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UNMIK/PR/650
PRISTINA - The Interim Administrative Council (IAC) agreed today to hold a joint session with the Kosovo Transitional Council (KTC) on 2 October devoted to security issues. The joint session would also mark the final meeting of the KTC. IAC also endorsed three important draft regulations on Essential Labour Law, On the Rights of Persons Arrested by Law Enforcement Authorities and Payment Transactions. The decision to hold the last KTC session on October 2, a day before the commencement of the election campaign, was taken in the light of the fact that most of the KTC members would be contesting the elections and continuing to hold its session would interfere with political activity. However, IAC will continue working till the establishment of the future self- government. SRSG Hans Haekkerup also briefed IAC members about the his visit to New York to speak to the UN Security Council last week, at the same time as the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic. Mr. Haekkerup told the members that since the election campaign is starting on 3 October, all co-heads, most of whom are contesting elections, would have to take leave. They will be paid till November 17. The process of amalgamating the JIAS structures into the nine ministries will also commence by 3 October. Among the draft regulation endorsed by IAC, the Essential Labour Law in Kosovo covers the fundamental aspects of a modern labour law, including fundamental rights at work, provisions for employment relationship, its establishment and termination. The draft regulation on the Rights of Persons Arrested by Law Enforcement Authorities seeks to clarify the rights of persons arrested by police. A substantial array of rights is provided, namely the right to be informed of the reasons of arrest, the right to silence, the right to an interpreter, the right to notification of family members, the right to confidential communications with defence counsel and so on. The third draft regulation on Payment Transactions addresses the architecture of the payment system and rights and duties of payment system participants. It also covers inter-bank and in-house payments transactions. The regulation is basically another component of a comprehensive payment law reform proposed by the IMF. DSRSG Andy Bearpark and the Department of Reconstruction also briefed IAC about the Public Investment Programme 2002-2004, which highlighted the fact that in the next couple of years donor contribution to Kosovo would be much less than at present. Therefore economic priorities will have to be in keeping with Kosovo's finances. COMKFOR Lieutenant General Thorstein Skiaker will attend the joint session of IAC and KTC on 2 October. It will be his last session as he hands over authority and leaves after that.
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