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UNMIK-KFOR-UNMIK Police-UNHCR Briefing, 28 May 2001 UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel Susan Manuel Border Crossing Regulation In an effort to thwart the movement of extremists into and out of Kosovo, UNMIK has recently promulgated a regulation, which limits the legal boundary and border crossing points to 19 designated sites, and makes all other crossings subject to criminal prosecution. You can get a copy outside of the UNMIK regulation 2001/10, "On the Prohibition of Unauthorized Border/Boundary Crossings" and the administrative direction, which lists the crossing points. We will try and spread the information more widely in the coming week. The regulation is part of a package of legislation aimed at fighting terrorism It comes into effect on June 4, which is also the day that the weapons amnesty ends. After 4 June, possessing a weapon without authorization becomes a crime. After 4 June, crossing borders or boundaries at places other than the 19 listed is also a crime. The third part of this package will be a regulation on terrorism, which is now being worked on by the UNMIK legal adviser's office. A first draft will be presented to the IAC tomorrow. As far as the border crossing regulation, those people caught crossing at any place other than the authorized crossing points will be subject to a 500 DM fine and/or 30 days in prison. The penalty is stiffer if the perpetrator was not alone, or was accompanied by juveniles while making the illegal crossing or if the person is a repeat offender, or carried a weapon, ammunition, or military clothing, supplies or equipment. The regulation will not be applicable for refugees or internally displaced persons fleeing a territory where their lives or fundamental freedoms were threatened. Tax collection Last Friday, UNMIK and the representatives of the FRY along with the FRY committee for Kosovo reached agreement on the collection of taxes on the administrative boundary line between Kosovo and the FRY. The two parties agreed that no customs would be collected on goods originating or produced in Serbia. However joint tax points will be established simultaneously and in the very near future on the ABL. UNMIK will collect sales tax on goods entering Kosovo and will take measures to avoid double taxation of those goods. Both parties also agreed to cooperate in a joint fight against smuggling of foreign goods and tax evasion.
Sector Bravo The return of FRY forces to the northern and southern areas of Sector Bravo has been successfully completed, although the Joint Security forces advise us that a residual mine threat exists, particularly in the north. FRY Special Forces have been withdrawn from the area but de-mining operations continue. Throughout this first part of the operation, there have been no violations of the MTA or of COMKFOR's letter of Intent. KFOR JIC teams have now been withdrawn, but will return to the GSZ before the start of the next phase of the operation. The return to the central zone of Sector Bravo is expected to begin later this week. We would like to provide advanced warning that the two roads running through this area; namely highway 25-2 (Mucibaba crossing) and the Dobrosin crossing, will be closed to traffic during the operation. Detailed timings will be announced nearer the time. Rakovina Bridges KFOR announces that the road from Djakovica to Klina will be closed to traffic at Rakovina, from 8 June 2001, for at least seven months. The road closure is necessary to allow the replacement of the two temporary bridges with permanent structures. The removal of the Rakovina road and rail bridges will begin on 15 June 2001 and is expected to last for up to 14 days, but essential preparatory works will mean that the road has be closed from 8 June 2001. The 'de-launching', which will be carried out by KFOR engineers, has to be completed before work on the new bridges can begin. Two new Rakovina bridges will be built by the European Agency for Reconstruction, under the contract for the UNMIK Department of Transport and Infrastructure. The temporary Mabey & Johnson bridges, were constructed by a KFOR Dutch Engineer unit in 1999 in order to provide freedom of movement for KFOR, UNMIK and the people of Kosovo. COMKFOR COMKFOR, Lieutenant General Thorsten Skiaker, will address the professors and students of Pristina University at the University at 1215 today. Media are invited to attend.
Assault on KPS officer An off duty KPS officer was attacked by a group of 10-15 Serbians in Mitrovica North on Saturday night. The officer was seated in a café with a friend when the group, who knew his status as a KPS policeman and had apparently been looking for him, confronted and threatened him. Both he and his female companion were attacked. The officer succeeded in drawing his service weapon and firing one shot before being overpowered and beaten. The attack was broken up by the fortunate arrival on the scene of two French KFOR soldiers. The group fled. The officer received serious physical injuries but has since been treated and released. UNMIK Police and the KPS would stress that we are together attempting to create a multiethnic Kosovo Police that can serve all the people of Kosovo. The acceptance of the KPS in all communities and respect for their authority is essential to any progress for Kosovo. Armed Affray at Pristina Economic School At 1300 pm on May 23rd, UNMIK Police were called to a disturbance at
the Economic School in Pristina. The first officer on scene was a KPS
officer who reported a large fight in progress. Trafficking in false documents UNMIK Police started an investigation on May 23rd when a Pristina security guard was found in possession of vehicle documents that were established to be false. Enquiries were made that disclosed the location where they had been purchased. On May 24rd an address in the area of Station 4, Pristina was searched. Two handguns, 150 rounds of ammunition, 400 blank Yugoslav passport applications, blank Yugoslav drivers licenses, blank Yugoslav vehicle registration documents, two Federal Republic of Yugoslavia official stamps, about 100 completed Yugoslav passport application forms, 50 passports, together with large quantity of electronic equipment, including computers, a CD-writer, scanner, printer and discs were all seized. Two K-Albanian suspects were detained. The evidence is still being examined and the investigation is continuing. This was an investigation largely initiated and conducted by KPS officers working for the Auto Crime Unit. Employment of KPS Officers in the Forensic Unit In pursuance of its charter to build up a professional, credible and impartial Kosovo Police Service for eventual transfer of executive authority, UNMIK has been ever intent on identifying and training KPS Officers across the range of technical policing skills to ensure the future sustainability of the CivPol project. As a part of this measure, the Forensic Unit in Pristina is in the process of creating a core group of KPS Officers with the requisite training in various disciplines of Forensic Science, so that they may serve as pioneers in developing this specialized unit in the Kosovo Police after the transition. Over the last year, SEVEN KPS Officers have been selected, including three Officers redeployed to the FS Unit in April 2001, and are undergoing on-the-job training and orientation. Out of these, five officers have had previous experience in forensics and have been taken as part of our efforts to tap the already available skills and experience within the KPS and further upgrade them to be in tune with modern technological developments in the field. The four KPS officers deployed in the FS Unit between June and September, 2000 have already satisfied their training requirements and are now independently capable of attending to crime scene processing and making crime scene reports. Of the three recently inducted Officers, Officer Safet Vehapi has
already served as Chief of the Crime Scene Investigations of the former
Pristina Security Center and is now in the stage of orientation and
familiarization with the Crime Scene Investigation Section. Officers Gjoke
Gegaj and Bedri Vuthi have had previous experience in dactyloscopy and are
assigned to train in the Fingerprint Identification Section. Both of them
are expected to train further in fingerprint examination including new
developments in the science of fingerprints. Weapons amnesty We would remind everyone that this is the last week of the amnesty for the handing in of illegal weapons. All persons are urged to take advantage of this opportunity to rid themselves of weapons of war that have no place in their homes in the future of Kosovo. Daily and weekly, these weapons kill and maim innocent people. Just last week a 12 year old boy was seriously injured when a grenade that he was playing with at his home exploded. How many more unnecessary tragedies will we have to report? Many of the factors affecting peace and security here are larger political issues that individuals cannot impact, but handing in weapon is a personal statement that every individual can make and, repeated often enough, will send a powerful message about the desire for normalcy. Crime Overview Last week the security situation throughout Kosovo continued to remain stable. Only one murder was reported, no attempted murders. 12 grievous assaults, one kidnapping and two arsons were reported. 130 persons were arrested throughout the week, the majority in Pec,
Gnjilane and Pristina.
Sector Bravo Although the arrival of the VJ troops in the ground safety zone into the northern and southern part of sector B of the of the Ground Safety Zone on 24 May happened without much violence, tensions increased during the evening hours as news of the killing of Veliki Trnovac Commander Llleshi spread throughout the area. Some of the IDP's entering into Kosovo stated that their move was precipitated by the death of the Commander. The total number of displaced people from Preshevo Valley in Kosovo is over 5,500. Many of the newly departed have left out of precautionary measures. Several, as reported by our office in Gnilane have expressed the wish to return as soon as possible. On Thursday and Friday morning alone 1026 were registered as crossing into Kosovo from Preshevo Valley. Between Friday and Saturday 768 were registered. Most of the arrivals were coming from Breznica, Veliki Trnovac, Dobrosin and Koncul and had left out of precautionary reasons, not knowing what to expect of the return of the VJ troops into the area and generally unclear about the overall mood in the area. The number of IDP's crossing into Kosovo decreased however drastically during the weekend. UNHCR has strongly increased its field presence in the area. Together with other international actors present on the scene and in close cooperation with the local leaders, UNHCR is visiting on a regualr basis the local villages with the intention to create confidence through presence and with a view to convincing the people of the need to stay rather than leave. The fear of the local population is well understood but departure will not make the situation better. UNHCR is alos encouraging those that left to return to their homes as soon as possible. The Muchibaba border crossing has opened again for traffic returning into Preshevo Valley and following a KFOR communique it was announced that the population is welcomed and encouraged to return back. Arrivals from fYROM Following the intense fightings in Lojane and Vaksince area in north Macedonia on Thursday and Friday over 2000 Albanian Macedonainas entered southern Serbia fleeing the fighting. The majorities of these people were received by the population of Miratovc and Preshevo and expressed the wish to remain there until return would be possible. Most of the people fled during the night, when fighting had stopped. During the day they had hidden in their basements. Of this group only a limited number expressed the wish to travel onto Kosovo with a view to staying with family and friends there until the situation gets better in their home villages. UNHCR will assist with the transport of these people. Together with other organizations assistance has been provided to this new load of displaced people. The FRY government and local leaders and community have also been extremely helpful in providing assistance where needed. UNHCR also registered over a hundred people crossing through Blace border crossing. UNHCR is concerned about the situation in fYROM and would encourage all parties involved to show constraint and keep the human suffering and displacement as limited as possible. Questions: Q: Does the new border crossing regulation cover
those Albanians coming from FYROM? Q: There have been reports of beatings and torture
of refugees fleeing the FYROM. Has the High Commissioner received
these reports? Q: How many inhabitants are there in Kosovo and do
you expect the number to increase this summer? Q: Is UNMIK in favor of creating ethnic states? We
see this huge influx of Albanians from Serbia, Albanians from Macedonia
all coming toward Kosovo. Q: Can you clarify how Commander Shefket Musliu
turned himself in? What should UCPMB rebels expect in the future if the
continue to turn themselves in? Q: Why are you not searching and collecting
weapons in the Serbian areas like Gracanica or North Mitrovica? Q: What will happen to those UCPMB rebels still in
Bondsteel? What about the 16 that have been detained under the "Hard
Policy" since the amnesty expired? Do you expect them to be
released? Q: In your last response you said the criteria is:
if there is strong evidence that they have committed a serious crime, and
do they continue to pose a threat to the safe and secure environment in
Kosovo. Is that an "and" or an "or" question? Q: But if they come back across the border handing
in arms and wearing uniforms then they likely are to have committed an
armed insurrection. Q: If anyone from the NLA surrenders, what will be
the policy for him? The same as the UCPMB after the amnesty
deadline? Q: But will the evidence provided by the FRY
government be taken into consideration? Q: About the report on the Krivenic shelling, is KFOR staying with its
policy not to reveal what happened that day? Q: We understand that those UCPMB suspected of
serious crimes will be handed over to UNMIK Police. What will happen
to them? Q: How many are there who committed serious
crimes? We hear there are 2 in Bondsteel. Q: Belgrade recognizes that they killed Commander
Lleshi. Did they give KFOR any explanation as to why they killed
him? Q: Can you give us some brief details of what is
in the Krivenic report? Q: Are you preparing an amnesty program for the
NLA? Q: If you grant amnesty to them, are you
considering them to be from Kosovo? Q: How many detainees are in Bondsteel and what
are their nationalities? Q: Since the Krivenic shelling was in Kosovo, why
hasn't KFOR released its report to the media? It sounds like a
cover-up. Q: If you say that 30% of the 450 are from
Preshevo Valley. Then what do you say to those who say that violence
is being exported from Kosovo and that KFOR is doing nothing about
it? Q: Why are there 2 reports - one from KFOR and one
from the FYROM - if the deaths in Krivenic happened in Kosovo? How
can you consider the FYROM report to be independent when they are
suspected of the shelling? Q: Will the 2 reports be published
separately? Q: Does this mean that the two reports don't match
on where it was fired from?
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