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UNMIK-KFOR- OSCE-EU-UNHCR Press Briefing, 19 July 2001 UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel Susan Manuel UNMIK Spokeswoman President Bush visit SRSG Hans Haekkerup returns Sunday from vacation. He will meet US President George Bush on Tuesday at Camp Bondsteel. All arrangements for media are being handled by Mr. Mike McClelland at the US office, so if you have not already been in touch with him, please do so. KPC Protest Acting SRSG Tom Koenigs met yesterday with a delegation of Kosovo Protection Corps members who have been protesting the suspension of five KPC officials who were named by President Bush as threats to the security of the area. Today he is briefing a NATO military committee. Squadron Leader Roy Brown will provide more information later. Mini Bus Regulation Today, the police will begin fining minivans which are driving on newly restricted routes, primarily the Number 4. The background to the change in routes began on June 6, when the Pristina Municipal Assembly adopted a municipal regulation on the restructuring of the urban network of public transports. The decision, signed by the President of the Municipal Assembly, was aimed at strengthening the role and rationalizing the services provided by the Municipal Transport Company "Trafiku Urbanu". The idea was also to make the public bus service financially self-sustainable. As of Monday 16 July, the line 4 (Sunny Hill - Germija Swimming Pool) was to be used by a fleet of some 15 buses of "Trafiku Urbanu". They should be covering the entire route (approximately 10 km.) every five/ten minutes. Mini-buses were to be prevented access to two areas: Mother Teresa and the swimming pool area. Mother Teresa will only be accessible to "Trafiku Urbanu", which will serve the area 24 hours a day. Mini-buses will be fined 50 DM if found operating on that route. Other rules that have been set concerning access to Mother Teresa (and that entered into force on 16 July) include restrictions on the deliveries to shops located in the area, which will take place at night.. There is also a limited access to general traffic, with exceptions for particular users such as cyclists, ambulances, police cars, etc.). The Municipal regulation was drafted following an open procedure, including regular consultations with all parties concerned, in particular the representatives of organizations of both big and mini-bus companies. Regulation on Interethnic Property Sales Finally in a report from Pristina Municipality, I have learned that in Lipjan, Kosovo Albanians have gone door to door to Serb houses with reports on the draft regulation on interethnic property sales, telling the Serbs they will soon be unable to sell their property, and then offering very low prices for the property. This is a deliberate manipulation of people and a complete distortion of the truth. Sales of property will not be banned under the draft regulation Sales in certain interethnic areas will be reviewed. Only those buyers planning an illegal sale, a sale for the purpose of ethnic cleansing or a sale involving threats will be questioned. This is not communism. It is not racism. It is an attempted to limit a perverse activity which has been quickly turning Kosovo into a mono-ethnic province. I can only repeat and hope you will report fairly, that we are not legislating a ban on property sales. Customs Crossing in Albania Finally a plea from the Customs Service: Cafa Prusit has been opened recently as a legal crossing point from Kosovo into Albania. However, it is not a crossing pint for commercial traffic which must go through Customs. All commercial traffic must use other points, usually the point at Morini. Sqdrn. Ldr. Roy Brown KFOR Spokesman Security Situation Generally the situation in Kosovo has remained calm over the past few days allowing KFOR to conduct routine operations. We have assisted UNMIK Police in monitoring a number of small demonstrations, all of which have passed off peacefully. I have picked just a couple of incidents that show the responsible citizenship that helps us maintain the safe and secure environment here in Kosovo. Firstly, on Tuesday a child delivered an old rifle to the guards at a KFOR camp just east of Dakovica. The child had found the rifle thrown out in the rubbish, recognized the danger it represented and handed it over to the appropriate authorities. In Komorane yesterday, a citizen handed a 64 mm M-80 anti-tank rocket to the local KPC detachment. The detachment commander immediately contacted KFOR and made arrangements for a KFOR Explosive Ordinance Disposal team to collect the weapon this morning. Strpce Fire & Trash Trucks Today we will see Brigadier General David, the Commander of MNBE, hand over another fire truck and a garbage truck. This time to the people of Strpce. A further fire truck will be handed over in Novo Brdo on Saturday. NATO Military Committee The Military Committee of NATO will arrive in Kosovo this afternoon for a series of briefings and discussions on KFOR's operations here and on the situation in the region. They will continue these discussions tomorrow morning and then the Chairmen of the Militray Committee Admiral Guido Venturonu and COMKFOR will hold a press conference at HQ KFOR Main, Film City, here in Pristina. The press conference will take place at 1245. All journalists are welcome and invited to sign up on the sheet done in the foyer. Mike Todd EU Spokesman New Energy Sector Law A final draft of the new Energy Sector Law has been produced by Public Utilities Department. It has been submitted to the legal office for review. The new law, when implemented, will provide a clear legal framework for the operation of the energy sector, regulating supply, distribution and consumption. VAT Update We are now nearing the end of the first month since the introduction of VAT. The tax authority has expressed some satisfaction at the level of registration so far, with around 3,800 businesses signing up. Registrations are ongoing and those businesses who have not yet registered are encouraged to do so. Those who should register for VAT are all import/export companies and big businesses with an annual turnover of 200,000 DM. A fine of 250 DM is now in place for late registration. The first filing period for the tax starts August 1st 2001 and ends August 31st 2001. Parliamentary Briefing The third of the EU Pillar's economic policy briefings for Kosovo's political parties takes place this Saturday, at 9.30am in the Youth and Sports Centre, here in Pristina It is expected that this week's briefing will include a presentation by DSRSG Andy Bearpark and will focus on the very important topics of commercial law, commercialization and privatization. As with all these events, media are invited to attend. Astrid van Genderen Stort UNHCR Spokeswoman Overall Situation The number of the people returning to fYROM has decreased over the past days. Presently UNHCR teams are observing a return movement of approximately 500 people a day. UNHCR roughly estimates that around 10,000 people have returned, all and only those with valid passports. The majority of these still return to Skopje, while very minimal movement has been observed going to Kumanovo and Tetovo area. At Blace border crossing UNHCR continues to witness rejection of those without valid passports. UNHCR is increasingly concerned about these developments. With regard to this matter Eric Morris, UNHCR's special envoy, states: "It is hard to quantify the magnitude of the problem of those not being
allowed to re enter. UNHCR continues to raise the issue in Skopje, but
under the prevailing circumstances it has not yet been possible to receive
a clear answer. What concerns us the most now is that it is precisely
those issues of citizenship and proper documentation, that need to be
resolved in fYROM very very quickly." On Wednesday 11 July, UNHCR Gnilane/Gnjilane and Preshevo facilitated the return of 210 Albanian IDPs to their home village in Depce, Presevo Municipality. Three IOM busses transported 131 individuals under UNHCR escort to the village. In addition there were several private cars, tractors that joined the movement from Gnilane/Gnjilane. There were many women and children present this time, which showed that the returnees were really intending to stay and build up life in Depce area again. Upon arrival an additional number of spontaneous returnees had gathered at the school yard, bringing the total number of returnees up to 210. Mayor Halimi together with Preshevo notables was present to meet the new arrivals OCHA, FAO, OTI and a few NGOs were also present. The overall mood was festive, even though many of the returnees found their houses they had not seen in two years, completely looted, lightly damaged and in disarray. The IDPs were however clearly intent on making their return work and rebuilding their communities. Basic assistance to the returnees The IDPs were provided with the basic NFI kit and IRD gave each family a food parcel and hygiene kit. The Presevo Commissioner for refugees issued some fresh food to each family ? WFP unfortunately is proving to be slow in addressing the food requirements of the returning IDPs. UNHCR's partner SDR (Swiss Disaster Relief) will visit the village on Thursday (today) to focus on the shelter needs and officials from Presevo Municipality have promised to sending someone who will look into the electricity situation. The IDPs, who returned in extended family units, immediately on arrival began to repair their houses (most houses are lightly damaged missing doors windows and basic fixtures). Increased interest in return UNHCR is extremely pleased about the increased and accelerated interest in return shown by the IDP's still in Kosovo. An additional 250 IDP's have spontaneously returned to Zarbince since UNHCR facilitated the return of 99 persons last Wednesday. UNHCR is planning the return of 120 families (approximately 500 people) to Pribrovac and Ravna Bujce in Bujanovac municipality next week. Everyone ? the IDPs themselves, the local Albanian government authorities, IDPs leaders in Kosovo, the Serbian government and even the police ?thus far appear pleased with the return and are encouraging it to continue. Total Number of Arrivals Since the Beginning of the
Conflict: 73,118 Estimated number of returnees approximately 10,869 Estimated Total remaining 62,249
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