UNMIK/PR/865
Wednesday, November 2002

SRSG Michael Steiner returns from Brussels

Pristina - Upon his return to Kosovo today, SRSG Michael Steiner described the November 5 donors' meeting in Brussels as "very successful."

"Over thirty countries recognized the progress being make in Kosovo, and what's most important, they declared their readiness to stay engaged in Kosovo," said Michael Steiner in brief remarks to journalists who came to meet him at Pristina Airport.

"Donors have committed to provide 500 million more euros for 2003 through 2005. They are confident that 200 million of this will be available for 2003. And the donors fully understood that Kosovo will need to have access to international financial institutions."

After speaking about donor funding, SRSG Michael Steiner commented on the issue of the draft preamble for a Serbia and Montenegro Charter.

"Regarding the draft preamble between Belgrade and Montenegro, I understand the concerns in Kosovo, but we need to have the facts clear. It is a draft, and an old draft at that. And it is a text under third parties which does not in any way bind Kosovo. It doesn't legally matter what third parties write in texts."

"Let me say clearly: Kosovo is and remains governed by Resolution 1244 and the Security Council. The status of Kosovo is open and will be decided solely by the Security Council. No third party can prejudge the status of Kosovo."

"Yesterday I addressed the EU Policy and Security Committee and spoke with Commissioner Chris Patten, Lord Robertson, NATO Secretary General, and High Representative Javier Solana - they all agreed with me."

"Yesterday evening I had a working dinner with High Representative Solana about Kosovo and the progress we have here. He agrees fully with our strategy. We reed that the text of the preamble was not politically constructive but that it has no legal relevance for Kosovo."

"So there is nothing new and nothing has changed and Europe shares this view."