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UNMIK- KFOR Press Briefing, 17 April 2001 UNMIK Spokesman Michael Keats UNMIK Spokesman Michael Keats Good morning ladies and gentlemen. A few points from UNMIK since we last met. SRSG in Albania The SRSG spent the holiday weekend in Tirana where he had discussions with the Albanian President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. The talks ranged over all aspects of the UN Mission in Kosovo. Mr. Haekkerup gave details of the nearly completed legal framework for providing substantial self government for Kosovo and plans for elections later this year. The leaders also discussed recent security problems on Kosovo's border with Macedonia and the south Serbia boundary area. The Albanian leaders condemned the violence that has occurred and distanced themselves from Albanian extremists. IAC Meeting Mr. Haekkerup is presently meeting with members of the IAC, elaborating on these talks. The IAC delegates are also discussing the legal framework and a draft of the regulation on the Social assistance scheme for Kosovo. The following statement has been released by IAC: "The IAC is appalled at the shooting of a KFOR soldier on 11th April while serving to provide a safe and secure environment in Kosovo. The IAC members strongly condemn the shooting and denounce any targeting of international peacekeepers of the international security forces and to provide support in finding perpetrators of the unacceptable act. The IAC expresses its condolences to COMFOR, the Russian Military Contingent and the family of the soldier." Joint Working Group I should mention that there is no meeting of the Joint Working Group today, as previously announced. So there will be no photo opportunity. This afternoon the SRSG will be meeting with the Presidents of the municipalities at 2pm. Austria accepts UNMIK plates UNMIK is pleased to announce that Austria has become the latest member to accept, I principle, UNMIK vehicle registration and license plates. A letter from the Austrian authorities noted a few technical details has to be concluded regarding documentation and insurance. As announced earlier this month, the British government has also accepted UNMIK registration and plates for Kosovo vehicles. Tax Collection Protests Police reports note there have been protests in the Mitrovica region for the past two days with roads being blocked around Leposavic and Zubin Potok in protest against the establishment of Tax Collection centers. UNMIK points out that the establishment of tax collection points is entirely in accordance with the revenue arrangements which apply in Kosovo and that all residents of Kosovo benefit from these revenues. Excise and sales taxes are internal taxes; it is simply most convenient to levy them at the perimeter of Kosovo. The establishment of these tax collection points is nothing new. The regulation which enables these points to be established dates from 1999 (updated in Regulation 2000/2 and 2000/3). The first tax collection point on the administrative boundary line was established more than a year ago, in February 2000. The Yugoslav Government and the FRY Committee on Cooperation with UNMIK were notified of our plans in mid-February. Comprehensive efforts are underway to ensure that the facts about these tax collection offices are understood within the local population, specifically including all majority-Serb municipal assemblies. UNMIK expects that those who wish to raise questions about this will do so in proper channels, not by committing illegal acts or blocking access. KFOR Spokesman Major Axel Jandesek Good morning. I will hand over immediately to Squadron Leader Roy Brown who will give you a short update on today's release of hostages. KFOR Spokesman Squadron Leader Roy Brown Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Serbs Released At 8 am this morning the 5 Serb men recently released by ethnic Albanian extremists in the Presevo Valley were returned to the FRY Republic of Serbia by Gate 3 near the village of Mejdia. Mr. Sean Sullivan, the NATO Head of Office in the FRY, made a short statement to the media before driving the former detainees through the checkpoint to be handed over to the Serb authorities and to meet their families. Mr. Sullivan said the release of the men is the result of several weeks of careful discussions and expressed his hope that this release would lead to future constructive dialogue and would enable both sides to make progress through the democratic process. He also said that COMKFOR was pleased to see the men repatriated to their families and to their governments. Asked whether the releases were linked in any way to the return of Serbian forces to Sector B of the Grand Safety Zone, Mr. Sullivan stresses that there was no precondition attached to the release and the return of Serb forces to Zone B was a matter for the North Atlantic Council. The 5 Serb men have spent the time since their release at Camp Bondsteel where they have been give a thorough physical examination, were well-fed and received all necessary post-captivity counseling and assistance. They expressed their gratitude to KFOR and to Mr. Sullivan for securing their release and for the care and hospitality they had received at Camp Bondsteel. Thank You. KFOR Spokesman Major Axel Jandesek Unexploded Ordinances As you know during the last weeks there were a couple of unexploded ordinances found, and unfortunately Friday one British solider died in an anti-tank mine incident that exploded in the Krivenic area. I have two or three pictures for you to give you a short update and for any further details, I may refer you to Major Smith who will be available for you. I hope you can see the marked track in this area where you can see the APC itself. This is the crater. As I was told this crater is about 1.5 meters wide and about 90 centimeters deep. In reaction tot his tragic mine accident last week, the Commander of Kosovo Forces Lt General Thorstein Skiaker , made the following statement, "Last week's tragic accident showed very clearly that mines are still a big danger for all people in Kosovo. I am very concerned about this over all threat and therefore I reiterate the importance of mine awareness training. KFOR and UNMIK are cooperating closely to prevent further damages." Additionally I want to inform you that in the upcoming issues of the newspapers you will find advertisements related to mine awareness. Questions: Q: Mr. Momcilo Trajkovic said the Yugoslav Government was not made aware of the tax collection points. Is that a lie? Also for KFOR, will the French Brigade on its own decide how it will deal with this or will it be KFOR as a whole who will decide how to deal with blockades? MK: To answer the question about the statement by Mr. Trajkovic, which I have read, all I can say is he is wrong. I don't know if he is just not aware of it. He also does not mention a point that is causing concern that the Serb authorities are putting a tax on goods before they enter Kosovo, which is the cause of most of the problem and it is only Kosovo that is affected by this Serbian move. RB: The road blocks that are in place this morning are in the MNB North sector and therefore the French led multinational brigade will take the bulk of the task there. KFOR as a whole though is completely engaged with this problem. We are conscious that we have a mission to retain freedom of movement within Kosovo. Our current stance now is to be non-confrontational, try and keep the situation calm, but we have put units on standby to deal with any escalation and we stand prepared to remove those roadblocks if necessary to enable KFOR to execute its mission or to enable the movement of essential services. Q: You say you want to create freedom of movement for all people of Kosovo? But we all know there is no freedom of movement in the northern part of Kosovo. So for whom do you want to create this freedom of movement? RB: The mission of KFOR is to maintain freedom of movement for all citizens of Kosovo. As this particular incident is running, our main concern is to keep the situation calm. If we need to move those roadblocks to enable KFOR to conduct its major operations or for the movement of essential services, we will be prepared to do so. Q: Have you been in contact with Trajkovic and the office of the Yugoslav authorities in Pristina? Especially after Mr. Hans Haekkerup's visit to Belgrade? MK: Mr. Haekkerup visited Belgrade and he saw Trajkovic there. Yes, there has been contact with them, the acting administrator in Mitrovica Mr. Fischer has met with them. Exactly when I don't know, well I should say I don't know the last meeting they had. Yes, but there have been contacts. Q: Any more information of the Legal Framework. It was supposed to be handed over to day to IAC. Has this happened? MK: No, as I announced it has been put off for today. There is a meeting tomorrow with the steering group, hopefully that will conclude it but it is still to be decided. Q: Was the mine recently placed or was it an older one? AJ: As you know there are investigations going on which started today because of the bad weather we had over the last few days. We have to wait for the results and I am not an expert in mine investigations so I cannot say how long it will take. Q: Speaking of late investigations, what is happening in the Krivenic investigation? AJ: As far as I know the results of this investigations are at NATO and now it is up to NATO to decide and pass back to AfSouth who is our superior command and then they will pass it to COMKFOR to execute what they have decided. Q: Serb leaders in the North say only sovereign nations can collect taxes and border revenues. Is it misleading the way they are portraying this? Can the UN take border taxes? MK: It can take collection taxes as we have pointed out. I think, yes, there is a bit of confusion about what is a customs tax and what is a VAT tax. Really it is a VAT tax that we are talking about, which any country can have or any territory. Q: Follow up - not audible on tape MK: I think it is spread out. It is a sales tax which is set at 15% on all saleable goods except wheat, flour, fruit and vegetables. Excise duties are levied on alcohol, cigarettes, and fuel at various rates. Custom duties are not charges on good originating or produced in Yugoslavia. Q: It is also said that you want to help contraband stopped using these tax collection points. It has been two years since the border has been set up between Serbia and Kosovo, have you seen the contraband coming into Kosovo? MK: I haven't, no.
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