Originally published on the CGS blog on July 23, 2009.
On July 22, the Atlantic Council hosted a roundtable discussion on the U.N. Mission to Kosovo (UNMIK), and the future of the U.N. in the region. A distinguished group of people, representing an array of positions, were present, including UNMIK Chief of Staff, Robert Sorenson; First Counselor from the Embassy of Serbia, Djerdj Matkovic; and Executive Director of the National Albanian American Council, Avni Mustafaj. UNMIK has decreased its footprint in Kosovo by 90%. As U.N. member states have been cutting peacekeeping funds over the years, the mission is further compromised. The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), a technical mission launched by the E.U., is gradually taking over from UNMIK in the region.
Since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia last year, the region has continued to face problems of corruption, poor social and economic indicators, and low investment due to its disputed status. 62 countries (including the U.S.) have recognized Kosovo’s independence. Mistrust between communities and manipulation by political forces have hampered development in the region and its national movement. At the request of Serbia, the International Court of Justice is to look into the legality of Kosovo’s declaration of independence. Many actions taken by political actors revolve around this pending investigation.
Though Serbia does not recognize Kosovo’s independence, the representative from the Serbian embassy explained that it desired the welfare of the people in the region. It was also acknowledged that mismanagement of Serbian funds in the region had to be addressed, as resources have been working their way to Serb radicals. Corruption has to be more aggressively countered, and action needs to be taken against individuals and corporations whose illicit activities have already been proved. The poor economic conditions require attention- 60% of the region’s people under 30 years of age are unemployed. A robust civil society is still a long way in the making. UNMIK, EULEX, and all the other organizations in Kosovo have a long road ahead of them, and international support for this volatile area is encouraging and essential.
