UNMIK/PR/852
Tuesday, 22 October 2002

SRSG Meets Carla Del Ponte

PRISTINA – SRSG Michael Steiner today welcomed the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, on her second trip to Kosovo this year.

Ms. Del Ponte also met with KFOR Commander General Fabio Mini and UNMIK Department of Justice Director Clint Williamson.

“We continue to share the same views—that justice is blind,” the SRSG told the press following the meeting. “That means no one is above the law. That means we all have to follow the instructions of the court—if and when they come.”

Ms. Del Ponte said she was “particularly grateful for the full support we have had… from UNMIK and KFOR….We have not finished our task to investigate possible indictments. Our hope is to finish the investigations by 2004. Our program must be achieved and that means that we are trying to speed up our work.”

Asked about the status of possible indictments against Kosovo Albanians, Ms. Del Ponte said only that investigations were continuing. She denied that there had been any particular delays in the issuing of indictments, but said that reluctance on the part of witnesses to testify could hold up th