The
United Nations Mission in Kosovo
On 10 June 1999, after the end of the Kosovo conflict,
the United Nations Security Council passed resolution
1244 authorising the United Nations Interim Administration
Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to begin a long process of building
peace, democracy, stability and self-government.
In the first-ever operation of its kind, UNMIK brought
together four Pillars under UN leadership: Police and
Justice and Civil Administration under the direct responsibility
of the United Nations, Democratisation and Institution-Building
under the responsibility of the OSCE, and Economic Reconstruction,
Recovery and Development under the responsibility of the
European Union (EU). In particular, resolution 1244 called
upon UNMIK to:
| • |
perform basic
civilian administrative functions; |
| • |
promote the
establishment of substantial autonomy and self-government
in Kosovo; |
| • |
facilitate
a political process to determine Kosovo's future
status; |
| • |
coordinate
humanitarian and disaster relief of all international
agencies; |
| • |
support the
reconstruction of key infrastructure; |
| • |
maintain civil
law and order; |
| • |
promote human
rights; and |
| • |
assure the
safe and unimpeded return of all refugees and displaced
persons to their homes in Kosovo. |
To facilitate an effective division of tasks, the United
Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo is
headed by the Special Representative of the Secretary
General (SRSG). On 14 August, the Secretary General
informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint
Ambassador Joachim Rücker as his
Special Representative and Head of UNMIK, effective
1 September. He replaces Søren Jessen-Petersen
who presided over the work of the four integral pillars
of UNMIK from August 2004 to July 2006. The principal
Deputy SRSG is Steven Schook. Each
pillar is headed by a Deputy Special Representative
of the Secretary General (DSRSG).
(Former) Pillar I: Police and Justice: Has now been
integrated into the Office of the SRSG as 'Rule of Law
Office'.
(Former) Pillar II: Civil Administration: Has now been
integrated into the Office of the SRSG as the Department
of Civil Administration, headed by Patricia
Waring.
Pillar III: Democratisation and Institution Building,
led by the Organization for Security and Co-operation
in Europe (OSCE), headed by Werner Wnendt.
Pillar IV: Economic Development, headed by Acting DSRSG
Paul Acda, effective 1 September 2006.
KFOR
The Kosovo Force (KFOR) is a NATO-led international force
responsible for establishing and maintaining security
in Kosovo. This peace-enforcement force entered Kosovo
on 12 June 1999 under a United Nations mandate, two days
after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1244.
KFOR contingents are grouped into four multinational task
forces KFOR troops come from 35 NATO and non-NATO nations
and number about 17,000.
On 1 September 2006, Lieutenant General Roland Kather, German Army, took over command of KFOR
Milestones
| • |
9 June 1999
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244
establishes the United Nations Mission in Kosovo. |
| • |
October 2000
- Local elections took place in Kosovo's 30 municipalities. |
| • |
May 2001 -
The new Constitutional Framework of Kosovo is adopted
establishing Provisional Institutions for Self-Government
(PISG). |
| • |
17/18 March
2004 - March riots in Kosovo. |
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23 October
2004 - New elections to renew the Assembly of Kosovo
were successfully held and consequently a new coalition
LDK/AAK government was formed with two new ministries
(Local Government and Returns). |
| • |
Mid 2005 -
Comprehensive review of the Kosovo standards by
the UN by Ambassador Kai Eide. Published in October
2005, the report made recommendations that talks
regarding Kosovo’s future status begin. |
| • |
November 2005
- The UN Security Council endorsed Martti Ahtisaari’s
appointment by the UN Secretary General as UN Envoy
for the Status process. The Contact Group presented
"guiding principles for the settlement of the
status" as a reference document for the negotiating
parties. |
| • |
24 July 2006
– Serbian and Kosovo Albanian leaders meet
in Vienna at the highest political level for their
first face-to-face talks since NATO aerial bombing
in 1999. |
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