Security Council calls on Kosovo leaders to work 'constructively' with UN mission

Security Council members today called on Kosovo’s elected leaders to work “constructively and in full cooperation” with the United Nations Interim Administration Mission (UNMIK) for the full implementation of resolution 1244, which calls for the development of provisional institutions of self-government.

The Council's appeal came in a press statement by its current President, Ambassador Kishore Mahbubani of Singapore, who said Kosovo's leaders should also focus the attention of the province's Assembly on addressing the urgent matters for which it had responsibility, in accordance with the Constitutional Framework.

The members also reaffirmed the Council's position in its presidential statement of 7 March 2001 that the border between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia must be respected, Ambassador Mahbubani said.

"[They] expressed concern about reports that the territory of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia had been shot at from the territory of Kosovo," he added.

Council members also reiterated their full support for the efforts of Michael Steiner, Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative for Kosovo.