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UNMIK-OSCE-EU-UNHCR Press Briefing, 17 September 2001 POLICE Commissioner Christopher Albiston
Special presentation on the Annual Review of the UNMIK Police Ladies and gentlemen, I asked for a short slot during your meeting this morning in order to introduce to you and commend to your attention the first Annual report of the Police in Kosovo. In most policing organizations it is either a requirement of law or it a tradition that the Chief of the Police prepares and submits to his or her authorities a report detailing the work of the police organization over the previous year. Sometimes that is the financial year running April to April, sometimes it is the calendar year running January to December. During the spring of this year I was discussing this mater with Derek
Chappell, whom you know, and we thought it would be useful to prepare a
similar report detailing the work of the UNMIK international police and
the Kosovo police service during the year 2000. The report is written in English and that is because the nearest equivalent to reporting to the authorities that I, as the head of our policing organization, could achieve, was to prepare a report which is technically addressed to the SRSG. But you will see from the foreword that I am also addressing the report to the people of Kosovo. Because they are the people for whom the policing service is provided. Therefore, we are working at the moment on preparing the translations: Albanian and Serbian, which will be distributed as soon as they are available. You will see in the report some of the difficulties we have
encountered, as well as some of the good thing that I believe we have
achieved. Of course, there is a long way to go. You will know that the
mandate of the police when they started their Mission here was two-fold:
unusually for the United Nations, in fact, uniquely, it was to provide
operational, executive policing for the people of Kosovo. And the second
mandate was to create and develop an effective, credible and impartial
local policing service. I think I am entitled to report to you this
morning that we have made progress on both those mandates. Other part of the mandate, of course, is the development of the Kosovo Police Service. And I am very proud of the achievements of that service in its first two years. We now have a strength of 4.200 KPS officers. Nearly 4.000 of them are out on the streets on operational duties, and most of them are on independent patrol having passed not only the initial training scheme at Vucitrn police school, but having also satisfied their local commanders, as they have developed under the field training programme to a state where they can patrol independently and do what they join the police service to do, which is as local people to do - to be a policing service to local people. We have KPS officers who have specialized in traffic duties, and you will see them on the streets with those devices that look like hair-dryers. But they won't dry your hair. They might make you a bit poorer if you are not careful. We have trained KPS officers in detective duties and all police stations have units for investigating crime and all those investigative units contain KPS officers many of whom are very effective not just because of their training and their enthusiasm, but also quite naturally because of their local knowledge and their understanding of local ways. And this is how is should be. I was also very proud to see the first promotions of our first line
supervising officers (29 sergeants promoted), as well as some senior
officers to advisors on KPS matters, to the Regional Commanders and to
myself at Headquarters. We have further promotions of the first
line-supervising officers of sergeants in the pipeline before the end of
this year. And next year the intentions is to assess those sergeants and
to send the best of them on courses designed to prepare them for higher
rank, and in due course to assess which of them are most suited to taking
up the challenges of greater supervision. So the KPS have their great strides. But like any police service the KPS will only be successful if it has the support of the community which it is there to serve. And that is something in which all of us in this room can assist not by accepting without challenge the performance or the behavior of the officers, but by being sure to give the support where it is needed and where it is deserved. I think there are sufficient copies of this report for everyone in his room, and in due course here will be translation available. The other people who are given copies of this report will be the police authorities in those countries which contribute to the international policing here, so that they can see where their people are going, how their resources are being used. Now I don't want to hold this press conference, because I know that other people came to speak to you. If there is time, I am quite prepared to take any questions which may be offered.
CA: There are offences which have taken place in Kosovo since summer of 1999 and indeed since my arrival at the beginning of this year, which would by most definitions constitute terrorism, and the groups who are responsible for those offences still exist. As to international terrorism, the picture on international terrorism is very murky, and intelligence on international terrorism is very difficult to come by. When people talk on Kosovo being a centre for international terrorism, it is a bit like when people talk about Kosovo as being a centre for crime. As Police Chiefs, I talk to my colleagues about technical maters. I am reluctant to get into public discussions which might be used for political purposes. Obviously I don't have a political role, so I don't want to give an ammunition to anyone else who has a different agenda. Q: So you don't really have information on the arrest of the two Iranians who were arrested beginning of August or end of July (24 of July)? They were NGO workers and they were arrested and the released. On which grounds? CA: It is not right for me to talk about people who were released because, of course, if they are released, I shouldn't say anything which implies that they are engaged in any offences. For two reasons: firstly, if I believe that they are engaged in offences, then I might be intending to arrest them again. We wouldn't want to advise them in that. If I don't believe they are involved in any offences, then it is wrong for me to talk in public about the fact that they have been arrested at all - because, of course, that attracts attention to them. That is always a very difficult area. It is much safer to talk about people who are charged and brought before courts, because then it is a matter of fact which is in the public domain. Q: Would we be wrong to say that according to UN police there is no apparent presence of international terror groups operating in Kosovo, and that you have no proof that there might be groups or individuals that might be in some way could be related to terror groups in Middle East or Asia? CA: As I said earlier, there are people in Kosovo who have been
involved in activity which I would describe as terrorism, but I am not
going to speculate in public about people who may either be in Kosovo or
pass through Kosovo who are involved in offences in other countries. Q: We haven't yet seen this annual report, but could you tell us which one of the major crimes which happened during the last two years in Kosovo was solved? CA: Jurisdictions have different rules about saying whether a crime is solved or not: if somebody is charged by police before the courts, or in the Napoleonic systems, where a prosecutor or an investigating judge decides the charge should be pursued, that is considered to be a crime which has been solved. From that perspective, as you probably know, the biggest crime in the period was February 16th Nis bus bombing in which 19 people were arrested. Of those 19 5 were held and investigated. Of those - 4 were put before the courts and detained. Subsequently one was prosecuted or prosecution was continued under the direction of the judge. It was considered for three of them that the evidence that the prosecution was able to produce was insufficient to continue with the prosecution. So in the sense that the police detected who committed the crime, arrested some of the people involved and mounted a prosecution - that could be considered to be a crime cleared up. Although, of course, as you know, the man who faces prosecution decided that he would rather not stay for the trial - for reasons best known to himself. Another success in which I think the local people deserve to be commended, as well as the police who with the assistance of the military rounded up the Sabit Geci going. And Mr. Seci, as you know, was sentenced to five and a half years of imprisonment for intimidation which is at the more serious end of the scale of crime. And conviction was obtained because witnesses were prepared to go and give evidence of an offence. Very often, because of the nature of the offence itself, it is difficult to get witnesses. So I would highlight those two cases. There are other cases of serious crime where the traditional police dilemma appears: that the police had a pretty good idea who was involved, but the evidence is not available. Now, we are taking steps to try and increase those cases where the evidence is available and reduce those cases where the evidence is not available. And we are doing that in two ways. The first way is the development of the Kosovo Organized Crime Bureau, which will specifically direct its effort using officers experienced in that sort of work. Against some of the more serious criminals. And the second way is the development of the legislation to enable police to use the information which they have in the courts. And as you probably, know, we operate at the moment under what is called the applicable law, which is the law which existed in this jurisdiction in 1989, as updated by the regulations passed last Friday by the SRSG. That leaves certain gaps. The applicable law is, of course, slightly out of date, and also was intended to deal with different circumstances from the circumstances which we are facing, under a regime which was rather different from the regime which we are operating under now, and in a climate of a world opinion where the rights and the responsibilities of the public and their relationship with the authorities were rather different. I mean even as recent as 12 years ago. So, that is being updated and I would hope that that would enable the increasing professionalism of the police to be matched by a greater facility of the law to deliver the sort of results which the public, hopeful, can expect. Q: One of the basic problems of the police was lack of witnesses. What is being done on witness protection? There is none. CA: Well, there is a witness protection programme, which had two elements. First element is the development of the legislation to offer serious protection to witnesses who wish to give evidence. And not only that - there is parallel legislation which will make it possible for criminals to assist in the prosecution of their fellow conspirators and for a contribution to a successful prosecution to be recognized by assistance to them in mitigating any sentence which they might face for their own crimes. So both the innocent witnesses, and those who have been true conspirators will be encouraged by legislation to come forward and perform their civic duty in assisting their fellow citizens to get rid of the criminals. The second element of the programme is the efforts that
police are making for the physical protection of witnesses. There is a
trial which has been recently, in which a principal witness has bee a
subject of a protection programme which involved removing that witness
from the jurisdiction until such time that the evidence was required at
the trial. And there are a number of other cases where witness protection
facilities have been offered. We have a team dedicated to witness
protection and we have certain physical resources which I don't wish to
describe in this meeting, but real tangible physical resources, designed
to give confidence to those people who have evidence but are reluctant to
come forward and give it because of the fear of retribution from the
people in a relatively small community against whom they are going to give
the evidence.
SRSG addressing Security Council Mr. Haekkerup is in New York, where he will address a closed session of the Security Council this afternoon. Serb Deputy Prime Minister Covic is also addressing the Council today. Registration This is the last week of the extended special civil registration
targeting Kosovo Communities, those who missed registration last year, and
IDP's: as of today, IAC agenda The IAC meeting tomorrow will hear from the Central Fiscal Authority on of the draft Regulation on the Pilot Programme for Imposition of Taxes on Property in Kosovo. The BPK will present a draft Regulation on Licensing, Supervision and Regulation of Insurance Companies and a draft Regulation amending UNMIK regulation 1999/20 on the Banking and Payments Authority of Kosovo. Disciplinary hearings of the Kosovo Judicial and Prosecutorial Council Last week, the first disciplinary hearings of the Kosovo Judicial & Prosecutorial Council were conducted. They both involved allegations of misconduct against judges. The quorum consisted of 4 internationals, 3 Kosovar Albanians, and one Kosovar Serb. In both cases the Council found that the misconduct had been established. In the first case, which alleged person working as a minor offences court judge while also maintaining employment with an NGO, the Council recommended a reprimand and a warning. The second case involved a Pristina District Court Judge who was
requiring parties to pay him money for legal service or
translations. It was clear that he was keeping at least part of the
money. In that case, the Council found serious misconduct and is
recommending that the SRSG dismiss him from office. Also from the Department of Judicial Affairs, a commission will be set up to present a bar examination for incoming judges and prosecutors. Announcements on the exam will be posted from 17-19 September. Approximately 60 candidates will be accepted to take the first exam. They will be offered an eight week training course at the Kosovo Judicial Institute. The exam will be approximately 5 days long beginning on December 15. This will mark the first time the exam has been given in Kosovo in approximately ten years. The 380 currently serving judges and prosecutors will not have to take the exam, but all incoming judiciary will be required to pass it. Power situation Regarding the power situation, the refurbishment of B1 and B2 has been
completed. The plan is that B1 and B2 are to be up and running within 48
hours, and that by Wednesday night we will have full power available.
After that, exports from Kosovo will begin.
KFOR activities I'm happy to report, at this my penultimate Monday morning Press Conference, that there is very little to report again as we have seen another generally quiet week in Kosovo. KFOR has continued its framework operations, recovering small quantities of weapons and contraband, in house and vehicle searches, and dealing with unexploded ordnance, in order to maintain a safe and secure environment in Kosovo. Worryingly though, some of these operations have been met with opposition from the local people: last night, in Mitrovica, a small mob attempted to snatch an interpreter working with a British patrol and a crowd of about 40 people surrounded and threw rocks at a Ukrainian observation post near Strepce. And on Friday, in Racak, a man became abusive and violent towards Finnish soldiers who were conducting a routine search of his house. Let me just remind these people that KFOR is the legitimate security force in Kosovo; we have a clear job to do and will continue to do it. Those that oppose us should be marginalized and must understand that we have the means and capabilities, and the will to defend ourselves. COMKFOR will address students of Pristina University This week, COMKFOR will again address the students at the Pristina University. The address will take place in the Auditorium of the Law Faculty at Pristina University at 1400 on Wednesday 19 Sep 01. Media are invited to attend and there is a sign up sheet downstairs in the foyer. Logistic re-supply air drop There are also plans to conduct a logistics re-supply air drop sometime later this week. Over 40 tons of palletized cargo will be dropped, by three C-130 Hercules aircraft, onto the Drop Zone near Pristina airport to demonstrate KFOR's ability to sustain its operation here by air bridge if necessary. The exact date and time remains subject to change and the vagaries of the weathe, but is most likely to be on Thursday 20 Sep. Again journalists are welcome to cover that event and we will endeavor to keep you informed of the timing of this operation, as they become known to us. Hand-Over Command ceremony - MND North Finally, on Thursday, there will be a transfer of authority ceremony at which Brigadier General Costantini will hand over command of Multinational Brigade North to Brigadier General Millet.
Murder of KPS Officer L. Rexhepi This has been a week upon which, in reflection, it is hard to know where to begin. On September 11, we experienced our own family tragedy, a tragedy for the family of police and for the community of Kosovo. I am referring, of course, to the shooting of two Kosovo Police Service officers, resulting in the death of one police officer. Just as we were obtaining details of this murder, we were confronted by the unspeakable horror of events unfolding in New York and Washington. Although the details of both events are known, it requires a comment. Officer Lazim REXHEPI died in the middle of the night of September 11. He and his fellow officers left their homes and went alone to confront a gang of armed criminals who were stealing cows from the village. Officer REXHEPI died in the confrontation and gun battle that followed. Officer Avdullah MUSLIU is, thankfully, recovering from his severe injuries. Lazim REXHEPI's action in defending his neighbors against criminals who would use force to victimize their own people reflects on the highest traditions of service and duty. The Kosovo Police Service exists to serve the people of Kosovo. Its members are visionaries with a belief in the future. The security they create will be the foundation for individuals to live their lives with hope and freedom. The confidence they build in the institution of the police will support the establishment of other Kosovo institutions. Lazim REXHEPI died for a principle and, looking at the forces of the hundreds of ordinary people who attended his funeral last week, it seemed that they understood. We commend his courage. We share the grief of his family and we urge the people of Kosovo to respect and support their own police service. In connection with the murder we have now arrested a total of three K-Albanian males. All are from the nearby area. They are being held in custody. Inquiries are continuing to locate and arrest the remaining suspects. United States Police Contingent The attack on the United States last week caused feelings of shock, disbelief, sadness and anger in all of us. The feelings were especially intense for the 605 members of the United States police contingent serving in Kosovo. Of that number, seven officers are from the New York City Police Department. Many others have friends and family members in New York and Washington. At least one officer believed that he saw members of his own unit on television entering the World Trade Centre before it collapsed. Despite their thoughts and their hearts being far from Kosovo they have continued to perform their police duties here, displaying courage and a dedication to service. We would like to offer the members of the American contingent our full support. We share their loss and we respect and recognize their professionalism in continuing to perform their duties so far from home. Rape suspect arrested On September 10, a 16 year old K-Serbian female reported to the police in Mitrovica that she had been raped. An investigation was started, leading to the identification of a K-Serbian male suspect from Zvecan. The man attempted to hide from the investigation and information suggested that he could be armed and could resist arrest. On September 15 he was located and UNMIK Police arrested him with no violence. He was found in possession of a hand grenade. A 28 year old male is now in police custody. Child stabs child On September 15, UNMIK Police was called to deal with an incident that is especially troubling. A 12-year-old boy had earlier admired some newly born puppies belonging to another 12-year-old boy. The next day the child who had been admiring the little dogs again appeared and was watching them. The young owner of the dogs became suspicious that he may take one of the puppies. Picking up a kitchen knife he stabbed the other 12 year old twice, in the leg and in the back. The victim has been treated for his injuries and will recover. What is disturbing and shocking about this case is the immediate use of extreme violence, with a weapon, by a child of only 12 years. We have commented on the casual use of violence by adults but when seen in 12 year olds it is especially depressing. Weapons seizure Police in the Pec region have been conducting an investigation into a number of crimes, believed to be connected and directed in an organized manner. On September 13, this investigation led to a joint operation by UNMIK Police, the Spanish Special Police Unit and the Ukrainian K-9 Unit. Several houses were searched and 2 hand grenades, 2 AK-47 rifles, 1 pistol and 10 bars of dynamite were recovered. Two K-Albanian suspects were arrested and are currently in custody. Drug arrest/seizure Police in Gnjilane have been especially effective in fighting the drug trade. On September 12, a long investigation was brought to a conclusion with the arrest of a 26-year-old K-Albanian female. The husband of the woman had been arrested earlier. Together it is believed that they operated a family business of trafficking heroin and cocaine. Small quantities of heroin (49 grams) and cocaine (12 grams) were seized. Currency and a weapon were also found. Both suspects are being held in custody. Much of the success of the Gnjilane Drug Unit is due to the involvement of Kosovo Police Officers serving in the unit. Suspected cocaine seizure On September 12, UNMIK Police and Kosovo Police, assisted by British KFOR, conducted a search operation at a bar in Pristina. Information at the scene led to the search of a private house. Inside the house a quantity of white powder, believed to be cocaine, was found hidden. The amount is approximately 200 grams. One person has been arrested and the powder has been sent for forensic examination. Drug seizure - heroin On September 14, the Prizren Drug Unit concluded a lengthy investigation that had identified a main suspect involved in the supply of drugs in that area. The 24-year-old K-Albanian male suspect was located and searched, leading to the recovery of 130 grams of heroin. He has been arrested and is currently in custody. Prostitution / Trafficking Operation Last night the Trafficking and Prostitution Unit of Pristina police conducted a search of bars in the area of Station 1. 17 females, from Moldova, the Ukraine and Romania were removed for questioning concerning their entry into Kosovo and their actions here, possibly involving forced prostitution. One male suspect has been arrested in connection with the suggested trafficking and prostitution offence. Weekly Statistics Summary Looking back on the past week, there were two murders reported as against one in the week before. The number of kidnappings remained at the previous week's level of three. Only one case of arson was reported as against two in the week before. Across Kosovo, 105 persons were arrested, the majority being in Prizren
and Pec. 8 persons were arrested for outstanding major crimes like murder,
attempted murder, kidnapping and rape.
Return to fYROM I. Figures Total Number of Arrivals Since the Beginning of the
Conflict: 81,824 Estimated number of returnees approximately 52,417 Estimated Total remaining 29,407 OVERALL Security inside fYROM Security remains the foremost concern for both Albanian and Macedonian communities, in addition to damaged homes and infrastructure in conflict?affected villages and the fear of unemployment as a result of this destruction. Many ethnic Albanian returnees say they cannot return to their homes in villages above Tetovo and Kumanovo because of police checkpoints. There is also fear of reported activities by so called paramilitary groups. Meanwhile, most of the displaced ethnic Macedonians only return during the day, to areas where they are in a minority, fearing safety during the night. On 13th September, a meeting was held in Tetovo with the leaders of the municipality and OSCE, ICRC, the Crisis Management Co-ordination Body, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture, representatives from NATO, the Monitoring International Organizations, and other organizations. The meeting was held to address the political and security, and the humanitarian and social situation of Tetovo, particularly with regard to police checkpoints. It was agreed that these checkpoints should be called upon to be dismantled and the curfew be repealed, to allow people to move freely, especially with the start of the school year on the 10th September. Other issues involved de-mining and the release of detained persons, the general provision of all municipal amenities and the repair of the municipal infrastructure. The coming winter and the problem of firewood is a problem shared by many IDPs. Due to the situation, they are afraid to go and collect firewood in the field and forests. UNHCR is preparing a programme to provide firewood to IDPs and host families. A displaced Macedonian family with small children told UNHCR that they had gone back to their home in a village of Ljuboten, a site of an intense security operation just before the peace agreement was signed on 13 August. But the family decided to leave after spending 3 nights at home. They said they heard gunshots around the village and no electricity adds to their fear during the night. Another displaced Macedonian family said they don't have high hopes for returning before winter. They said they would return only after the redeployment of Macedonian security forces. An ethnic Albanian mayor of Tetovo said in a meeting with UNHCR's Balkan's special envoy last week that both communities had suffered from the conflict and displaced Macedonians should also be allowed to return to their homes. But he warned that premature redeployment of the Macedonian forces to the conflict?affected areas will likely meet resistance and bring the country back to war. "Today it is difficult to find a good book to read, but it's easy to find weapons," he said. With less than 2 weeks left before NATO ends its arms collection mission, UNHCR continues to appeal to the international community to set up urgently a security arrangement in fYROM. UNHCR believes that only an adequate int'l presence can address the fear and mistrust between the communities and help create conditions for safe and sustainable return. Questions: Q: ComKFOR visit to Tirana was postponed. Do you know what is going to happen to the border monitoring agreement? RB: Yes, you've got exactly the right word there. The original plan was that he would visit Albania today. That has been postponed, but the expectation is that the agreement that he was going to sign would come into fruition before the end of this month, so we expect closure on that by the beginning of October. Q: Is there any change regarding sort of international terror groups in Kosovo? Do you feel threatened in Kosovo? Have you got any indications for you to be afraid ion Kosovo? RB: How best to answer that question? You find that military forces, and particularly those that wear the uniforms that I do, are used to having a general threat against them - both in peacetime and obviously, more so in war. The situation in the world, resulting from the horrendous attacks on the United States last week, have generated a slightly higher level throughout. But I wouldn't suggest in any shape of form, that we are afraid of that. We are aware of it. We are used to it. We have intelligence sources, intelligence systems in place and protective means to deal with that. And those are all being used in a due manner to ensure that we are protecting ourselves as much as we need to. We are not aware of any specific threats against KFOR in Kosovo at this specific time. Q: The case of the so-called "Media building" was pending for quite some time. What will happen? How will UNMIK proceed on the case of "Media building"? SM: I am not sure what issue you are talking about. You can explain. But I think that the Media building will become either part of the new government or part of the UNMIK offices after this fall. As far as the media that are in there, they were warned a year ago that the building was unfit for habitation, but they continued to work there. I am sure, there will be some efforts made to help relocate people, if and when we do move into that building.
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