April 22, 2024
Madam President,
I would like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for her briefing and I welcome among us the presence of the President of Serbia and the President of Kosovo.
Progress towards normalization in relations between Serbia and Kosovo is urgently needed. This will ensure stability in the region and is an unavoidable condition for European rapprochement which both countries have chosen.
That is the purpose of the “Brussels-Ohrid” agreement, which was concluded more than a year ago and the most ambitious agreement to date between the two countries. This is a major success and we should collectively ensure its full implementation. France will continue to support European mediation to obtain a comprehensive, definitive and legally binding agreement. We are committed to ensure that their commitments are upheld.
Each party must play its role. France welcomes actions taken on both sides. The constructive commitment by Serbian authorities in this dialogue facilitated by the European Union at the end of last year allowed for notable progress to be made on the mutual recognition of license plates and on the energy issue. The implementation by Kosovo of the Constitutional Court ruling on the Decani monastery is also a positive development.
These advances are encouraging, but we must go further. The establishment of the Serb-majority municipalities Association has been expected by the Kosovar authorities for too long. The lack of progress on this point remains an obstacle to the effective implementation of the rights of people belonging to the Serbian minority, and therefore to the European prospects for the country. We hope that irreversible progress will be made as soon as possible, in line also with Kosovo’s aspirations to join the Council of Europe, since the proper treatment of minorities is at the heart of the mandate of this organization.
Moreover elections must organized quickly in the north Kosovo, with the active participation of all communities, in order to elect new mayors. On this point, France recalls that the recall of elected mayors with only 3% of the registered population votes would the would be the quickest option for restoring representative democracy in the four northern municipalities, as well as a gesture of de-escalation. France also calls on both parties to rapidly find a solution in the discussions led by the European Union to overcome the tensions created by the Kosovar authorities’ decision on financial cash transfers.
It is essential that those responsible for the Banjska attack last September are brought to justice. France will continue to pay close attention to this issue.
France supports efforts of UNMIK to restore the rule of law, respect for human rights and reconciliation between communities in Kosovo, in coordination with KFOR and EULEX Kosovo. Its mandate is intrinsically linked to normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, and France would welcome an extension of it for as long as necessary.
Finally, France calls on the Serb and Kosovar leaders to show their responsibility and uphold their commitments by taking courageous decisions. The parties must refrain from any unilateral action likely to increase tensions. The fait accompli policy is not an acceptable modus operandi. Problems must be resolved exclusively through dialogue and European mediation. Let us recall that the European Union has been given a mandate to this effect by the United Nations General Assembly.
France reaffirms its support for the European integration of Serbia and Kosovo. No one can ignore the sovereign will of both countries in favor of the European choice. There is no alternative, either for Serbia or for Kosovo, but to reach an agreement which will resolve the dispute between the two countries.
Thank you.