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UNMIK-UNMIK Police-KFOR- Press Briefing, 11 March 2002
UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel
KFOR Spokesman Squadron Leader Daz Slaven
UNMIK Police Spokesman Barry Fletcher
UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel
SRSG Michael Steiner is in Brussels today where he is to meet NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson and also address the European Union’s General Affairs Council.
Basically he will be urging NATO and EU representatives to maintain their engagement in Kosovo, and he will be stressing the importance of continued international support on the political and economic levels to Kosovo and its institutions of new provisional self-government.
Tomorrow he goes to Berlin and then on to Washington for meetings on Wednesday with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Advisor Condeleeza Rice and members of the US government involved with the Balkans.
On Thursday he will meet British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in London and on Friday, he will be in Moscow meeting with Foreign Minister Ivanov.
PDSRSG Charles Brayshaw is the acting SRSG for the week.
A delegation from the World Bank will be in Kosovo on 13 –15 March to meet the new provisional institutions of self-government and UNMIK. They will discuss strategic policy priorities for Kosovo and to offer advice to the new government. There will be a press conference at 12:30 Thursday in the Grand Hotel.
School
In Viti/Vitina, local and international official signed an agreement on Friday to establish two joint schools—one in the village of Mogilla and the other in Binac, Vitina municipality.
Under the agreement, Albanian and Serb primary students will attend joint classes in English, physical education and other technical subjects. This project has been sponsored by the Municipality of Viti/Vitina and Caritas-Italy.
Classes should begin this month.
KFOR Spokesman Squadron Leader Daz Slaven
Susan has already mentioned the meeting between the Secretary General of NATO and Mr. Steiner so I won’t elaborate on that.
This week KFOR searched out and confiscated the following number of illegal weapons: 30 rifles, over 100 grenades and mines, 20 pistols, and as much as 6500 round of ammunition.
Over 35 people were detained as a result of KFOR weapons search operations. The weapons have no place in Kosovo; it is now time for the people of Kosovo to say NO to weapons.
The 15th of March marks the start of the Weapons Amnesty which runs for one month until the 15th of April. This initiative has received strong support from all quarters of Kosovo society and the message is very clear:
“Hand over all weapons and help make Kosovo a safer place for everyone.”
The new Government has sent a particularly supportive message and KFOR hopes that the people of Kosovo will show their commitment and support to the newly elected leaders by riding Kosovo of all illegally held weapons.
It is important to know that during the weapons amnesty if you hand over your weapons you will not be prosecuted. We have distributed over 100.000 leaflets and posters which describe the mechanisms and procedures for handing over weapons. If you follow the instructions on the pamphlets you will not be prosecuted.
I would wish to remind you that you should not under any circumstances bring any explosive items to the collection points, instead report their whereabouts to KFOR and UNMIK Police authorities and we will collect them.
The Weapons Amnesty is a further step forward to creating a safe and secure environment for all; and we urge all the people of Kosovo to say NO to weapons.
This is my final press conference, so I would just like to take the opportunity to thank my colleagues for their help and support over the last six months, and to thank you, the journalist, for making my six moths a very enjoyable stay in Kosovo and I wish you all a safe, secure and prosperous future. Thank you.
UNMIK Police Spokesman Barry Fletcher
Eleven Suspects Arrested For Economic Crime
Gnjilane. The Regional Investigation Unit arrested eleven suspects this week in connection with a conspiracy to avoid taxes by smuggling petroleum products across the Kosovo-FYROM border. Four of the suspects are K-Albanian, five are K-Turk, one is Macedonian-Albanian, and one is a citizen of Turkey. The investigation began last September and discovered the group used falsified documents to avoid paying taxes on more than 5,000,000 DM worth of products in 2001. Also discovered was that the group has been operating since 1997, though no information is available on the value of the products smuggled before 2001.
Information on continuing developments in this case is available from the UNMIK Police Press Officer for Gnjilane, who can be reached at 038-504-604-7682.
Suspect Arrested For 1999 Murder
Radoste Village, Prizren. Police arrested a K-Albanian male on 05/03/02 in connection with the 11/07/99 murder of another K-Albanian male. The arrest occurred after a search of the suspect’s house discovered evidence linking him to the crime, including the apparent murder weapon - an AK-47 rifle.
Information on continuing developments in this case is available from the UNMIK Police Press Officer for Prizren, who can be reached at 038-504-604-8306.
Two Suspects Arrested For Rape
Gnjilane Region. This week, a K-Albanian male reported the rape of his daughter by relatives. The rape occurred during 2001 but the victim did not disclose the crime until after her pregnancy became obvious. Police have arrested two K-Albanian male suspects.
Information on continuing developments in this case is available from the UNMIK Police Press Officer for Gnjilane, who can be reached at 038-504-604-7682
Festival Held Without Major Incident
Skenderaj. UNMIK Police and KPS officers provided security/traffic control
for the ADEM JASHARI FESTIVAL held during the afternoon & evening
of March 7th. An estimated 70,000 people attended the festival and the
main problems encountered by police were caused by heavy traffic on the
nearby roads. Four arrests were made for illegal weapons: An AK-47 rifle,
three pistols, a leather “black-jack”, and a switchblade knife
were seized. After nightfall, there was sporadic gunfire from the outer
edges of the crowd and two incidents where hand grenades were discharged.
No injuries were reported. The festival concluded after 2100 hrs.
Overview
AS our first Monday press conference after the formation of the new government, and the last for Wing Commander Daz Slaven, Royal Air Force, a review of our progress is in order.
Kosovo continues to move away from the post-conflict era towards a society where most policing activity now involves ordinary crime, and other incidents requiring police attention. For example, UNMIK Police recorded about 500 murders during the second half of 1999, about 250 in 2000, and 136 last year. There have been about 14 so far in 2002 and we can expect significantly less than 100 murders this year. The number of traffic deaths also demonstrates that stability and the rule of law are taking effect: More than 250 people died on the roads in 2000, about 160 died last year, and there have been about 12 so far in 2002. Ethnic murders, arson, looting, and other crimes characteristic of a post-conflict zone are greatly reduced. Most crimes in Kosovo are now motivated by ordinary disputes between people who know each other, or by greed. Also significant is the increasing willingness of people to report crimes to the police and to allow the justice system to do its job. The events I mentioned earlier clearly illustrate this trend.
It may be premature to declare that Kosovo is now acceptably safe and secure. However, enormous progress has been made in a very short time and the achievements of both the international community and the people of Kosovo should not be ignored.
Questions:
Q: Susan, Mr. Steiner starts his journey in very important capitals, but Kosovars hoped that this journey will be realized with the president and the Prime Minister of Kosovo. You had the chance to read about this hope in the Kosovo media. What is the reason?
SM: Well, it was an idea floating around, but basically Mr. Steiner’s feeling is that they have just recently formed their Government and there is a whole lot to do in getting the institutions of self-government started, and this is a crucial week. This is only the second week of operation of the provisional self-government, so there may be other opportunities for local leaders to meet the people Mr. Steiner is meeting now.
Q: Susan, could you tell us what is the purpose of this world tour of Mr. Steiner. I remember when he was in Madrid he said something about events in Afghanistan might shift the focus from Kosovo, the attention from Kosovo.
SM: I think I just gave the purpose: to urge the leaders not to forget about Kosovo, to continue their support and engagement with Kosovo, particularly now that there is this newly elected provisional self-government. It is very important that we get political and economic support from the international community and that is his basic message to these capitals.
DS: If there are no other questions, in my rush to say goodbye I forgot to introduce my replacement; Drew Andersen, he came directly from UK and he will be available on all of the usual contact numbers and email addresses, so please do not hesitate to contact him.