Discurso do Representante Permanente, Embaixador Ronaldo Costa Filho, em reunião do Conselho de Segurança sobre o Kosovo (UNMIK) - 27 de abril de 2023 (texto em inglês)

Mister President,

I thank Special Representative Caroline Ziadeh for her briefing, welcome to this meeting the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, and acknowledge the participation of representatives of Kosovo.

Brazil commends the parties for those instances of continued engagement in dialogue and negotiations, which resulted in the agreement on the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina in February and its implementation annex in March. We believe this is a positive development, in the expextation that it reinforces both sides’ commitment to a negotiated and mutually acceptable solution to the question of Kosovo. We welcome the constructive role played by the European Union in mediating the negotiations.

It is concerning however that progress on other fronts, such as the road map for the implementation of the 2013 and 2015 energy agreements, remains limited. Brazil notes the persistence of tensions between communities, particularly in North Kosovo, reflected in the boycott of local elections last Sunday. We consider it important that parties adopt confidence-building measures and avoid unilateral actions that could trigger violence.

Brazil reiterates the call for the establishment of the Association-Community of Serbian-Majority Municipalities in Kosovo, in accordance with the Brussels agreements. We encourage parties to adhere to their commitment to respecting sites of historical, cultural or religious significance and to preserving freedom of movement.

Mister President,

Brazil supports the continuity of UNMIK. We understand that it would be premature to consider its withdrawal at this time. We believe that the mission still has an important role to play in preventing intercommunal conflicts, especially in fighting misinformation and hate speech and in engaging young people in the peace process.

Finally, Mister President, I would like to express Brazil’s concern over the presence of troops from Kosovo in the Malvinas Islands. The sending of foreign troops to that territory is in violation of General Assembly Resolution 31/49 and goes against the spirit of Resolution 41/11, which solemnly declared the South Atlantic a zone of peace and cooperation.

Brazil reiterates its firm support for Argentine sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands and urges member states to refrain from unilateral actions concerning the territory.

And I thank you.