Statement by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić at the UN Security Council session on UNMIK's work:

Mr. President, Distinguished Members of the Security Council,

I thank Secretary-General Guterres and Special Representative Tanin for the efforts they invest in implementing the mandate of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) under United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1244 (1999).

For almost two years we argued in the Security Council meetings whether to meet two, three or four times a year; all along, however, the situation in Kosovo and Metohija went from bad to worse. Unfortunately, the current situation tells us that the decision to reduce the number of meetings was taken too soon. I do believe, though, that we have left the procedural issues behind and that we shall now be able to address the core issues and make our meetings bear fruit.

Notwithstanding some contentions that our deliberations are often antagonistic and less than constructive, the consideration of the situation in Kosovo and Metohija in this esteemed body is an occasion not to be missed to advise the Security Council and the international community, on a regular basis and in a transparent way, of the situation on the ground and the key political and security challenges that we face in the Province, no matter how difficult they may be and despite the fact that it is evident that our positions are different.

See the full statement at: http://www.mfa.gov.rs/en/press-service/statements/18775-minister-dai-at-the-un-security-council-session-on-the-work-of-unmik