UNMIK/PR/651
PRESS RELEASE-2 Oct. 2001

KTC Holds Its Last Session

PRISTINA - The Kosovo Transitional Council met today for the last time in a joint session with the Interim Administrative Council (IAC). The meeting was devoted to a discussion on security and justice issues in Kosovo.

The outgoing COMKFOR, Lieutenant General Thorstein Skiaker, DSRSG for Pillar I, Jean Christian Cady and deputy commissioner UNMIK Police, Adalbert Gross, briefed the KTC on these issues.

Opening the final session of the KTC, SRSG Hans Haekkerup said the future of Kosovo depends on the security situation, international support to Kosovo also depends on how the security situation develops and the success of the elections depends on a violence free atmosphere. "I appeal to all of you to make Kosovo a violence free society", he said.

Mr. Haekkerup thanked the KTC members for their contributions to changing Kosovo into a more democratic place. He said a form of dialogue was carried on in the KTC since its formation.

Explaining the objectives of Pillar I, Mr. Cady said it is to establish an efficient, impartial and reliable KPS and Kosovo judicial system, to create a reliable penitentiary system and in the transitional phase to maintain effective international control and oversight over police and justice. He outlined the various steps that have been taken to achieve these objectives, like forming the Judicial Investigation Unit, which analyses and evaluates the functioning of the courts and public prosecutors' offices and investigates complaints against judges and prosecutors. A Minority Affairs Unit is being established with a view to creating capacity in the Justice department to handle minority issues, he stated. Mr. Cady said UNMIK proposed raising the number of international judges and prosecutors from the current 15 to over 30 by next year.

Mr. Cady also spoke of the planned improvements in prisons and detention centers.  He said UNMIK would continue to address the issue of the missing persons and Kosovo Albanians detained in Serbia. An office had been set up in Belgrade for dealing with the issue of the missing persons.

Several members raised the issue of North Mitrovica. Responding to this subject, Lt. General Skiaker assured the members that they had the support of NATO to resolve this matter and KFOR and UNMIK were working closely on a comprehensive plan to resolve it.

Deputy Commissioner Gross urged Kosovars to cooperate with the police, saying "every police force is doomed to failure without support of those whom they serve".