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UNMIK-UNMIK Police-KFOR-OSCE Press Briefing, 15 October 2001 UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel
University in North Mitrovica I'd like to speak briefly on the idea of a university to be established in Northern Mitrovica. The whole concept of higher education for Slavic speaking students has been distorted by the media here. These distortions are dangerous and unfair. What is going on is the following: there is a very compelling need to provide higher education for Slavic speaking students in Kosovo. For two and a half years they have had no where to go, and those who haven't left are leaving. These are not only Serbs but Bosniacs and others as well. Pristina University has not provided a secure environment for these students. As everyone knows, it is still not safe for Serbs to be in Pristina or to attend classes freely. Nor has the university provided any form of Slavic language studies. Recently, some members of the Pristina University in exile have made moves to bring certain faculties to Northern Mitrovica. We strongly opposed that move and got the people in question to move out of a building in N. Mitrovica in which they had installed without UNMIK authorization. Meanwhile, UNMIK education officials have been in talks with the Serbian Ministry of education -echoing talks between Mr. Haekkerup and Covic-as to how to accommodate Serb university students and provide higher education for all Kosovo's young people. These talks are continuing, although there are some agreements in principle. Among those agreements are that -the University of Mitrovica will be under the UNMIK umbrella. It will
be administered by UNMIK and the Ministry of Education and Sciences which
will be part of the Kosovo provisional self-government after 17
November -the University will be multiethnic and will provide access for Albanian students when the security situation changes. -the Serbs are ready to comply to the draft UNMIK law on Higher education, -all the University institutions will comply will comply with the law, -the University buildings are subject of KFOR approval, due to the security situation, -the Serbs will present a map for the KFOR in what they indicate all the possible buildings, Although any university will be financed by the Kosovo Consoldiated budget, German donors have shown an interest in making a contribution. I come from the state of Ohio. There are almost 100 colleges and universities in that state alone. There are places for musicians, for computer scientists, for football players. There are universities where Jews prefer to attend, there are Catholic and Evangalist universities. There are places where black students prefer to attend, where homosexuals prefer to attend…There are universities for women only. The idea that a place the size of Kosovo will have only one university is an extremely limited vision. The only limitations on the numbers of institutions of higher education will be the budget. The only entity to administer these institutions of higher education will be the provisional self-government of Kosovo. Higher education, provided by the provisional self government, must be provided for all students who need and want it, and who meet academic qualifications. The fact that two separate language universities may be active here in the early part of this century is an unfortunate reality of Kosovo. Some day these universities will be mixed, and Slavic speaking students will learn Albanian and Albanians will learn Slavic languages simply if they want to succeed professionally in this region. I ask you please to end these distortions about what is going on, and welcome the fact that expanded higher education will be offered in Kosovo. Basketball Match Now in more hopeful news on the education front: The Strpce basketball team played its first match of the 2nd Division league yesterday at Ferizaj against the Drita Gnjilan team. The Drita Gnjilan team won the match. The match was played in a competitive but friendly spirit with the players shaking hands at the end. Acting SRSG Tom Koenigs inaugurated the event. The US KFOR provided the security. One Millionth ID Card The one millionth ID card will be handed over by acting SRSG Tom Koenigs today to a Kosovo Serb at the UN warehouse in Gracanica at 14.30 hrs. Journalists are invited. From the Courts Last Tuesday in the Gnjilane district court,, the trials of 12 FYROM Albanians detained by KFOR in March for illegal border crossings and possession of weapons started. The panel of judges if presided by an international judge and there is an international and Kosovo judge on the panel. The prosecutor is also international. The 12 have been indicted on 3 separate cases, as they were detained in three separate events within a 36 hour period…
Press Conference with COMKFOR COMKFOR invites members of the press and media to attend a press conference here in the Hollywood Room at Film City at 1030 on 19 Oct 01. COMKFOR will make a short statement and take any questions you may have. Afterwards, there will be refreshments during which COMKOR will take the opportunity to chat with members of the press and will make himself available for short personal interviews. Journalists interested in attending should contact the CPIC Media Operations office. Transportation will be provided and all wishing to attend should arrive at the government building not later than 09.15.
North Mitrovica - Normalization of Policing Over the past month, UNMIK Police have been making renewed efforts to provide normal civil policing for the people of North Mitrovica. We are seeing a greater acceptance of UNMIK Police and a much improved relationship with the public. An incident occurred on 8 October - a week ago today - that
demonstrates the progress we have made. At about 3:00pm, an
apparently intoxicated man confronted a KFOR foot patrol by obstructing
and verbally abusing the soldiers. A crowd of about 100 people
quickly formed and tensions began to rise. The commander of the North
Station, along with several UNMIK police officers, responded to the scene
and calmed the situation. The crowd then dispersed without
violence. Election Coverage In the past week, elections related events have been held across Kosovo. We have monitored a total of twenty (20) political meetings, rallies, and public gatherings. Over 16,000 persons attended these events. We are pleased to report that all of these events have been conducted properly and no significant incidents have been recorded. We see this as evidence of increasing political maturity. We also expect the remainder of the campaign to be carried on with respect and restraint. Suspects Arrested for Murder In Gnjilane, police received information that a 21 year-old K-Albanian woman died on October 8th, 2001. The woman died the day after her wedding and the family buried the body. Police obtained a court order to exhume the victim's body and a post-mortem examination was performed. The examination determined the victim had died of multiple gunshot wounds. Homicide investigators have now arrested two suspects, both of whom are relatives of the victim. A firearm has also been seized in connection with the murder. In a second case, police in Pec/Peja have arrested the 14 year-old K-Albanian son of the victim. The boy shot his 31 year-old father to death, but the motive has not been determined. Staff Changes in the UNMIK Police Press Office As many of you know, Andreas GRAF (Austria) and Donny HAWKINS (USA) have completed their UN assignments and have returned home. We wish them the very best. I am please to introduce to you the two new officers who are now with the Press Office: Romea PONZA (Italy) and Barry FLETCHER (USA). Romea has been with UNMIK since May of this year and transferred to the Press Office last week. Many of you will recognize Barry from his previous service with the Press Office. KPS Officers Released After Being Detained Inside Montenegro As you know, on Thursday, October 11th, a patrol of Kosovo Police Officers accidentally crossed the border into Montenegro through the Kulina Pass. The incident occurred at about 6:30pm. The KPS officers drove several hundred meters across the border into Montenegro in a KPS vehicle and then attempted to turn their car around. However, they were taken into custody by a Montenegro army patrol. The reports that Montenegro forces had crossed into Kosovo and abducted the KPS officers are incorrect. The mistake was ours in crossing the border. Five (5) of the KPS officers are K-Albanian and one (1) is K-Bosnian. An international officer who was with them was released to return to Kosovo soon after the KPS officers were detained in order to advise UNMIK Police of the incident. Following discussions involving UNMIK and the Montenegro authorities, all of the KPS officers were released Friday evening, October 12th, at about 7:30pm. UNMIK Police collected the KPS officers and arranged for medical examinations. All of the KPS officers are well, although some sustained injuries in the course of their arrest and detention. An internal investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances of their entry into Montenegro and subsequent detention, and to establish how their injuries were sustained.
CEC The CEC met on Friday very briefly - a record 18 minutes - to approve some new Municipal Election Commission members and to accredit some more NGO observers for the election process. On the issue of observers, our usual briefing tomorrow will be
focussing on their role. The CEC meets again tomorrow to look at the candidates lists submitted by political parties. Those lists will likely be published on Wednesday. Election Complaints The Election Complaints and Appeals Sub Commission has made some decisions in a number of complaints. Both the PDK and the AAK have been fined 250 DM each for not giving enough notice for holding a political rally. In another instance the PDK was given a warning for not giving enough notice - that was for a rally which was held before the official start of the election campaign. These decisions underline the commitment by the Election Complaints and Appeals sub Commission that late notification of a rally will result in sanctions. The Turkish People's Party of Kosovo - which was not certified - has been fined 1,000 DM for fraudulently collecting signatures for its certification application. Complainants said they were misled into signing the application - one person was told it would support an employment application.
Q: You said that the university in northern part of Kosovo has to be multiethnic. What do you mean by multiethnic and what kind of multiethnic university can there be in northern Kosovo when we all know it is not safe there? SM: Well, in the first instance the reality would be that Serbs, Bosniacs and Gorani would attend until KFOR and UNMIK deem it safe enough for Albanians to cross the Ibar. That is the goal, that everybody goes there just as I am sure it is the goal of Pristina University that everyone goes there. It is just that they haven't acted on it in the last two and a half years. Q: What would be the curriculum of the university in the northern part of Kosovo? The Kosovo curriculum, the Serb or Belgrade made curriculum and who will finance this university? SM: I said that everything has to come under the Kosovo Consolidated Budget. Similar with the Pristina University there may be donors from outside. Most universities need donations in addition to government's support and there has been interest by the German Government in giving a donation to this. As far as curriculum of studies are concerned, all that has to fall under UNMIK's approval. What is being talked about now in these discussions is what kind of faculties would be needed that would attract students there and would not duplicate what is offered in Pristina University. Q: Question for UNMIK Police and KFOR. I was at the border crossing. The last checkpoint there is a KFOR checkpoint. Four kilometers before that there is a customs point where the UN and Kosovo Police are stationed. According to my information given by sources at the scene, there were two Kosovo police officers with one international on routine patrol of the area inside of Kosovo, and the special units commandos came out, captured them and then released the international officer who came back and took the other four policeman on duty at the customs point and went back to get the other two released. And then the six of them were captured and the international officer was again released. I want to know if this is true and how is it happen that they were not captured at the same time but that the first two and then the other four were seized. Also, was the international officer beaten up and why were the media not allowed visit the KPS officers. The question for KFOR is since yours is the last checkpoint over there can you tell us how they crossed the border, if so? DS: As I understand you were on the ground and have gone through the checkpoints. You made a statement that it was a UN customs point that is the last point, not the KFOR. I haven't been on the ground so … Q: KFOR is the last. Four kilometers before KFOR checkpoint there is a UN Police and Kosovo Police and customs too. So, since KFOR is the last one do you have information if the police crossed the border or not? DS: No more than what you have just given me and as you have seen in the UNMIK Police press report. I have no more information other than that. DC: Your question is as to how exactly the KPS vehicle got across the border. I really don't know. The only people that know are the people inside the vehicle. You said that you have that information from your sources. I don't know what your sources are. The source that I get my information from is the Director of Operations of UNMIK Police who personally went to the scene and was involved in the discussions and was directing the operation at the scene. He has made no mention to me of two trips; he has made no mention to me of the fact that these people were taken. The way the incident was described to me was that they inadvertently drove across the border. They passed several hundred meters into Montenegro's space and tried to turn the vehicle and then were captured. Q: Since there were six KPS members and one international - seven people in one car. Is that logically possible? DC: Logically, no. I believe that there were two vehicles involved. There was an international officer with the KPS, he was released at the scene and he was sent back to UNMIK Police to inform us what had happened at the border. I have been to that crossing. I know the Klina Pass quite well. It is not uncommon for UNMIK Police vehicles to drive right to the Montenegrin checkpoint. We are involved in regular meetings with the Montenegrins. It is not uncommon for us to drive to their checkpoint to speak with them about the issues that concern security. So there was nothing out of the ordinary in fact that the KPS vehicle would have passed beyond our UNMIK Police checkpoint and gone into that area between the two. Q: Was the international police officer beaten after he was released? What happened to KPS car and guns? DC: The latest information I have is that we have recovered all of the equipment. The key of the patrol vehicles and the side arms that the KPS were carrying, I believe have been returned to us. The UNMIK international officer was not injured. You had a further question as to why the media were not allowed access to the KPS. The reason for that was that we had to interview each one of them individually to find out how they came to cross the border, how they were treated while they were in custody. And it would have not been appropriate to have members of the public and the media interviewing them before the police had had a chance to conduct our own investigation. The media is allowed to have access to any police officer for the purpose of an interview. That has always been the UNMIK policy. Any officer is free to comment on anything in which he is involved to the limit of his expertise. What you must remember though is that there is an investigation going on internally to find out how they crossed the border. That investigation will also include how did they received their injuries. If it transpires it is because of mistreatment while they were in custody, that would be the subject of a meeting and discussions with the Montenegrins. So, I will not prevent you from having access to the officers but I do not believe they would be speaking to you about this incident while they are still under investigation.
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