Prenkaj: UNMIK chief's report is political; rhetoric of peace but also a clash of arguments at UNSC session

Diplomat Albert Prenkaj said that at the UN Security Council session where the six-month report on UNMIK's work was presented, both Serbia and Kosovo used rhetoric in favor of peace and dialogue, but also put forward arguments “for and against.” He described the report by UNMIK chief Peter Due as political.

In a statement to Kosovo Online, Prenkaj said that all UN Security Council sessions at which, as he put it, Kosovo and Serbia confront each other are marked by tensions and arguments “for and against.”

“Following the statements by Kosovo Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca and Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric, it can be said that they share a common denominator, namely rhetoric in favor of peace and dialogue mediated by the European Union,” Prenkaj said.

He noted that Serbia's arguments focused on institutional persecution and violations of the human rights of the Serbian community.

“The arguments put forward by Serbia's representative, in this case Foreign Minister Marko Djuric, are essentially focused on institutional persecution and violations of the human rights of the Serbian community in Kosovo. Contrary to Kosovo's position, which calls for the termination of UNMIK's mission, Djuric insisted that its role should be strengthened and that the United Nations must not be left without arguments regarding developments in Kosovo,” the diplomat said.

According to Prenkaj, the Kosovo representative's speech focused on criticism of the UNMIK report.

“On the other hand, Kosovo Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca focused his speech on criticism of the UNMIK report and influence from Belgrade, as well as concerns over the verdict against former KLA leaders, emphasizing that the ruling contains factual, historical and legal errors. He also called on the Security Council to condemn any glorification of, or attempt to justify, the ethnic cleansing of the Serbian community in Kosovo, expressed concerns about security and addressed Serbia's approach toward Kosovo, including how Serbia handled the terrorist attack in Banjska, which originated from Serbian territory,” Prenkaj added.

Prenkaj considers the report by the new head of UNMIK, Peter Due, to be political and structurally substantive.

“The fact is that UNMIK has no de facto executive, judicial or security powers. Among other things, the mission focuses mainly on monitoring political developments and human rights. The rule of law, primarily as it relates to non-majority communities, is a factual summary, not part of its mission description,” he said.