Indeed, there can be no return to anything resembling normality for residents in the northern municipalities until all communities once again participate in public safety institutions there, as well as in the judiciary and in municipal decision-making
A s it marks its 24th anniversary, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo is continuing to deliver its mandate from the UN Security Council and the OSCE Permanent Council – consolidating democratic institutions, safeguarding human and community rights, and ensuring an inclusive approach to public safety, taking account of the interests and rights of all communities.
Kosovo now has a legislative framework in place which protects the rights of non-majority communities. However, it is crucial that the legislation should be properly implemented and respected. The rights, needs and interests of non-majority communities are therefore fully integrated into all areas of the Mission’s work. Mission Members across all 38 of Kosovo’s municipalities are continuing to monitor the situation closely, reporting security incidents and advocating at all levels of administration, as necessary, to help ensure that the rule of law is upheld.
There has been recent notable progress in some areas of direct relevance to community rights. Non-majority communities are participating in local security fora established with OSCE support in municipalities right across Kosovo. The Consultative Council on Communities is working effectively with the Language Commissioner and other parts of government to scrutinize legislation and to ensure community rights are protected. A new unit is being established, sponsored by the OSCE, to improve the quality of translation between the two official languages, Albanian and Serbian. Young women and men from non-majority communities are responding positively to new recruitment opportunities in Kosovo institutions, including the Kosovo Police.
While legally elected, the new mayors lack legitimacy as a result of the low turnout. As we have seen, tensions have risen sharply since then
The OSCE Mission has worked hard in recent years to support the implementation of agreements reached in the EU-facilitated Dialogue, especially with regard to the integration of the police and the judiciary. This integration brought tangible benefits to residents and has been one of the Dialogue’s key achievements. It is therefore a matter of regret that professional police officers, judges and prosecutors, together with four elected mayors and many municipal assembly members, decided to stand down from their positions last November, creating an institutional and security vacuum in the four northern municipalities.
The resignations of elected mayors and municipal assembly members made necessary the extraordinary municipal elections which took place in northern municipalities on 23rd April, but which were boycotted by the overwhelming majority of Kosovo Serb voters. While legally elected, the new mayors lack legitimacy as a result of the low turnout. As we have seen, tensions have risen sharply since then.
There is an urgent need for de-escalation. Indeed, there can be no return to anything resembling normality for residents in the northern municipalities until all communities once again participate in public safety institutions there, as well as in the judiciary and in municipal decision-making.
This is why the OSCE has called for fresh, inclusive elections to be held as soon as possible. The mechanisms exist for this to happen, provided all communities play their part.
There is an urgent need for both parties in the EU-facilitated Dialogue to reaffirm their commitments to one another and to implement what they have agreed. Understandings reached in Brussels on 27th February and then in Ohrid on 18th March raised hopes among all communities in Kosovo that there was a new momentum leading to normalisation. Those hopes should not be disappointed.