Lamberto Zannier

he Italian diplomat, Lamberto Zannier arrived in Kosovo on Friday as a Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations, marking a new important period in the history of transition in the country.

He is the UN special representative who will take over with a new role as a 'facilitator' of the UN reconfiguration process rather than as an administrator with full authority.

"Basically, I will try to explain my role in a different viewpoint and a different way of action in comparison with my predecessor's tasks," said Zannier. "Clearly, this is a result of magnificent changes that have occurred in the country, emphasizing a new reality," added the new UN representative. 
 
The United Nations have administered Kosovo ever since 1999 and Zannier's seven predecessors have administered the country with arbitrator's authority. After Kosovo declared independence and its constitution came into effect as a guarantor of its sovregnity, Zannier's tasks will be in accordance with new instructions given by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's plan, which was presented on Friday at the UN Security Council. The plan opens the path for maximum limitation of UNMIK's tasks, foresees the transitional process of handing over some police and judicial authority to EU and it  assigns a few duties to UN special representative as 'facilitator' of a number of new arrangements in the areas populated by Kosovar Serb minority.
 
The cooperation with a side of Kosovar Serb minority who has rejected the European Union mission will be the most important task for the new UN special representative. Kosovo Serb representatives have different views on the plan that foresees reconfiguration of the UN mission in Kosovo. Head of the Serb National Council, Dragan Velic, said that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s plan is not of interest of Kosovo Serbs while EULEX and Kosovo Constitution, according to Velic, are illegal. Another Serb representative, Nenad Radosavljevic, said that EULEX has the opportunity to be fair and do something positive.

"During this transitional period, I consider the UN position as 'a decisive facilitator' because we intend to establish an access hub to cooperate with all sides during the transition. And, I would like to use this access hub as a way to build cooperation between central authorities and communities,” said Zannier. In the meantime, the Italian diplomat will carry out the instructions of UNMIK reconfiguration process that will be relayed to him in the end of this week. He will have to open the road for the European Union mission, which will function initially under "the UN authority."

"I have been working in the area and I am cognizant of people's willingness to cooperate with the European Union, which I genuinely believe can help in solving a lot of complex problems, and certainly UN will be able to mediate in the cooperation issue," said Zannier during his press conference in Prishtina, Kosovo.
 
Besides the EULEX mission, EU will be in charge of the Office of International Civil Representative. However, Zannier does not answer who will be in charge of international civil community in Kosovo, after the recent developments. “The issue of who will be in charge is an incorrect question in essence. Each organization has its own decision makers within their mandate. Kosovo's situation is different today. We have a constitution and a democratic government. UN or EULEX cannot override the mandate of the Kosovar people," added the Italian diplomat.

The Italian diplomat emphasized that he will be working towards facilitating and helping to maintain a peaceful environment in the country. "I do not think that stability and peace are at stake here. Not only do I not foresee a conflict, but in a transitional period we must focus on civil restraint and work with everyone following a constructive and understanding position," affirmed Zannier, an experienced diplomat who has worked in the field of conflict prevention around the world.

Zannier stresses that he is "a very pragmatic individual," and that the political agenda he will implement will be "irrelevant to status" and his position "will be neutral."

Comments (4)

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English please! said:

	This site is supposed to be in English! I think that the use of the albanian language on this site should be an abuse! In fact, an international law should be passed to ban this language altogether! It is simply awful and totally impractical in modern and civilized society.
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June 27, 2008
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Sebaneau said:

	Për fat të keq, nuk do të ndodhë kështu.
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June 26, 2008
Votes: +0

phooy said:

Things are turning pear shaped for the majority KLA government in Pristina. They no longer have Ruecker who did their bidding for them but now have to contend with Zannier who will now stick with Resolution 1244. Within in that Resolution Zannier has announced that the Ahtisaari plan does not exist and that Eulex now comes under the UN umbrella and must follow Resolution 1244. To top it off, the UN does NOT recognise independance. Hows that for reality.

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June 26, 2008
Votes: -1

Bekim said:

	UNMIKu(Organizate e pedofileve e kriminelve me imunitet nga qdo ligj) duhet te largohet nga Kosova sot e jo neser apo deri ne vjeshte.
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June 23, 2008
Votes: +0