UN: Kosovo not ready for decision on final status

Annan stresses ‘real progress’ has yet to be made

By Marc Carnegie - Agence France-Presse

UNITED NATIONS - Kosovo has not made enough progress toward democratic institutions to determine the final status of the Serbian province, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said late Wednesday.

Annan said there had to be “real progress” before any decision is taken on the fate of Kosovo, where the Albanian ethnic majority wants independence, while Belgrade insists it must remain part of Serbia.

The United Nations has established a set of standards, including democratic institutions, human rights and the rule of law, that should be met before Kosovo’s final status is decided.

“Progress in many areas remained insufficient. None of the eight standards has been completely fulfilled,” Annan said in a new report to the UN Security Council.

“The continued unwillingness of the Kosovo Serbs to engage in dialogue and support the implementation of the standards has hampered the ability to move forward,” Annan said.

He said the March bloodshed had resulted in a 40 percent decrease in a return to their homes by Kosovo Serbs who had fled the province after the 1999 NATO bombings.

“Many newly reconstructed houses remain unoccupied, as those displaced still have serious security concerns and doubts about acceptance by the majority community,” he said.

He said the provisional government had not taken enough action to punish ethnically motivated crime, adding, “The willingness of Kosovo Serbs to engage is inadequate, and statements by most Serbian authorities are unhelpful.” The United Nations has been looking at a review this year on the standards, and Annan said there had been “some encouraging and tangible progress” by the provisional goverment toward meeting the goals.

“The government will be tested as it works to build minority trust and retain majority confidence by addressing severe problems such as unemployment and economic revitalization,” the UN chief said.

“The majority community needs to create a climate in which members of minority communities, and in particular the Kosovo Serbs, feel confident that they can return and remain,” he said.