UNMIK-SRSG Michael Steiner-Press Briefing, 9 April 2002
SRSG Michael Steiner
UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel

UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel

Susan: Good Afternoon and welcome. Introducing once again SRSG Michael Steiner. Please switch-off your cell phone.

SRSG Michael Steiner: I am just coming from the third High-ranking Working Group meeting with Dr. Covic and his delegation. Before commenting on this meeting, I’d like to shortly say something on Mitrovica. You know that 22 UNMIK Police officers were injured yesterday in Mitrovica riots, some seriously and one critically. His condition is now stabilized. 15 of them were Polish Special Police officers and the rest UNMIK Police. These policemen were exercising their duties under, as you know, difficult circumstances. Their work is recognized by the majority of the people in the area. However, I must say, there are others out there, I don’t know supported by whom, who play a different game. They want confrontation, not reconciliation. They wounded the officers with stones, bullets and grenades. Two men fired on the police with automatic weapons. I condemn in the strongest terms, these unlawful acts. These acts hurt physically police in uniform, who are doing their duty. Politically, they hurt the legitimate interest of the Serbs in Kosovo. I will now be going to Mitrovica to visit the injured police.

On the High-ranking Working Group, of course, in the pre-meeting, we – and if I say we – I mean General Valentine and myself raised the Mitrovica issue also with Mr. Covic. But on the agenda of the High-ranking Working Group and the results, I think it is a correct evaluation if I say that it was a good meeting. My impression is that Belgrade now supports my proposal concerning the participation of the Serbs from Kosovo in the government, in the provisional institutions, and you know, the essence of my proposal – I have made this publicly clear, I have explained it again at this meeting and it will mean that we will have an inter-ministerial coordinator for return within the government. No ministry, as I have told you time and again. I cannot do that under the constitution. I think the legal reasons why the offer has to be as it is, have now found understanding also in Belgrade, which is, in my view, encouraging. It is important that we would have the participation of the Serbs in the provisional institutions, because this is one of the preconditions that actually we can achieve return in sizeable numbers and also achieve the integration of all minorities in the institutions and the actual life here in Kosovo. I must tell you these were the talks with the representatives from Belgrade. The final decision will, of course, be taken in the forthcoming meeting with the representatives of Povratak themselves, which I hope can take place later this day, when I come back from Mitrovica.

So, I must say, I am encouraged by the positive and supportive stance the delegation from Belgrade has taken to my proposal, which is a proposal which I have put forward after close consultation, of course, with the provisional government – that means prime minister, Bejram Rexhepi.

In the meeting today of the High-ranking Working Group, one of the main points was, as you can imagine, the issue of return. I have outlined that my feeling is that the time is ripe to address in a more dynamic way this item, especially also as we have now institutions in Kosovo and the prime minister and other ministers are fully supporting the idea of return of the Kosovars to their homes, return of the displaced persons and refugees.

Crucial for a success in this area, as well as the integration as the return of Kosovars to Kosovo, is that those who are representing the non-Albanian ethnic groups are participating together with us in this endeavor which is, as you know, the responsibility mainly of the international community, but, of course we will need also the support from the provisional government as well as the words of encouragement, as you can hear them from the president as well as the prime minister.

Another issue which we have discussed, is something which is of a specific concern for us in order that Kosovars can move more freely also outside of Kosovo. I am talking about the Kosovo license plates and the recognition of these license plates also in Serbia proper. Furthermore we stressed the issue of police cooperation. I think there we are rather far and I expect that in the next weeks, on both of these issues, we will have progress.

On the agreement on the transfer of prisoners, as we have signed it in Belgrade, which is, as you know, and I think Susan has explained that to you several times, an agreement implementing the principles of the Agreement of the European Convention on the Transfer of Prisoners, implementing in such a way that now between Serbia as well as Kosovo, the same principles in the future will be applied. We have talked about this issue, we have requests from Belgrade, specific requests. These requests are now studied by our Judicial Department and as soon as we have verified that specific prisoners would qualify under the qualifications of this Agreement, we will act accordingly, but of course you know there are specific conditions which need to be fulfilled. We also talked about the supply of power – how you have to pay your bills if you expect to receive electricity. You know this is a big issue. It is also an issue for the non-majority communities. And, that is an issue which we need to address in a practical way and experts will continue to talk about that.

We had by Andy Bearpark, a preliminary explanation of our general philosophy concerning privatization, concerning the setting up of an institution dealing with socially owned and state companies. You know that first this week we need to have a representation to the provisional institutions of self-government, but we have given out and informed about the principles on this issue. Of course, this goes without saying, as we have now a government here, a senior observer from the provisional government took part today in this High-ranking Working Group, reflecting the new realities here in Kosovo. Next meeting will take place in Belgrade between the 10th – 15th, we have to arrange the concrete date. So in sum, on the High-ranking Working Group, which was quite intensive, quite to the point. I think we made some progress. I am specifically content that we have the support for my proposal, how we can overcome the deadlock we had so far concerning the participation of the Serbs in the government. I hope that Povratak feels itself encouraged by the supportive position and we will know more once I have talked to their representatives. Thank you.

Susan Manuel: Mr. Steiner is en route to Mitrovica, so can we have just two questions please.

Question: Mr. Steiner, Mitrovica and the incident that has happened there in the last year has shifted from ethnic conflict into conflict against the international community. What is the reason behind what has happened? Is this directly against the international community?

SRSG Michael Steiner: The police, as I said, are supported by the majority of people there. UNMIK Police is exercising its duty. It’s doing what they are supposed to do. If events happen like they happened yesterday, this is directly against the rule of law. It is, of course, first of all, a physical hurting of the persons concerned, but it is also directed directly against the interests in whose name these stones are thrown, these hand grenades are used and these bullets are shot.

Question: Mr. Steiner, there are reports from Mitrovica that the UN Police and the international presence in general have withdrawn from the northern part of the city. Is this a direct result of the pressure coming from the rioters?

SRSG Michael Steiner: I have been today the whole day together with COMKFOR, General Marcel Valentine. You can count on it that we will not give in to any pressure from the streets, we will not give in to pressure from the criminal scene – and that is pressure from the criminal scene. And we have made that also clear on the other channels that that’s not the way to deal with us.

Question: Mr. Steiner, when you talk about returnees of the people, of the communities in the areas where they used to live before, are you talking about the Albanians too going back to northern Kosovo?

SRG Michael Steiner: I think we have the principles that we talk, not only about the Albanians, but also the Serbs. We are talking about the Bosniaks and you know we have there a big problem, more in the south. We have others, too. We have Egyptians. We have a number of communities here. And all these communities who come from Kosovo have the right to return to their places. So we make no distinction whatsoever. Thank you.