UNMIK/PR/633
PRESS RELEASE - 24 August, 2001

New General Manager for Youth, Sports and Cultural Centre

PRISTINA - The acting DSRSG, Civil Administration, Gerard Fischer, issued the following statement today:

A definitive solution has now been found to the vexed question of the appointment of the future General Manager of the Youth, Sports and Cultural Centre.

As you may be aware, there have been on-going discussions on the actual responsibility for this Centre.  Arising from the conflicting claims, the proprietorial privilege of making the appointment became an issue.   Despite holding previous interviews this Spring with the prospective candidates, no clear decision could be reached. 

To resolve this issue, the Department of Civil Administration decided to employ the powers vested in it to announce the final selection. This decision is based on the most painstaking analysis and tests of the abilities of the previously short-listed candidates conducted by an internationally reputed   Management Consulting enterprise.  A similar process was followed concerning the selection of the PTK Director earlier this year.

With a fully legitimized appointment of the General Manager, it will now be possible to proceed to the examination of the candidatures for the subsidiary management posts - Sports Director, Finance Director, Security Director, etc., that will be subject to the review of a mixed international/local Supervisory Board to which the newly appointed General Manager will report.

We would like to take this occasion to thank the previous management for their valuable contributions and hope that they and the other candidates continue to contribute to the future development of the Centre. In addition, following the appointment of the General Manager and with a fully legitimate management team in place, donor assistance directed toward the rehabilitation of the Centre will be facilitated. 

Accordingly, we are now pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Xhemayl Hasani General Manager, effective 3 September, for a one year period. Mr. Hassani's extensive experience as the President of the Kosovo Youth Association, as a journalist and editor for Pristina TV, Executive Secretary of the Kosovo Education/Science/Culture Committee and previous Director of the Center in 1991, as well as his demonstrated abilities during the interview and testing process validate him as the most suitable person for the post.