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UNMIK-OSCE-UNHCR-EU Press Briefing, 05 July 2001 UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel Susan Manuel Covic Annoucement SRSG Hans Haekkerup has received information that the Serbian Deputy
Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic will be assigned the Kosovo portfolio for the
Serb and FRY governments. Difficult issues such as Mitrovica should benefit by having one Belgrade interlocutor devoting his attention to working with UNMIK, KFOR and Kosovo leaders on finding solutions. Mr. Haekkerup noted that the international community will not accept parallel structures in Kosovo, and that Resolution 1244 mandates UNMIK with administering the province as a unified territory. The SRSG looks forward to working with Mr. Covic on resolving the problems facing the Kosovo Serbs and on other issues important to all people of Kosovo. US "Blacklist" SRSG Hans Haekkerup met this morning with KPC Commander Ceku and COMKFOR Skiaker to discuss disciplinary measures against five senior KPC members named on the so called "black list" issued by President Bush. UNMIK is developing its position on the Kosovo political parties and individuals also named on the list. When that response is fully developed, we will let you know. Political Party Certification I would like to clear up a confusion in some of the press. On Tuesday the Interim Administrative Council discussed a regulation which would make some amendments to the regulation on political party registration. Among those amendments, one would reduce the numbers of signatures needed to register a party from 4,000 to 500. The purpose of that change is to help small or new political parties to be registered. The amendment relates to all political parties and had nothing to do with Serb parties alone, as some media indicated. Simic Sentencing As some of you have reported, last week the Kosovo Supreme Court sentenced Zvezdan Simic to 12 years in prison. Mr. Simic had been held in the Mitrovica detention center for nearly two years. He was convicted of murder and illegal possession of weapons on 26 January 2000 and appealed his sentence of 8 years and four months, which he has been serving. The Supreme Court upheld the earlier verdict and conviction of the lower court and actually added to the sentence making it 12 years. ID Cards & Travel Documents By the end of June, UNMIK had registered nearly 1.25 million people in
Kosovo, which includes the 950,000 people registered last year by the
Joint registration Task Force. So far, 525,218 cards have been picked up, but there are still about 289,000 cards lying in the PTK offices. We urge people who have registered to please go to post offices and retrieve their ID cards. Regarding travel documents, by the end-of June UNMIK had received
56,337 applications for Travel Documents. 34,664 travel documents had been
produced by a German company. Claire Trevena MOU agreement The OSCE Mission in Kosovo welcomes the letter from FRY President Vojislav Kostunica which allows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Commissariat for Refugees and the International Organization of Migration. What this means is that the way is now clear for IOM to start preparing for registering potential voters for Kosovo's elections in Serbia and Montenegro. This registration will take place at the same time that the Voters' List inside Kosovo is updated -- starting 30th July. There will be a press release on this later today. Political Party Certification On political party certification - we are half way through the period when political parties can submit their applications for certification to contest the elections. So far there have been five independent candidates 22 parties, two citizens initiatives and one coalition which have picked up the papers needed. They have until 20th July to get them back to the OSCE. Opposition Training The OSCE's Institute for Civil Administration is running a series of one day training seminars for opposition members of municipal assemblies over the coming week. This is seen as a very important part of our democratisation work - as the role of the opposition is vital to the healthy running of an Assembly. The opposition needs to take an active part in the assembly. The training will cover such issues as developing policy alternatives, using public opinion to support their aims and getting the public to understand the opposition's goals. The training will be in Pristina tomorrow, Pec/Peja Monday, Zvecan Wednesday and Gjilan/Gnjilane next Friday. The sessions are open to the media to observe. Democracy House And tomorrow sees the Inauguration of a Democracy House in Peja/Pec. The Democracy House brings together political parties, NGOs and the media under one roof. It provides each with working and meeting space and provides an environment in which they can share ideas and develop a natural network. The Democracy House inauguration, in the 17th November Building, will be conducted by Ambassador Daan Everts. It's at 5 pm and all media are welcome to attend. There are press releases on both of these issues outside. Mike Todd Registration of Fuel Importers The Department of Trade and Industry is this week increasing its efforts to inform all fuel importers of the need to register with its newly established Fuel Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board requires in full: Names, addresses, telephone contact details, fax and email and full company descriptions. The deadline for registration is August 15th 2001. Those failing to register risk being unaware of forthcoming regulations concerning the importation of petroleum based products. Adverts explaining the need for registration are being placed in local press and flyers will be issued to all tax and customs points. Kosovo's Fuel Supervisory Board has been established to regulate Kosovo's fuel market. This involves the development of increased controls over imports, helping to prevent smuggling and create a truly open market for petroleum based fuels. Amendment of Excise Tax On Tuesday the SRSG signed into effect the new amendment of excise taxes in Kosovo. As in the European Union, and many other areas, specific excise tax rates exist in Kosovo to prevent people under declaring the value of goods to avoid duties. The new amendment places an increase of five pfennigs per litre on petroleum based products. This is in line with regional levels and is part of ongoing efforts to create tax harmonisation; this regional perspective towards economic issues is fundamental to the EU's partnership work within South Eastern Europe. Parliamentary Briefing The EU Pillar's economic policy briefings for Kosovo's political parties continue. After a successful beginning two weeks ago, the second briefing session takes place this Saturday at 9.30am in the Youth and Sports Centre, Pristina. Saturday's briefing will have a financial focus, concentrating on the topics of budget, procurement and banking. Media are invited and are encouraged to attend. Questions: Q: Does UNMIK welcome the announcement of Covic? Q: Will he only be the interlocutor for Mitrovica or for Kosovo as a
whole? Q: Do you see a difference between Presevo Valley and Kosovo? Q: Can you comment on Ceku's decision to dismiss the KPC
officers? Q: Ceku said the US has no concrete proof of wrongdoing. Do you
agree? Q: At this point have the Americans provided UNMIK with any
evidence?
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