UN Security Council Session on Kosovo, April 8: No progress in Dialogue, security situation remains fragile

The UN Security Council session on Kosovo will be held on April 8, where the Special Representative and Head of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Caroline Ziadeh, will present a six-month report. According to the session announcement, the report notes that there has been no significant progress in the EU-mediated normalization dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, while efforts to implement previous agreements have stalled. Concerns were raised regarding the actions of the Kosovo Police to close institutions functioning within the Serbian system, which affect the daily lives of minority communities dependent on them. The report also highlights that the security situation in northern Kosovo remains fragile.

It is reminded that Serbia adopted a draft law on October 28 of last year designating Kosovo as a "region of special social protection", establishing a framework for providing financial assistance to certain groups in Kosovo with the goal of preventing social exclusion and supporting their survival. On the same day, the Serbian government adopted a special law on the organization and jurisdiction of its judicial bodies, expanding the jurisdiction of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Higher Court in Belgrade to prosecute crimes committed in Kosovo. Pristina condemned these measures, considering them a violation of Kosovo's sovereignty.

Meanwhile, efforts to implement previous agreements have been halted.

It is noted that on December 17 of last year, the former EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, hosted talks in Brussels with Kosovo and Serbian negotiators, who reaffirmed their commitment to the implementation of the Declaration on Missing Persons from 2023.

"However, Serbia's chief negotiator, Petar Petkovic, allegedly left the Joint Commission on Missing Persons meeting scheduled for January 15 in protest over the closure of several parallel institutions in Kosovo by Pristina earlier that day. Parallel institutions refer to a network of administrative, educational, and health structures in Kosovo managed and funded by Serbia, which operate alongside structures associated with Pristina, often in areas with significant ethnic Serbian populations," the report adds before the session.

It is also pointed out that the Kosovo Police stated that these closures—aimed at post offices and banks—were carried out to establish "order and legality," while the EU criticized these actions for their inconsistency with Kosovo's obligations under the dialogue and emphasized that the status of the structures supported by Serbia should be resolved through dialogue.

Ziadeh also expressed concern over the impact of this action on the daily lives of minority communities dependent on these institutions, calling for renewed commitment to dialogue.

It is noted that the security situation in northern Kosovo remains fragile.

"A strong explosion on November 29, 2024, damaged the water supply channel in the municipality of Zubin Potok. Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti accused Belgrade of allegedly orchestrating the attack, which was rejected by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic as unfounded. Kosovo's National Security Council responded by approving urgent measures to increase security around strategic infrastructure, while the police announced arrests related to the attack," the report recalls.

The Head of UNMIK condemned this attack, noting that it caused damage to essential civil infrastructure and disrupted water supply. She described the incident as deeply concerning and warned that it risks destabilizing the region, calling for a comprehensive and transparent investigation to identify those responsible.

Amid these developments, the European Council appointed Peter Sorensen as the new EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue on January 27. He assumed the role on February 1, with an initial mandate of 13 months. On February 6, Sorensen separately met with the main negotiators from Serbia and Kosovo and welcomed their invitation to visit Kosovo and Serbia.

The parliamentary elections in Kosovo held on February 9 are also mentioned.

"Despite securing a clear plurality, Self-Determination was unable to achieve an absolute majority and will have to form a coalition to govern. This contrasts with the party's previous term, during which it governed alone after winning the 2021 elections," the report adds.

The issue of amending UNMIK's mandate for its potential withdrawal is also cited as another point of contention among UN Security Council members.

During April, France is the chair of the UN Security Council.