The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and head of UNMIK Zahir Tanin, said at the UN Security Council session on Kosovo that this was a year in which Kosovo will face complex challenges, and then went on to assess key developments emerging from 2015. “In recent months the polarization of the Kosovo political landscape has reached levels where progress is being impeded, despite considerable efforts by the government to pursue an ambitious reform agenda. The extremes of political antagonism have clearly transgressed basic democratic norms. The most obvious example of this has been the repeated use of violence by the opposition to prevent the Kosovo Assembly as well as other government institutions from conducting their work. I have joined many of my colleagues in the international community to stress that adherence to the basic democratic “rules of the game” is more than simply a responsibility of all political leaders. It is also what empowers the voices and the messages of all genuine political actors in the democratic process, including the opposition, which otherwise could become squandered and lost,” Tanin said. He stressed that the politics needs to reflect and perhaps also shift local and international focus away from political battles, and towards more fundamental issues. According to the UNMIK chief, political leaders should be more outward-looking in exploring opportunities for regional cooperation rather than focusing on limited political interests. “These include continuing to normalize relations with Belgrade through the EU facilitated dialogue; meeting the fiscal and financial obligations set forth by international creditors; and ensuring the conditions necessary for full establishment of the special court.” SRSG Tanin mentioned several important steps Kosovo’s leadership has undertaken towards strengthening the European perspective of Kosovo. Speaking about the rule of law, Tanin said despite the fact that a strong legislative framework is already in place in Kosovo, the application of this framework remains inconsistent, the administration of justice unacceptably slow, and instances of political interference common. “Corruption at many levels increases public frustration, harms the daily lives of all persons in Kosovo by reducing economic development and opportunity, and undermines faith in the political system,” he pointed out. At the end of his address, the SRSG said dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade is essential and that its ultimate success must be grounded in collaboration among all leaders, across the region.