UNMIK/PR/844
Sunday, 13 October 2002

SRSG Visits Successful Enterprises in Peja/Pec and Suva Reka/Suhareka

PRISTINA – SRSG Michael Steiner visited today two successful factories in the municipalities of Peja/Pec and Suva Reka/Suhareka to underline his commitment to a speedy recover of the economy.

In Peja/Pec Mr. Steiner toured the beer factory “Birra e Pejes”, the largest single employer in the municipality, with a workforce of 507 people and a production capacity of 600.00hl per year. While praising the quality of the beer, Mr. Steiner underlined the need for investment in the factory to improve its quality for both local sales and imports. He called for the need to work together for the benefit of the economy of Kosovo, and emphasized that no investment would be possible without cooperation.

“Privatisation won’t always be easy”, he said. “There are difficulties and not all parties will agree. Nevertheless it is important for the future of Kosovo. In the long run all will be better off”.

Later, Mr. Steiner met with the President of the Municipal Assembly, Mr. Ali Lajqi and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ramiz Zeka. The SRSG told them that last Thursday’s incident was bad for Peja/Pec and damaging for the image of Kosovo as a whole. He reiterated that violence was not acceptable and no one was above the law.

“Both the Municipal President and I agree that such outrageous acts are completely unacceptable because they can only succeed in undermining the image of Kosovo inside and outside”.

Following that meeting, Mr. Steiner visited Osojane where he met for more than an hour with many of the pensioners who were in the bus when the incident happened, before flying off on the second leg of his tour. Mr. Steiner said that he was as outraged as they were about the incident, and told the pensioners that everything would be done to make the culprits answerable to the law.

In Suva Reka/Suhareka, the SRSG was given a tour of the IGK Ballkan factory, the main rubber producing industry in Kosovo, by company Director, Muhamet Shala. The SRSG was informed that the factory recently won a 6 million Euro tender, outbidding 15 competitors. He was also told of the commitment of the workforce to the factory and the need for further investments for the revitalization of the industry.

The company, which produces rubber products and conveyor belts, employs 750 workers, and exports to neighbouring and some European countries. One of its domestic markets is KEK. “Paying bills to KEK means that companies like this can in return get paid for the equipment they supply to KEK”, said the SRSG. “Kosovo works better when it works together”.

IGK Ballkan also has contracts with international companies like Good Year and Olbo in Germany. Mr. Steiner said the future of Kosovo lies in competitive, well-run companies like IGK Ballkan, and that sales to companies with international reputations like Good Year, improves the reputation of companies in Kosovo.

Due to bad weather, the SRSG unfortunately had to cancel the third leg of his trip to Kacanik municipality, where he had planned to visit the cement factory, SHARR-Cimentorja.