UNMIK/PR/861
Friday, 1 November 2002

Task Force on Returns Launched

SRSG Michael Steiner and Kosovo Prime Minister today launched the Task Force on Returns, which will oversee and invigorate the returns process by providing concerted high-level support and coordination.

Through its work, the Task Force will ensure effective and consistent implementation of returns policies among key institutions, and across Kosovo.

At the inaugural meeting today, the four ‘returns’ pillars of UNMIK, KFOR, the Provisional Government and UNHCR were represented. In addition to the SRSG and Prime Minister, COMKFOR and the UNHCR head of mission were present. Participants also included the heads of UNMIK’s Civil Administration, Police and Justice and Institution-building Pillars, as well as the UNMIK Office of Returns and Communities. The Inter-Ministerial Coordinator on Returns Milorad Todorovic and UNMIK Senior Adviser on Returns, Nenad Radosavljevic joined in the discussion.

“Returns is for all of us a top priority,” said SRSG Michael Steiner. “We want not to create a new bureaucracy, but to have a coordinating forum to turn this priority into reality. This is a good signal to IDPs, the receiving community and the international community that we mean what we say.”

Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi welcomed the initiative to implement a joint strategy on returns, which he said would lead to better coordination, and he noted that integrating non-majority communities now living in Kosovo into the larger society was crucial to future returns.

At today’s session the Task Force agreed upon its terms of reference and received a report on returns activities for 2002. The Task Force also endorsed the 2003 Strategy for Sustainable Returns produced by UNMIK’s Office for Returns and Communities.

All Task Force members agreed on the funding needs that would be presented at the donors meeting for Kosovo taking place on 5 November in Brussels.