UNMIK/PR/622          
PRESS RELEASE - 8 August  2001

New Kosovo Management of UNMIK Railways

PRISTINA - The JIAS Department of Transport and Infrastructure (DoTI) has announced the appointments of a new Kosovo General Manager and Deputy General Manger for the railways.

Mr. Gani Lahu will assume the position of General Manager on 1 September, 2001 for an initial period of one year. Mr. Lahu, who has a degree in economics, has been fulfilling the duties of General Manager since 1999. He has worked with the railways for approximately 11 years in different capacities, and for eight years was an advisor to the government on traffic and infrastructure issues in Kosovo.

Mr. Vesel Makolli has been appointed as Kosovo Deputy General Manager of the Railways, also for an initial period of one year beginning on 1 September, 2001. Mr. Makolli has worked with the railways for over 20 years.

Both candidates were selected in an open and transparent process that began with the advertising of the positions in the Kosovo press in June 2001. After a professional selection procedure, during which leadership skills, management experience, strategic decision-making and technical expertise were assessed, the candidates were chosen for these positions.

"With the increase in both freight and passenger traffic in Kosovo, the Railways has been making tremendous strides in the last six months," said Gunnar Hallert, international General Manager of the Railways with the Department of Transport and Infrastructure. "It is good to have a solid management team in place to keep this progress going."