In his speech in New York, Due pointed out that the process of electing a new President remains incomplete, after a year of political stagnation.
Build trust on the ground
Mr Due, who took on the key role three months ago, stressed that the return of Kosovo Serb mayors to the north was a positive step. warned of “challenges” including administrative gaps and language barriers.
“These are not merely technical issues,” he said, urging continued engagement. Guided by Resolution 1244 (1999), UNMIK is focusing its efforts on community-level dialogue.
“Trust between communities, and between communities and institutions, allows progress, dialogue and cooperation to take root.”, he stressed.
The mission itself is experiencing a UN-wide liquidity crisis, having reduced encumbered positions by almost 30 percent. Despite these financial limitations, Due insisted that the mission remains vital to fostering an inclusive culture “where every community sees itself reflected in the path forward.”
Divergent paths: Belgrade vs Pristina
The debate highlighted a fundamental gap between Serbia and Kosovo regarding the current role of the UN.
- Serbia: Foreign Minister Marko Ðurić defended UNMIK as a “key guarantee of peace” and protector of the rights of Serbs in Kosovo. Warning against any reduction in the UN presence, he stated: “The oppression of a community does not happen overnight…Serbia is not part of the problem. We are part of the solution.”
- Kosovo: Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca stated that UNMIK’s mandate is “completed.” He accused Belgrade of playing a “disruptive role” and trying to deny the region integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. “The focus should not be on having the United Nations in Kosovo through UNMIK, but on admitting Kosovo to the United Nations,” he said.
International friction
The Council remains divided over whether the mission has outlived its purpose.
He USA The representative argued that “there is no justification for treating Kosovo in 2026 as if it were still the Kosovo of 1999,” and described UNMIK as an “overfunded peacekeeping mission without peacekeepers” that has reached “the end of the road.”
On the contrary, the European Union He focused on the long-term horizon and urged both sides to commit to EU-facilitated reforms. The EU representative noted that progress towards normalization remains an “essential condition” for the aspirations of both sides, adding: “The future of both Serbia and Kosovo is firmly rooted in the European Union.”
The session concluded with calls for both sides to choose “patience over provocation” as the Council weighs a possible strategic review of a mission that has defined the region’s security landscape for more than a quarter of a century.
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