UNMIK-JIAS Fact Sheet
Interim Administrative Council

The Interim Administrative Council (IAC) was established as part of the Joint Interim Administrative Structure (JIAS) under the agreement of 15 December 1999 signed by the three Kosovo Albanian political leaders who were party to the Rambouillet Accords of June 1999. Kosovo's leaders, including (as of 11 April 2000) an observer representative of the Serb National Council, thus constitute, together with senior UNMIK officials, a provisional mechanism for sharing the management of the administration of the province until elections are held in late 2000.
Under its mandate, the IAC makes recommendations to the Head of UNMIK, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), to amend the applicable law and for framing new regulations. The Council also proposes policy guidelines for the 20 administrative departments established as part of the JIAS. It meets twice each week to debate a range of day-to-day substantive issues, such as the events in Mitrovica in February, draft regulations for preparing the municipal elections and how to accommodate returning refugees. It addresses policy questions with in-depth discussions on specific issues ranging from education to health, and from the economy to fiscal policy. The SRSG consulted the IAC on the administrative departments as they were set up and on their detailed competencies.

The present IAC consists of eight members. the three Kosovo Albanian political leaders and an observer representative of the Kosovo Serb community, plus four UNMIK members and one observer for each side. The Head of UNMIK, SRSG Bernard Kouchner, presides over the Council meetings, or in his absence the Principal Deputy SRSG, but does not vote. There are also two co-chairs of the IAC: the Principal Deputy SRSG or his alternate, and a Kosovo representative. The latter rotates among the Kosovo members every two months.

The IAC arrives at decisions either by consensus or by a three quarters majority of those present and voting. The SRSG either accepts such decisions or advises the IAC otherwise in writing within seven days, explaining the reasons for his differing view. If the IAC is unable to reach a decision by consensus or by three quarters majority, the SRSG makes the final decision. Each IAC member, or his/her alternate, has one vote. Observers have a right to speak, but cannot vote.

A Special Expert Committee on Security, composed of UNMIK and Kosovo experts, is directly attached to the IAC and liaises directly with KFOR and the UNMIK Police.

IAC Members and their Affiliations

Non-voting chairman:

Dr. Bernard Kouchner Special Representative of the Secretary-General

Kosovo representatives:

Hashim Thaçi PDK (Kosovo Democratic Party)
Ibrahim Rugova LDK (Democratic League of Kosovo)
Rexhep Qosja LBD (United Democratic Movement)
Rada Trajkovic SNC (Serb National Council - observer)

UNMIK representative:

Jock Covey Principal Deputy SRSG
Tom Koenigs Deputy SRSG for Civil Administration
Daan Everts Deputy SRSG for Democratization and Institution-Building
Joly Dixon Deputy SRSG for Economic Reconstruction.

Observers:

Feride Rushiti Representative of the Kosovo civil society
Dennis McNamara Deputy SRSG for Humanitarian Affairs