– My main focus, as the new head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo, will be to work for the benefit of all communities, in line with our status-neutral mandate. Special attention will be paid to the protection of civil and human rights, especially minority communities. We are ready to assist in the implementation of agreements arising from the Brussels dialogue on the normalization of relations between Pristina and Belgrade, says in an exclusive interview for Vesti, Jan Braathu, Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.
What else will be your focus?
– The OSCE will also work with local institutions to strengthen the rule of law. Our work in Kosovo must be aimed at improving the conditions for normal life, based on values and international conventions and best practices shared by the members of the OSCE. This will also be a contribution to the normalization of relations and stability in the region.
I believe that it will improve the conditions of life of all people living in Kosovo. I think that we should be more focused on the situation of young people in Kosovo. In addition, everyone should be concerned about the tendency to radicalization and extremism. This is a threat to all communities in Kosovo.
Given that I am talking to Vesti, I would like to say that we will strive to improve the implementation of language rights in Kosovo. (Vesti has published two major studies on the violation of the rights of the Serbian language in Kosovo)
How do you assess the meetings with Minister Ivica Dačić and Head of the Office for Kosovo Marko Đurić? What were the main topics of these talks?
– I had a very open, friendly and I believe constructive talks. They are concerned about the situation in which are Serbs who live in Kosovo. We talked about the role of the OSCE in this regard, as well as ways to increase the mission’s efficiency in the future. My goal is that mission increases the efficiency of presence in the field.
How much OSCE in Kosovo is focusing on the problems of Serbs in Kosovo and how OSCE is helping them?
– The OSCE Mission in Kosovo will continue to actively work with the Serbian community. I mentioned linguistic rights, but I can also mention other issues such as property, issues related to the return of displaced persons, religious and cultural heritage issues. I will be active on all these issues. The OSCE will work with all stakeholders through cooperation and dialogue because this is the only way.
