Published on: 2026-10-21
Source: United Nations – Объединенные Нации –
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October 20, 2026 Peace and Security
The United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Kosovo, Peter Due, stated on Tuesday at the UN Security Council about the rising tensions and disagreements concerning issues related to interaction between municipalities and property rights, including cases of building demolitions and evictions in northern Kosovo.
Dua also noted that the process of reintegrating Serbian judges and prosecutors has reached a deadlock. In addition, he pointed out restrictions on freedom of expression (in particular, the use of signs, symbols, and languages associated with minority communities) and the problems faced by Serbian healthcare and educational institutions, as well as the Serbian Orthodox Church.
“Individually, some of these events may seem purely administrative or local issues. However, collectively they reinforce among Kosovo Serbs a sense of insecurity and the feeling that they are being treated unfairly; this undermines trust and jeopardizes the multi-ethnic character of Kosovo,” the Special Representative said.
Due reminded that the Kosovo Assembly adopted amendments to the Law on the Specialist Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, which limit their powers. He noted that this caused serious concern in the European Union.
“It is necessary to respect the integrity and independence of the judicial process. Any legislative measures must fully comply with Kosovo’s legal obligations, including at the international level,” said Due.
He again called on the authorities in Belgrade and Pristina for full cooperation in order to hold accountable those responsible for the attacks that occurred in Banje in 2023, as well as the incident on the Ibar–Lepanac canal in 2024.
In addition, the Special Representative called on all parties to address the issue of missing persons (to date, the fate of 1,577 individuals remains unknown), placing the interests of the affected at the forefront and avoiding politicization of this matter.
“Recent excavations and identification of remains have allowed the families of the deceased to find at least some peace of mind, but at the same time they serve as a reminder of the ongoing suffering of those who are still waiting for answers,” he noted.
The Special Representative welcomed the election of Justina Shiroka-Pulla as President of Kosovo on October 6. He expressed satisfaction with the formation of the government institutions and the apparent overcoming of the political deadlock, emphasizing that the main task now is to turn this progress into effective governance in the interests of all communities in Kosovo.
Due supported the Secretary-General’s calls to renew efforts to achieve further progress within the dialogue facilitated by the EU. “I urge both sides to interact constructively, to implement the agreements already reached… as well as to take measures that contribute to building trust and reducing tensions,” he stated.
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