Gradually, over the eight years since it was first instated, as Kosovo's Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG) were established "UNMIK has moved back from an executive role to one of monitoring and support to local institutions. UNMIK, in its present form, is now into its final chapter before status resolution" ("What is UNMIK," UN, 2009). Customs, banking regulation, and general governmental functions are some of the other responsibilities assumed by local authorities since the establishment of UN control. However, the UNMIK Department of Justice (DOJ) continues to prosecute serious crimes, "including cases of corruption, terrorism, war crimes and March 2004 riot cases" and other cases that are the fall-out of the type of longstanding ethnic rivalries that precipitated UN intervention and the creation of UNMIK in the first place ("What is UNMIK," UN, 2009).
Although the UN has declared UNMIK as success, in recent years, Kosovo state authorities have begun to chafe under its authority. As they are "under great pressure from opposition parties, during the last months have consistently reiterated that Resolution 1244 is no longer relevant and that Kosovo institutions are not subject to any legal obligation…meanwhile, the current UNMIK presence is being cut down to less than 10%, which was advised by the UN after Kosovo declared independence and enacted its new constitution" ("Ban Ki-moon: Kosovo wants to discontinue UNMIK mission," New Kosovo Report, 2009). Kosovo state authorities argue that the original mission of stability and fair administration has been achieved, and the rationale of UN intervention to protect human rights is no longer supported by the situation on the ground.
The reasons for such hostility towards the continued presence of the UN are the result of economic disagreements, as well as political and ethnic hostilities. The intervention of the UN transformed Kosovo's economy: "During the 1990s, Kosovo's economy suffered from years of under-investment and was burdened by the legacy of central planning, which greatly...
It was clear that a fundamental reform was needed and KTA [Kosovo Trust Agency] was established in order to assist, through appropriate governance, development and privatization strategies, in the transition of Kosovo's economy towards a successful market economy" ("What is UNMIK," UN, 2009).
Regulations enabling private incorporation strategies were implemented, there was a deregulation effort of previously publically-owned services, including airplane travel, utilities, and banking, all of which cohered in an effort to make the country more financially stable. It was assumed that this would assist in economic growth over the long-term, and act as a method of politically stabilizing the country. However, some individuals, used to more state control and support, disliked the UN's economic ideals.
However, few would dispute today that UN intervention was necessary at the time "In Kosovo, external stability was important because Milosevic had said each day: 'I will take my country back by force," and there is still is a substantial percentage of the population that wishes the UN to remain (Werkhauseren 2009). "Only when the situation is stable can political and economic conditions improve…bringing stability to Kosovo has taken much longer than anyone expected" (Werkhauseren 2009).
Works Cited
"Ban Ki-moon: Kosovo wants to discontinue UNMIK mission." New Kosovo Report.
March 19, 2009. March 31, 2009.
http://www.newkosovareport.com/200903191675/Politics/Ban-Ki-moon-Kosovo-wants-to-discontinue-the-UNMIK-presence.html
"UNMIK -- at a glance." UN Website. 1999. March 31, 2009.
http://www.unmikonline.org/intro.htm
"What is UNMIK." UN Website. 2009. March 31, 2009.
http://www.un.org/peace/kosovo/pages/unmik12.html
Werkhauseren, Nina. "Ten Years on, Germany Looks Back at Return to War in Kosovo."
Deutsche Welle. March 31, 2009. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4123734,00.html
