Thank you, Madam Chair.
Firstly, I would like to welcome the Acting Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo to the Permanent Council for the first time. Thank you for the written report on the activities of the Mission over the last six months, and for the comprehensive presentation this morning.
Madam Chair, the United Kingdom shares the assessment in the Report of the concerning lack of progress towards Kosovo-Serbia normalisation, which continues to have negative implications for the daily lives of ordinary citizens and for wider stability in the Western Balkans. In this context we welcome the Government of Kosovo's recent decision to lift its ban on access for Serbian goods as a positive step towards enabling free trade across the Western Balkans, and giving citizens across the region the opportunity to reap the economic benefit of closer alignment with their European neighbours.
We continue to call on both Kosovo and Serbia to engage constructively in the EU-facilitated Dialogue and to deliver on their respective obligations, including establishing an Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities.
The UK will continue to encourage Kosovo to ensure that non-majority communities can play a full and equal role in the country's future. We have been clear with all interlocutors that any actions which impact the wellbeing of Kosovo-Serbs and other non-majority communities require careful consultation with Kosovo's friends and security partners, to avoid fuelling tensions and disadvantaging the most vulnerable. All non-majority communities should be free to exercise their democratic rights and further integrate into Kosovan society. We continue to encourage Kosovo Serbs to participate in the democratic process, take up roles in the public service and serve their communities.
The UK reiterates the importance of ensuring justice and accountability for all acts of violence. We continue to call on Serbia to co-operate fully with efforts to hold to account those responsible for the shocking attack in Banjska in September 2023, and on NATO KFOR troops in May 2023, and to act to tackle cross-border arms smuggling.
The UK commends the work of the OSCE Mission during the last six months across the three core pillars of its mandate. In particular, we appreciate the Mission's continued prioritisation of monitoring and early warning functions in light of continuing tensions in the north of Kosovo.
We value the Mission's ongoing support to government institutions on human rights and inter-community relations, including addressing concerns about the property rights of non-majority communities. We welcome the Mission's continued work to address challenges to the right to freedom of religion or belief and the preservation of cultural heritage. We also appreciate the Mission's support to the Central Election Commission in modernising Kosovo's electoral processes, which will be particularly important ahead of the February 2025 Assembly elections.
Madam Chair, the United Kingdom remains a long-standing and strong supporter of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state. We are committed to supporting an inclusive, diverse and multi-ethnic democracy in Kosovo, and its full participation in the international system.
As we mark the 25th anniversary of the OSCE Mission's mandate and constructive engagement in Kosovo, I wanted to again thank you, Acting Head of Mission, for taking on the leadership of the Mission at this critical time. I also want to thank your team for their continued expertise, engagement and hard work under pressure and uncertainty - it really is much appreciated.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
