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UNMIK-OSCE-EU-UNHCR Press Briefing, 15 November 2001 UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel
Election Message I would like to wish everyone a successful election on Saturday. We would like to stress once again the importance of voting. All communities have the opportunity with this Provisional Self Government, to take part in the administering of Kosovo and to ensure that their voices are heard. Voting is also your responsibility to your family and your community. Voting is a personal choice. And your vote is secret. While the election campaign has been admirably peaceful, disturbing reports have come from Northern Kosovo of possible intimidation. Incident in Zvecan There was an explosion yesterday outside the Zvecan municipal building, while a Povratak gathering was taking place inside. It was a small, homemade explosive device, which police say was intended more to frighten than to cause major damage. No one was injured and two cars were slightly damaged. Police have not reached any conclusions yet as to who may be the
culprit. Press events by SRSG and MR. Everts Mr. Haekkerup will give a press briefing along with Mr. Everts here at noon tomorrow to launch the elections. On Saturday he will visit several polling stations. If media are interested please contact us tomorrow afternoon or Saturday morning. Launch of Focus Kosovo Tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. we will launch our new magazine Kosovo Focus at the Depot bar in Qafa Gallery. Kosovo Focus will come out every other month and is intended to inform those interested in Kosovo of political, social, legal and economic developments in the international administration and provisional self-government. It is published in three languages: English, Albanian and Serbian language. Mr. Covic'c visit cancelled Just a note: Mr. Covic has cancelled his visit and press briefing today in Kosovo.
Election preparations With just two days two go until the election preparations are well underway. All the material necessary for the polling stations has been delivered to OSCE field offices where they are being kept under guard. The ballots have been distributed and are under 24-hour protection: OSCE staff is spending the night in the same rooms as the ballots are stored for added security. Tomorrow work will start on setting up the polling stations - putting out all the material except the most sensitive - the ballots - which will be delivered under UNMIK police security on Saturday morning. As I've mentioned before, we have done our utmost to prepare for a good election for the people of Kosovo. We believe that many of the problems faced last year have been overcome - improving the voters list, making the ballot more simple, having the polling stations deal with fewer people and so on. But as I've mentioned before, it is important that the voters work with us - come early in the day, line up patiently. The polling stations are open from 0700 to 1900 - so there is plenty of time to come to vote and we urge people to come early in the day. But they will not accept anyone who is not already waiting to vote after this time. If you are not in line at 7pm you will not vote. CEC The CEC meets today - for the last time before the election. It will be asked to certify the list of candidates submitted by the Serb citizens' initiative coalition return. The CEC is in session throughout Election Day, although it is not always sitting around a table. Its Election Day session will open at approximately 8 am. Out of Kosovo Votes The first batch of out of Kosovo votes is being flown in to Pristina tomorrow afternoon. It will be taken directly to the count centre in Obilic and kept there under tight security until counting begins on Saturday evening. The number of people who have registered as out of Kosovo voters stands at about 36,000. The second shipment comes in after the election. For out of Kosovo votes to count, they must arrive in Vienna no later than 10 am on Saturday. We will have more on how the count will work in our election briefing after this. Tomorrow And a reminder that tomorrow's noon briefing will bring together the SRSG, Ambassador Everts and ComKfor on the platform, with a message for Kosovo's voters.
American Bank of Kosovo granted final license approval The BPK has granted approval to American Bank of Kosovo for a bank license under Regulation 1999/21 with paid-in capital of 4 million DM. The bank will be permitted to engage in financial activities allowed under Section 25.3 of the Regulation including receiving deposits, extending credit, providing payment and collection services, buying and selling foreign exchange, and providing guarantees and letters of credit. American Bank of Kosovo will begin operating from its headquarters and branch office in Pristina in the coming week. It is the fifth bank to receive a final license from the BPK. The five banks are operating a total of 19 branches throughout Kosovo. With five banks operating, bank customers, both citizens and enterprises, have more options in choosing a bank for their financial transactions including opening accounts, making deposits, and applying for loans. Two further banks have been issued preliminary license and other applications for a banking license are being processed by the BPK. Press Conference There will be a press conference on the Euro changeover next Wednesday at 11.00am with DSRSG Andy Bearpark, to explain the latest developments and the final preparations that are taking place. A media alert will be issued. DTI Delegation in Italy A delegation from the former Department of Trade and Industry are next week visiting Trieste in Italy for the fourth international economic forum of the Central European Initiative. The main theme of this year's forum is 'working together for shared socio-economic growth.' Representatives of the DTI present on Private Sector Development in Kosovo, on the forthcoming Privatisation process and, importantly they will be promoting investment in Kosovo. A special foreign investment guide is being specially produced for the conference. The Summit runs from the 21 - 24 of November. Attendance will include leading political figures from Central European Initiative countries, international financial institutions and business investors.
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