New Delhi: A stint as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council means formulating national positions on developing crises in far-away hotspots that have left the front pages but continue to be the focus of strategic manoeuvres by major powers. Last week, India got a taste of this delicate process while updating its opinion on Kosovo. Through the last week, Kenya presided over discussions ranging from Western Sahara to Yemen and Colombia. There was also an open debate in which speakers emphasised respecting diversity as an effective peace-building tool. Besides, the Council issued two press statements on the second attack on a Shia mosque in Afghanistan and threats against peacekeepers in South Sudan.There was also last-minute dramatics over the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) just hours before it was to expire on October 15. It was delayed by China raising objections to the draft resolution, shepherded by the United States and Mexico.Haiti has grappled with political and environmental disasters this year, starting with the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in August.The Caribbean nation does not have diplomatic relations with China, as it is one of 15 countries that still recognise Taiwan. The decision, taken in 1966, goes back to the days of the Duvalier dictatorship.In October 2020, China and Russia had abstained at the time of the mandate renewal. As per a report, Chinese diplomats had sought to curtail the mandate extension to just six months and aimed for a review to devise a drawdown, but they were not included in the final resolution.This year, China’s latest objections meant that the mandate’s validity was extended for nine months rather than the usual 12 months. Passed unanimously, the resolution called on the Secretary-General to conduct and report a review of the mission within the next six months.China’s permanent representative Zhang Jun claimed in his explanation of vote that the inclusion of the request for an assessment of the BINUH mandate was done at the behest of China. “This creates an important opportunity whereby the Council can, on the basis of the Secretary-General’s assessment report, update the BINUH mandate in light of the changing circumstances on the ground to better help the Haitian people. Given the foregoing, China voted in favour of the resolution,” he said.As a permanent member, China is used to taking a position in which it has to deal with stakeholders with which it does not share diplomatic relations – either due to the one-China policy or for other reasons.The recurring Security Council agenda item – over which India has had to blow the accumulated dust from a rarely-articulated national position on a territory that it does not recognise as a state – is Kosovo, the Albanian-speaking, Muslim-majority region that Serbia regards as part of its territory.It has remained on the agenda ever since it was formed out of Security Council resolution 1244 in 1999. Unlike other UN missions, the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), a consequence of resolution 1244, does not come up for extension as it is the only one that does not have a specific validity period. However, Kosovo is the focus of at least three periodic briefings before the Council every year.Zahir Tanin, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kosovo, briefs members of the Security Council. Photo: www.news.un.orgThe second quarterly meeting for 2021 on Kosovo took place on October 15 against the recent flare-up in tensions after Pristina changed the rules to force Serbian vehicles to temporarily change their license plates to ‘Kosovo Republic’ when crossing borders.India’s statement at the quarterly meeting began with a reiteration of Serbia’s territorial integrity, which was a reflection of New Delhi’s non-recognition of Kosovo. The unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo in 2008, welcomed by the US and with mixed responses from European nations, has prevented it from being a member of the regional group or the United Nations. India’s concern about Kosovab independence was that it could set a worrying precedent for Kashmir.In the entire statement read out by deputy permanent representative R. Ravindra, there was no mention of Kosovo by name, except when expanding the various acronyms for international missions. The term used by India for the Kosovo leadership was “authorities in Pristina”.Both Serbian foreign minister Nikola Selakovic and Kosovo’s newly-elected president Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu addressed the UNSC briefing on the invitation of the Council president and aimed sharp words at each other. The Indian representative only acknowledged Selakovic’s presence at the Council.In the current Council composition, only seven out of the 15 member states recognise Kosovo’s independence. Among the permanent members, the ratio is three to two, with Russia and China supporting Serbia. Kosovo claims to have obtained diplomatic recognition from 117 countries worldwide.Regarding the license plate controversy, India said it was “concerned with recent developments” and highlighted the need to “de-escalate tensions through engagement and dialogue”.Ravindra also raised the need for Kosovo to fulfil its obligation under the 2013 Brussels agreement and implement the Serb-majority municipalities – a demand also reiterated by China and Russia.India had also emphasised bilateral discussions between Serbia and Kosovo, which is currently being facilitated by the EU but has not shown much progress. It echoes India’s own position that the Shimla agreement had provided a bilateral mechanism for resolving the Kashmir dispute with Pakistan.Incidentally, there have been reciprocal ministerial visits between India and Serbia over the last month. Serbian foreign minister Selakovic visited New Delhi in September, while the minister of state for external affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi, attended the Non-Aligned Summit in Belgrade.However, unlike in Kashmir, India is a strong supporter of the UN’s involvement in Kosovo. It reflects Serbia’s backing of UNSC resolution 1244, which had even led China to rally behind the proposal despite its embassy in Belgrade being bombed by NATO in 1999.Security forces stand guard during the full dress rehearsal for the 75th Independence Day celebrations, outside Sher-e-Kashmir cricket stadium, in Srinagar, August 13, 2021. Photo: PTI/S. IrfanOver the decades, Serbia, which remains outside the EU, has become China’s gateway to build up trade and connectivity links with Europe.The US and its allies have long been calling for UNMIK to wrap up, but it cannot bring in a resolution in the Council as Russia and China veto it. During the briefing, India appreciated that UNMIK continues to “implement its mandate of promoting security, stability and respect for human rights in the region”. “We call on all parties to fully cooperate with UNMIK and facilitate its work”.At the same time, India has seemingly tried to also “note” the activities of the European Union’s Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), which is the US’s preferred multilateral presence in the Balkan state. The EU mission was intended to take over all activities of the United Nations eventually, but Serbia is not keen on this move.Ravindra also positively appraised that the Kosovo Force, NATO’s peacekeeping support operation in Kosovo, “have continued to effectively fulfil their mandate under UNSCR 1244”. Serbia views KFOR as the guarantor of security for Kosovar Serbs, whose continued presence will prevent the development of a fully-armed Kosovo armed forces.“Their close tactical cooperation with police authorities in Pristina and EULEX has contributed to the overall safety and security,” added the Indian diplomat.The US had claimed at the briefing that UNMIK “did not play a critical role in resolving the recent tensions between Kosovo and Serbia over the license plate issue”.The de-escalation of the tensions “with temporary support provided by KFOR, shows that other organisations can serve this role to better effect,” asserted the US representative at the Council meeting.India’s usual approach for resolution of conflict hotspots is for the relevant regional group to take the reins before the UNSC. However, its support for the UN’s primacy in Kosovo is dictated by the fact that Serbia remains out of the EU – which makes it different from its support for the ASEAN initiative in Myanmar. Indian personnel have also long been a part of the administrative and police mechanism of UNMIK.This week in UNSCThe Council’s week began with consultations on the Central African Republic, which will be addressed by the CAR president. It will be followed by the scheduled discussions and briefings on Palestine and Lebanon.As Council president, Kenya has convened a ministerial-level debate on the Great Lakes region, which will be chaired by the Kenyan cabinet secretary for foreign affairs, Raychelle Omamo. There will be a second open debate this week on women, peace and security on Thursday.For the first time since COVID-19 protocols were put in place in 2020, the Council will go on a field trip to the Sahel region.This is a weekly column that tracks the UNSC during India’s current term as a non-permanent member. Previous columns can be found here.
