The United Nations Security Council concluded its meeting on Kosovo. The discussion addressed the political and security situation, the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, and the future of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).
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Representatives of states and international organizations spoke about regional stability, dialogue, the functioning of institutions and responsibility for the attacks in Kosovo. Some welcomed the institutional developments, while stressing that efforts for peace, justice and the normalization of relations must continue.
Representing Kosovo was the first deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and diaspora, Glauk Konjufca. He presented Kosovo’s assessment of political and security developments, speaking both about the progress achieved and the challenges that remain.
Konjufca calls for accountability over attacks
Konjufca pointed out that security issues and responsibility for the attacks in Kosovo must be addressed, mentioning the case of Banjska and the attack on the critical infrastructure of Iber-Lepenc.
He called for those responsible to face justice. In this context, he also mentioned meetings between Serbian officials and Milan Radoičić, recalling the responsibility for the armed attack in Banjska.
During the meeting, it was stressed that attacks that have threatened security in Kosovo require serious consideration and that those responsible must be brought to justice.
Washington calls for UNMIK to be closed, saying the mission has outlived its mandate
The United States called for UNMIK’s mandate to end, arguing that the mission has gone beyond the purpose for which it was created.
US representative Tammy Bruce reiterated Washington’s position and said that the situation in Kosovo has changed significantly since 1999.
“Our position regarding UNMIK has not changed. The mission has lived far longer than its purpose, and this Security Council should close that mission,” the US representative declared.
According to Bruce, Kosovo in 2026 is no longer the Kosovo of the post-war period, and UNMIK no longer has a significant role in governing the country.
She mentioned KFOR, the European Union, the OSCE and other UN agencies, describing these structures as more appropriate for the limited tasks that, in her view, remain for UNMIK.
Bruce added that sustainable progress in relations between Kosovo and Serbia must be achieved by the parties themselves, not by the Security Council.
“Long-term progress will come from Pristina and Belgrade, not from the Security Council,” she said.
The US position once again placed the future of UNMIK and the alignment of the international presence with the reality created in Kosovo after the end of the war at the center of the meeting.
France voices support for international missions and welcomes institutional developments
France’s representative declared that the country supports UNMIK’s work in coordination with KFOR, as well as the EULEX mission in Kosovo.
France emphasized the continuation of efforts for security and stability in the region. It also welcomed the overcoming of the institutional crisis in Kosovo and the election of the president.
The country reaffirmed the importance of the engagement of international missions in fulfilling their mandates and supporting stability and the normalization of relations in the region.
EU highlights dialogue and the European path
The discussion underscored the prospect of European integration for the Western Balkans and the role of the European Union-mediated dialogue in normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia.
European representatives described the dialogue as an important tool for resolving outstanding issues, building trust and improving relations between the parties.
It was also stressed that the process must be supported by constructive engagement and diplomacy, with the aim of preserving peace and stability in the region.
Panama calls for the fate of missing persons to be clarified
The meeting also discussed missing persons and the need to clarify their fate.
Panama’s representative said that families have the right to learn the truth about their relatives. He stressed that efforts to find missing persons must retain their humanitarian character.
He welcomed the progress made and called on the parties to continue cooperating so that families waiting for answers can receive concrete information.
Missing persons remain an important issue in Kosovo-Serbia relations, while transparency and cooperation are essential to clarifying their fate.
Due calls on Kosovo and Serbia to continue dialogue
Peter N. Due, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and head of UNMIK, called on Kosovo and Serbia to participate constructively in the European Union-facilitated dialogue and to implement the agreements reached.
He underlined the importance of continuing the dialogue, building trust and addressing outstanding issues through political and diplomatic means.
Due also welcomed the institutional developments in Kosovo, including the overcoming of the political crisis and the election of the president, highlighting the importance of the institutions’ functioning.
The meeting ended after an exchange of rebuttals between Konjufca and Gjuriq following statements made during the discussion on Kosovo.
Konjufca rejected the claims made by Serbia’s representative, Marko Gjuriq, and once again raised the issue of Serbia’s responsibility for security developments in Kosovo, including the attack in Banjska and the role of Milan Radoičić.
