low turnout due to Kosovo Serbs’ decision not to participate. This process aimed to reduce tensions resulting from these elections, which included violent protests around several municipal premises in northern Kosovo in May 2023, she noted.
However, representatives of the Kosovo Serb community in the north claimed that conditions for recalling the mayors do not allow for full participation to that end, she said. While reporting that the recall process took place on 21 April without any security incidents, she noted that only 253 out of 46,556 registered voters cast their votes — setting the stage for “protracting and prolonging a fragile and unresolved issue”. She recalled the security incident in Banjska in September 2023 and called for accountability, adding: “This is both a judicial matter, and also a political necessity.” She went on to report that, under the facilitation of the European Union, the parties met five times in 2023 and 2024, adding: “We should remain hopeful that a solution can be reached.”
The establishment of a community of Serb-majority municipalities could provide a solution towards normalization, she said, noting that the final form of such will encompass financial and institutional guarantees for the Kosovo Serb community. Noting European Union-facilitated agreements on matters related to vehicle license plates, the “energy road map” and customs, she also commended Pristina for affirming the property rights of the Visoki Dečani Monastery. Turning to UNMIK’s work to build trust between communities, she reported that the Barabar Centre has conducted 70 activities engaging more than 4,000 individuals from all Kosovo communities, also noting that the Mission conducted the second United Nations Kosovo Trust-building Forum in November 2023. On matters of transitional justice and the right to truth, she welcomed the resumed meeting of the Working Group on Missing Persons on 31 January and urged that such direct engagement continue.
She also reported that UNMIK continued extending support to the Kosovo Law Institute, conducted a specialized training for young Kosovo Serb lawyers and sponsored law students at a legal clinic promoting multi-ethnic media work. In support of the youth, peace and security agenda, the sixth United Nations Youth Assembly in Kosovo in May will serve as a platform to gather young activists and leaders from communities in Kosovo and around the region. She further noted that, to achieve progress in Kosovo and fulfil UNMIK’s mandated goals effectively, issues must be understood and treated as part of a wider regional context. Expressing appreciation to major multilateral partners — particularly the Kosovo Force (KFOR) — she added: “Progress is born from actions undertaken with the willingness to forge compromises.”