The Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, has estimated that the situation in the north of the Republic of Kosovo is tense, with the possibility of de-escalation.
The head of the UN, in his regular report to the Security Council, stated that unilateral actions, such as the closure of institutions financed by Belgrade, the restriction of the circulation of goods and the announcement of the opening of the bridge over the Iber, increase tensions and reduce trust between communities. The Security Council will discuss this report on October 30, reports RTS.
“The atmosphere in the north of Kosovo is still tense, with the possibility of de-escalation still present”. I call on all parties to reaffirm their commitment to the dialogue with the mediation of the European Union and to fully implement the existing agreements”, said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in the regular six-monthly report on the situation in Kosovo
Guterres also warned that unilateral moves such as the closure of institutions funded by Belgrade, steps towards opening the bridge in Mitrovica, restrictions on goods from Serbia and the implementation of a new monetary policy “raise tensions and reduce trust between communities and weaken communities and institutions”.
The first man of the world organization assessed that such movements not only hinder the normal life and social and economic rights of those affected by them, but seriously threaten progress and overall stability.
“It is of fundamental importance that the movements of political leaders are in accordance with the needs and rights of all communities”, said Guterres and called on the authorities in Pristina to respond urgently and fully to the concerns of the Serbian community regarding possible actions related to health and educational institutions.
“The preservation of the economic and social rights of minority communities, including the most vulnerable, is of crucial importance,” states the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Guterres also warned that “a serious security incident in Banjska on September 23 last year is an indication of the need for all parties to cooperate in the pursuit of justice and that clarifying such incidents is of key importance to restoring trust and ensuring long-term stability”.
He also emphasized that it is essential that law enforcement, especially during seizures, arrests and property cases, act fully in accordance with legal frameworks and in accordance with international human rights standards.
In the report, which will be discussed in the Security Council on October 30, it is also stated that for six months, 13 previously exiled people have returned to Kosovo and Metohija, seven of whom are Serbs.
In total, since 2000, 29,418 out of about 200,000 deported people have returned to Kosovo.
In the same report, the European Union Mission in Kosovo stated that the Court of Appeal in Tirana has released Dritan Goxhajn, previously arrested in the Albanian capital and whose extradition to the Special Court for War Crimes of the KLA has been approved.
