UNMIK/PR/659
PRESS RELEASE-23 October 2001

IAC Discusses Elections, Crime, Flags

PRISTINA - SRSG Hans Haekkerup briefed the Interim Administrative Council on his plans to visit Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica later this week to seek his support for Kosovo Serb participation in the 17 November Kosovo elections.

Mr. Haekkerup told the IAC, and later members of the press, that he will present President Kostunica with a document that explains what UNMIK has been doing and will do in the future to improve conditions for Kosovo Serbs. "There is strong international pressure for Kosovo Serb participation, and we want to make it easier for the authorities to support participation," the SRSG added.

Mr. Haekkerup said he has not seen President Kostunica's declaration which the Belgrade press has reported upon as being prepared for the SRSG's endorsement in Belgrade.

"I will read it with interest, and if it is within UNSCR 1244 and the Constitutional Framework, we're ready to discuss practical cooperation," he said in answer to a journalist's question.

Earlier, in the IAC itself, Mr. Haekkerup agreed with a proposal by IAC members to hold a wider consultation with community representatives on the draft regulation on flags and symbols on public buildings, which the SRSG said must be promulgated before the first meeting of the Kosovo Assembly. That draft states that only the UN flag may fly above the Assembly building, while those of the communities represented in the Assembly can be erected inside and at the entrance to the building.

Also, a lengthy discussion on the sources of recent violent crime ensued, following the security briefing by KFOR Commander Gen. Marcel Valentin, during which he said he has had no  reports of incidents of political violence related to the election campaign. General Valentin said that the background to last week's attack on a carload of LDK members-which resulted in two deaths-was probably a long-standing family feud.

IAC member Hashim Thaci urged the international community to find the facts behind  such crimes, criticizing "improvised murders." All other IAC members agreed with the need to establish the truth for recent as well as past serious crimes.

The IAC also endorsed a draft regulation on the Establishment of a Pledge Filing Office in the Department of Trade and Industry, which would oversee the verification and handling of collateral for business loans.