The Kosovo government continues to play two cards when it comes to cooperating with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Last year, the Kosovo Ministry of Foreign Affairs tried to give UNMIK a role in speeding up the application procedures for Kosovo’s eventual membership of the UNESCO. The paper has learned that the position of heads of Kosovo institutions is to avoid meetings with UNMIK officials as much as possible. “However, only in February, UNMIK chief [Zahir Tanin] has met three ministers of the Kosovo government. The UNMIK office in Pristina has denied rumors that the mission is trying to change its mandate. Local experts of international relations meanwhile are arguing that the idea of UNMIK’s revival is a result of constant crisis and the inabilities of Kosovo’s institutions,” the paper notes.
The Kosovo government has decided not to take very seriously even the quarterly reports at the United Nations Security Council on Kosovo. Along with the UNMIK chief, Kosovo’s Ambassador to Washington, Vlora Citaku, was the only one from Kosovo to attend the UNSC session on Kosovo earlier this week.
Kosovo’s Deputy Foreign Minister Petrit Selimi told the paper that this was done in cooperation with international allies. “For two sessions now, Kosovo has reduced the diplomatic representation to the level of the consul in New York, namely the ambassador in Washington,” Deputy Foreign Minister Petrit Selimi said. “In coordination with international partners, we have decided not to give too much importance to UNMIK’s quarterly reports”.
However, back in Kosovo, UNMIK continues to cooperate and hold frequent meetings with government officials. Only in February, three ministers of Mustafa’s government held meetings with the Special Representative of the Secretary General in Kosovo. Zahir Tanin, accompanied by his new deputy Christopher Coleman, met Kosovo’s Interior Minister Skender Hyseni on 16 February. Only UNMIK mentioned the meeting on its official webpage. The mission posted a picture from the meeting and provided no further explanation as to what was discussed. More details were provided about Tanin’s meeting with the Minister for Environment and Spatial Planning, Ferid Agani, on 19 February. The purpose of the meeting was cooperation in the protection of cultural heritages in the protected zones in Kosovo. The Ministry for Environment too issued a press release after the meeting.
UNMIK chief Tanin and Kosovo’s Minister of Justice, Hajredin Kuci, discussed the priorities of the Kosovo government and the support of the international community at a meeting on 12 February.
The paper further notes that the UNSC Resolution 1244 now also includes the footnote with which Kosovo is represented in regional forums.
There have been recent reports that the UN Mission in Kosovo has asked for more competencies in the area of justice. The paper learns that the last two heads of UNMIK lobbied at the UN headquarters in New York asking for an advisory role in the rule of law area.
“The Government of Kosovo, even its senior officials, has met UNMIK representatives. But so far, thanks to the United States of America, there has been no movement in this respect,” a source within the Kosovo government told the paper.
Meanwhile, the UN office in Pristina denied rumors that it is trying to change its mandate. “We reiterate that there has been no decision to make substantial changes in UNMIK or its mandate,” Shpend Berbatovci, from the UNMIK Office for Public Information, told the paper.
The paper notes that an important European organization has recommended increased capacities for UNMIK in the rule of law area. In a resolution adopted last month, the Council of Europe encouraged UNMIK to “increase its capacities for cooperation with INTERPOL and EUROPOL”. But UNMIK officials did not comment if there will be any movement following the recommendation from the Council of Europe. Said Berbatovci: “UNMIK does not deal with resolutions of the Council of Europe and it cannot speak on behalf of the Council of Europe”.
The paper reported earlier that Pristina has agreed to the extension of EULEX’s mandate for another two years, out of “fear” that UNMIK could take up competencies in the justice component, as there is hesitation among EU member states to transfer all competencies to local institutions.
Afrim Hoti, Pristina-based professor of international law, commented on the possibility of an increased role for UNMIK in Kosovo, arguing that these tendencies come as a result of the inability of local leaders and the constant political crisis. “This issue became current again especially with the powerful political crisis and internal disagreements in Kosovo,” he said. According to Hoti, it would be misfortunate for Kosovo if UNMIK were to remain here. “I believe in the maturity of our institutions and UNMIK should transform into a UN office, the same as in every other part of the world,” he added.
Ever since the declaration of independence and the deployment of EULEX, the Kosovo government refused to cooperate with UNMIK. The mission was often seen as a remnant that fights against the state of Kosovo. However, in July last year, former Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci asked UNMIK to apply on behalf of Kosovo for membership in the UNESCO. However, in the final moments, the UN mission decided not to do so. Kosovo’s attempt to join the UNESCO failed as it could not secure the necessary votes.
