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UNMIK/PR/589 IAC Discusses IDP Returns, Anti-terrorism regulation Further discussions on a statement of principles to guide the returns of people displaced from Kosovo went on in today's session of the Interim Administrative Council, and members agreed that a draft statement would be presented tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Kosovo Transitional Council. During the meeting, IAC member Ramush Haradinaj proposed that 'integration' of minorities should precede returns, while UNHCR and UNMIK maintained that the start of Serb returns should not be delayed further. UNMIK and UNHCR have sought the endorsement of the IAC for the principles guiding returns as essential to beginning the process of gradually bringing back displaced minorities-particularly Kosovo Serbs-to their homes. UNHCR Chief of Mission Lennart Kotsalainen said that "There will be no progress without the full involvement of Kosovo Albanian leadership at all levels." After the meeting, PDSRSG Gary Matthews told media that, "The issue of return is a universal and basic human right. It's for everyone. We also emphasized the point of integration. This must be something that people support on their own. We're talking about society doing things together." During the meeting, IAC members expressed their support for the general idea of returns, but also their qualifications on such returns. For example, Kosovo Albanian members said, the principles should apply to all people displaced from Kosovo and criminals should not be allowed back. SRSG Haekkerup responded by saying that while he doubted criminals would choose to return, should any indicate such plans, "we'll look into their cases and if they've committed war crimes, they'll be put into prison." He also said that the framework was 'neutral' to ethnicity and would be applied to all communities. Regarding the return of Kosovo Albanians, he said, "the international community has put immense effort into bringing people back. We are committed to return. However, many Kosovo Albanians in the diaspora want to stay. They have free choice. The problem is when they are forced to return. We had to say that if the countries want them to return, we won't object…" Mr. Haekkerup went on to say that the security situation was the main block to the return of Serbs and other non-Albanian communities, but that recently, more Kosovo Albanians had been willing to give evidence of violent crimes. "More people are willing to come forward if they know about crimes and give information to the police. This increases our possibilities," the SRSG said. "Also, many young people are lining up to become police. This is a good sign." He agreed that security was not just a matter of police, but of the attitudes of ordinary people. Still, he said, "We should start the process of return. It will certainly not be 170,000 people. What we are talking about now are very small numbers. But it's important we take that step now." The IAC members also discussed the draft regulation on the prohibition of terrorism. Kosovo Albanian IAC members objected to citations on the draft which indicated that the applicable law used to write the regulation had included the SFRY criminal code along with the Kosovo criminal code (both of which form the basis of applicable law in Kosovo, along with UNMIK regulations). Legal experts of the various parties will study the draft regulation further before the IAC moves to endorse it. In other business, IAC members asked about reports of a new 'wall' in Mitrovica. KFOR Commander Lt. General Thorstein Skiaker responded that "there will be no walls dividing Mitrovica." To a question on progress regarding the situation in Mitrovica, SRSG Hans Haekkerup said that the North Atlantic Council will be taking up the issue this month. "That's the organization of power: they'll try to find a solution," he said.
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