UNMIK/PR/876
Tuesday 26 November 2002

SRSG Michael Steiner visits UNMIK Administration – Mitrovica office

PRISTINA – Today SRSG Michael Steiner visited the new UNMIK Administration – Mitrovica office located at Kolasinska 38 in northern Mitrovica.

He toured the building with the new head of the office and deputy Municipal Administrator, Ramesh Abhishek, to assess the necessary refurbishment measures to be taken there.

“Those who have worked here before can, of course, apply again for the positions that we are opening,” SRSG Michael Steiner told the people gathered outside the office. “We have 70 positions to fill, anyone who fulfils the criteria can apply.”

The SRSG then walked to the north end of the bridge and met people gathered there. He assured them that there would be no incursion from the south. “My guarantee stays”, he said, “this will not happen.”

There was a crowd waiting for SRSG Michael Steiner on the south side too. He told them “I think we have made an important step forward. But everybody now must be disciplined and patient. We have to display the friendly face of Mitrovica.”

After speaking to the people in the south, SRSG Michael Steiner walked back to the north, where he spontaneously invited and walked with a Kosovo Serbian man to the orthodox church in the southern part of Mitrovica, where the latter lighted a candle.