STATEMENT BY
H.E. AMBASSADOR HASMY AGAM
PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
ON THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO
THURSDAY, 24 AUGUST 2000
I join other members in thanking Assistant Secretary-General Hedi Annabi for his comprehensive and extremely useful briefing.
2. We agree that there have been a number of significant developments in Kosovo since the Council last considered this agenda item in mid-July. We are gratified that the Secretary-General's Special Representative Dr. Bernard Kouchner and UNMIK have made serious efforts to lay a solid foundation for democratic self-government in Kosovo, in line with Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).
3. We reaffirm our strong support for the on-going efforts of Dr. Kouchner and UNMIK, as well as of KFOR and other international organisations actively engaged in Kosovo, and express our appreciation at the achievements made thus far. We, in particular, note with satisfaction the continuing close and constructive cooperation between UNMIK and KFOR – the two main pillars of international support for Kosovo in the implementation of Council Resolution 1244.
4. We further note that a number of important regulations have been signed into law and that Kosovo's interim democratic institutions continue to be consolidated. We are pleased to see the relatively smooth functioning of the Joint Interim Administrative Structures (JAIS), the Interim Administrative Council (IAC), and the Kosovo Transitional Council (KTC). Efforts are also being made to further enhance the KPC (Kosovo Protection Corps). We urge, once again, for the active participation of the Serb community in these joint administrative organs.
5. We welcome the successful conclusion of the registration process on 19 July, in preparation for the municipal elections that have now been set for Saturday 28 October 2000. We look forward to the successful conduct of the elections which will lay a viable foundation of the future of Kosovo.
6. We had urged for the participation of all communities in the registration process. We regret the continued boycott by the Kosovar Serb community which, clearly, is not in their interest. It isolates and marginalises the community in the international efforts to establish democracy and multi-ethnicity in that territory.
7. We are deeply dismayed at the continuing acts of violence in Kosovo -- whether ethnically or politically motivated. We deplore these acts which overshadow the progress made in the implementation of resolution 1244. Clearly, they are the work of irresponsible elements who are out to sabotage the process. The bomb attack on the OSCE building in Pristina last Friday was a clear manifestation of this. We are also alarmed by reported increase in attacks and acts of harassment against UNMIK and KFOR personnel. All of these acts must be condemned.
8. Certainly, the continued precarious security situation, such as in northern Metrovica and other parts of Kosovo, is a matter of continuing concern to the international community. We continue to support the on-going efforts by both UNMIK and KFOR to tackle the security problem. While the two missions still need the strong and continuing support of the international community, their success will ultimately depend on the strong commitment, political will and full cooperation of all leaders of Kosovo's different communities. The leaders and people at every level should constructively play their part to fight extremism and promote ethnic civility and co-existence. We recall the signing of joint declarations by leaders of different ethnic communities in Pristina and Gnjilane in June, and the signing of the landmark agreement "Pact Against Violence", following a conference at Airlie House in Virginia late last month. These important developments in the context of inter-ethnic relations should be seriously followed up, involving the communities at the village level.
9. The issues of missing persons and continued detention of Kosovar Albanians in jails in Serbia remain a matter of serious concern to the international community. We support the on-going work of the Victim Recovery Commission and ICTY to deal with the issue of missing persons and earnestly hope that concrete actions will be taken in this regard. We have repeatedly stated in the past on the need for the FRY authorities to cooperate with UNMIK in resolving this problem in a humane and responsible manner. The lives of those in the detention must not be exploited for political reasons. Many members of the Council, including Malaysia, had strongly supported the proposed appointment of a Special Envoy for missing persons, detainees and prisoners. We would appreciate if Assistant Secretary General Annabi can update the Council on this important proposal and also any information he may have on the on-going work of ICTY in respect of its forensic activities and indictment of perpetrators of war crimes in Kosovo.
10. In conclusion, we appreciate the explanation given by Mr. Annabi on the decision taken by UNMIK, in close coordination with KFOR, to assume responsibility for the smelting plant at Zvecan and to improve management of the Trepca complex in northern Mitrovica for reasons of environmental and economic viability of this important industry for Kosovo. We support the decision taken by UNMIK as an appropriate and necessary measure. We should note the assurances given by UNMIK that workers employed at the Smelter will not lose their jobs. To my delegation this is proof enough that the action taken was prompted by the reasons given by UNMIK and for no other reason. We regret the way the issue has been politicised.
11. We join other Council members who had expressed concern at the detention of UK and Canadian nationals who were involved in important international activities in Kosovo.