UNMIK/PR/702

Saturday 9 March 2002

SRSG Michael Steiner Welcomes Weapons Amnesty

PRISTINA--SRSG Michael Steiner today welcomed the announcement of an KFOR/UNMIK Weapons Amnesty Program which will run from 15 March through 15 April, 2002.

“ Kosovo is not at war anymore. So you don’t need weapons: they are simply dangerous,” SRSG Michael Steiner said today. “From the 15th on, there is one month for handing over weapons that you still have in your homes. This is a golden opportunity for anyone who has still these dangerous weapons at home to hand them over without any prosecution, without any disciplinary actions.

“We all want Kosovo to be a safer place. Everybody can now participate in achieving that, and I can now only tell you that those who still have weapons, hand them over now, and say ‘no to weapons’!”

Weapons possession is banned for all residents of Kosovo except those holding Weapons Authorization Cards, under UNMIK Regulation 2001/7. Those found in possession of illegal weapons can face a prison term of up to eight years or a fine of up to euro 7,500.

This is the second KFOR/UNMIK weapons amnesty program, and is intended to invite people to surrender their arms and ammunition in anonymity and without fearing punishment or prosecution.

People who surrender weapons are not required to give any information concerning the origin of the weapons or personal information about themselves.

KFOR and UNMIK will set up designated collection points. However individuals may also notify KFOR or police units to pick up weapons or ammunition that may be risky to transport.

KFOR announced the launch of the amnesty program at a press briefing on 7 March. The newly-established office of the Prime Minister of Kosovo has also welcomed the amnesty program, saying it will contribute to creating security in Kosovo.