The Head of UNMIK thanked the National Assembly Speaker for the reception and congratulated him on his election. He informed him on the activities in the filed, deeming the situation drastically different from the beginning of the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1244. He deemed that the UNMIK’s basic role lies in using the opportunities to overcome the crisis, and that the mission is primarily aimed at seeking room for personal influence so as to ensure stability in the field, protection of the Serbian minority, anti-discrimination struggle, for which they regularly approach and exert influence though EULEX and KFOR. He said that the previous period saw a strong support of the new EU Special Representative and the mediation of other international institutions was needed considering UNMIK’s narrow room for maneuver as the Pristina institutions no longer accept the mission’s mandate. He commended the Serbian side’s constructive position on these issues and conveyed that UNMIK is investing considerable effort to influence a change in Pristina’s attitude toward the north of Kosovo. He warned that the Pristina side should establish a communication channel with UNMIK and deemed that making Pristina leadership an acceptable collocutor with Belgrade requires additional efforts. He drew attention to the fact that the perception of the population of the north of Kosovo that their interests are directly included in Belgrade’s platform would be extremely significant for a favourable development of the situation and in that context spoke positively of the visits by the Head of the Office for Kosovo-Metohija Aleksandar Vulin, to the north of Kosovo.

Speaker Stefanovic thanked the UNMIK Head for the information and underlined Serbia’s interest in the UN’s role in addressing the Kosovo-Metohija issue. He deemed UNMIK a significant factor of stability, so he briefed Special Representative Zarif on the Serbian side’s information on the endangered safety of the Serbian community which thwarts the opportunities for the return of displaced persons.

Special Representative Zarif repeated the position on the UN Mission’s consistent commitment to the compliance with principles, adding that via a series of reports by relevant international organisations all the relevant factors are very well informed on the situation in the field and objective reasons for Serbia’s concern. He agreed with the position that the situation as regards the functioning of Pristina institutions is untenable in the long run and that in the upcoming period the UN Mission would assess the situation first of all based on the results in the sphere of abiding by and promoting human rights.

The officials agreed that cooperation and regular communication need to be intensified.