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UNMIK/PR/661
SRSG Hans Haekkerup today briefed members of the Interim Administrative Council on developments in his talks with Belgrade authorities concerning the creation of a common document aimed at encouraging Kosovo Serb participation in the 17 November elections. "The situation for Kosovo Serbs is not easy, and we will try find language to make it possible for President Kostunica to support Kosovo Serb participation in the elections," Mr. Haekkerup told press after the meeting. "None of what we do will be outside 1244 or in contradiction with the Constitutional Framework. We think we can find areas of cooperation which will meet the concerns of Kosovo Serbs and improve their situation." He added that time was running out in terms of that needed to organize elections for the internally displaced persons out of Kosovo. In his regular security briefing to the IAC, COMKFOR Gen. Marcel Valentin noted that nine cases of ethnic intimidation had occurred, mainly young Kosovo Albanians abusing Serbs or throwing stones at trains or convoys. Two attacks on LDK offices had occurred in the previous week, one in Vitina and the other in Skenderaj. He also noted that a suspect had been detained in the murder of a Russian peacekeeper. A discussion ensued on the KFOR search of an AAK leader who was entering a campaign rally in Lipjan. Gen. Valentin said the politician and his bodyguard had been "uncooperative" during a check typical of those conducted around Kosovo to ensure the population's safety. Both the AAK representative, Mr. Bajram Kelmendi, and Mr. Hashim Thaci objected to the checking as excessive. Gen.Valentin said he was still investigating the incident. The IAC was also presented with several pending regulations, all of which AAK's Kelmendi said should be deferred until after the Assembly meets. Mr. Haekkerup repeated UNMIK's position that legislation could not be held up during the period before the Assembly is up and running-which could be several months. Specifically, the IAC will study further a draft regulation on Broadcasting through the establishment of the Independent Media Commission and the Media Appeals Board. DSRSG Daan Everts explained that these bodies would eventually take over the role of the OSCE in guiding Kosovo media practices. Mr. Everts noted that the Commission will be composed of Kosovars and international members and that it will ensure a positive climate for the broadcast media-which currently consists of 95 licensed radio stations and 27 TV stations. The Media Commission will also handle the print media code of conduct in the overall system of self-regulation. Mr. Haekkerup described the other three pending legislative bills as
"controversial, but necessary." All must be promulgated before
the Assembly meets, he said, in order to have a structure in place so that
the Assembly can begin doing the business of governing without
delay. Likewise with the proposed regulation establishing the rules of procedure, Mr. Borg-Olivier said, the Assembly may later adopt its own which it can do by majority vote. However any Assembly needs provisional rules to guide its initial meetings. These rules, as well as the Assembly's administrative structure, were drafted by a team of international experts with extensive experience in Western European parliaments. The Kosovo members of the IAC were invited to provide their own experts to go over the two drafts on the Assembly before Mr. Haekkerup signs them. Discussions continued on the draft regulation on flags and symbols,
which has been considered by the Joint Advisory Commission on judicial and
legal matters. Some of their suggestions have been incorporated in a new
draft of the regulation, which remains under consideration by IAC members.
The subject of this regulation, however, is a 'reserved' power to be
determined by the SRSG, according to the Constitutional
Framework.
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