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UNMIK-UNMIK Police-KFOR- Press Briefing, 14 January 2002 UNMIK Spokesman Susan Manuel UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel Acting SRSG returns from New York Mr. Charles Brayshaw, acting SRSG, returned from visits to NY and Washington where he briefed officials on developments in Kosovo and the UNMIK mission. He said a new SRSG will be named soon. The Kosovo Assembly Regarding the Kosovo Assembly, we in UNMIK are also eager for a new government to be formed, but see the recent challenges in electing a president as a more or less expected problem that could be encountered in establishing young democratic institutions. What is more troubling is the parties' seeming inability to talk to one another: the democratic process involves negotiation, bargaining and flexibility. It also requires of political parties and their leaders to take a long term vision in terms of achieving political power. Political power in democracies evolves from the public perception that parties and their leaders are doing their best to improve the lives of the people. So, we encourage the parties to seek a solution through more dialogue and a dialogue which has the well-being of Kosovo in mind. In the meantime, UNMIK continues to fully administer Kosovo. The principal international officers who are to become advisors of the ministers are directing what are to become the nine ministries. We have been holding off on promulgating several regulations until the new government is formed and we may start issuing regulations if this is not resolved soon. Travel documents Turkey has officially recognized the UNMIK Travel Document. Turkey will soon begin issuing visas in Kosovo, for a 30 DEM fee. Unfortunately, the Bahamas has notified us that it has not yet recognized the Travel Document, but would like first to see a sample before deciding finally. Production of UNMIK Travel documents has stopped in Germany as we prepare to begin production in Kosovo which is expected to start next month. The German company which has been producing the documents will set up the production center and process here, so that the security of the documents will be guaranteed. By producing travel documents here, we hope to eventually reduce the waiting time to one week, instead of two months. So far we have issued, 112, 000 travel Documents. We would like to warn holders of the red Yugoslav passports that these have expired and holders need to get new passports from the FRY office in Pristina. However, UNMIK Border police have heard from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, that those with expired passports but valid permits of stay will be allowed in those countries. At Globocica , Jankovic as well as the border posts with Albania, red passport holders cannot pass out of Kosovo.. Travelers must be certain that they have valid permits of stay before going to Pristina airport. Currently, All red passport holders are being allowed back into Kosovo. Expanded Freedom of Movement Train Mr. Brayshaw and COMKFOR will be riding the inaugural trip of the expanded Freedom of Movement train on Wednesday. The train which now carries 10,000 passengers a week on a route between Lipljan and Zvecan will as of Wednesday be extended to Ferizaj/Urosevac and Grlica. The new run will be from To K polje to Grlica via Lipljan, and Ferizaj/Urosevac. It leaves K. Polje at The media are invited to see the arrival of the train in Grlica at 11. Media should be there at least by 10:45 a.m. We'll let you know tomorrow about transport. Please contact Eleanor Beardsley later today or tomorrow morning to get on the list. UNMIK Police Spokesman Derek Chappell Irresponsible Behaviour Disrupts Pristina Airport Pristina Airport operations were severely disrupted on Saturday by a large disorderly crowd that gathered at the terminal building. Poor weather conditions had caused the cancellation of five morning flights. Despite announcements to the arriving passengers, neither they nor their family and friends would leave. A large group blocked the entrance to the airport departure area. Later in the day, improving weather allowed the resumption of normal
operation. There was no respect shown for the elderly, women, children or invalids,
all of whom were pushed and shoved as they attempted to get to their flights. Many flights were delayed and left with empty seats from passengers prevented from checking in. As departing flights were severely delayed, arriving flights were turned back due to a lack of space on the runways. Police kept the crowd from entering the terminal building, and opened the crowd to allow some passengers to get to their flights, however there was no cooperation from the assembled mob. This is not the first example of irresponsible and uncivil behaviour
at the airport. Only a week ago Police and KFOR had to enter an aircraft
that had aborted its take off due to mechanical problems when the passengers
became aggressive and threatening to the crew. UNMIK Police Refute KEK Accusation On Saturday, January 12, officials of KEK were quoted in Koha Ditore, as complaining that one of the reasons for their financial problems is the lack of support from the police. UNMIK Police refute this allegation. It is not the job of the Police to collect electricity bills, but we stand ready to assist the civil government in any aspect of their activities by providing security. In the past we have worked together with civil authority as they close unlicensed pharmacies, enforce evictions and demolish illegal buildings and we have provided officers to KEK to protect employees carrying out essential repairs. As residents of Kosovo who also suffer from the lack of reliable electricity we welcome any efforts of KEK to collect money that will be invested into the repairs needed at Obilic. Violence Erupts Over Unpaid Electricity Bills On the 9th of January, UNMIK Police and the KPS met KEK officials at the village of BRESALC, in the Gnjilane region. The electricity company intended to cut off the power to the village as the residents had repeatedly failed to pay them bills. One resident attacked the police and when we attempted to make an arrest a hostile crowd of 60 persons formed and threatened the two police officers. The next day Police returned and arrested three suspects. Whilst making these arrests three other residents attacked police, one
of them using an axe. These persons were also arrested. KPS Officer Stabbed On Friday, 11th January, an off duty KPS Officer in Leposavic was stabbed. The K-Serbian officer was with a fellow officer in the ROMA bar when an unknown person stabbed him on the left side of the body for no obvious reason. The suspect fled and the officer was treated at hospital. His injuries were not life threatening and he is now recovering. A K-Serbian male was sought for the attack and on Saturday, 12 January, I am pleased to say that the suspect was identified, located and arrested. TMK Members Arrested for Robbery During the evening of January 9, a 19 year old K-Albanian man was robbed in front of the PTK building in Pristina. Three men, allegedly wearing TMK uniforms, forcibly kidnapped him from the street. He was taken to an isolated location, beaten and robbed of cash and property at gunpoint. UNMIK Police began an investigation that identified the suspects, leading to the arrest of two TMK members on January 11. We have recovered almost all of the property stolen in this robbery. Questions: Q: You said that KEK has already gone bankrupt. Can we get a list of companies in Kosovo, which have gone bankrupt? SM: I don't know if companies are required to provide such records to Pillar IV but I will try to find out. Q: We have the information that Coalition Povratak is in Belgrade discussing with Prime Minister Djindjic and the other Yugoslav officials. According to some information the Yugoslav and Serb governments are willing to buy the Serb property in Kosovo if they want to sell. What is you reaction to this? SM: Well, I didn't that Povratak was discussing this. I know one reporter asked this couple of months ago after Covic had made some comments about this. I suppose they are free to buy property but then it would fall under UNMIK administration. I don't think this has become a serious proposal beyond politicians, so we haven't looked at that seriously. Legally anyone can buy property but if it were a government then it would come under our administration. Q: Are the Serb authorities also under Regulation that the Serb property can not be sold here in Kosovo? SM: Pardon me? Q: It is the regulation signed by Mr. Haekkerup that no Serb property can be sold in Kosovo. SM: No, no, no, there is no such regulation. There was a regulation, which required a review process of certain suspicious types of transaction in certain mixed areas. There was no ban on the sale of Serb property. Q: Would this kind of transaction be review or checked. SM: Yes, I would think so. This really hasn't come to us as a serious proposal. This came as a political statement a couple of moths ago and I asked the legal people about it and they are going to look into it but I would think that that would be reviewed as well. Q: What is UNMIK response to Macedonian authorities issuing transit visas at the border valid two to three days only? SM: That is up to the country. Any country has a right to… Q: So what is the response from UNMIK to Macedonian citizens? The same, for example? SM: Any country has a right to impose its own visa resretictions. There are no visas for entering Kosovo. We don't restrict people from entering Kosovo but nor would we implode a quid pro quo, like that it. It is up to the country what kind of restrictions they want to place on their visas. Q: Who is representing Kosovo at the Vienna Conference on EURO? SM: I don't know, I will find out for you. Q: Is Serbia representing Kosovo, or Yugoslavia? SM: Serbia is not under EURO. Q: They have two speakers. SM: I will find out for you. Q: How will delay in forming the Kosovo government impact the work of UN? SM: We will continue to administer Kosovo. As you know there were 20 JIAS departments and they were combined into 9 departments that would become ministries, and we continue to run those departments and as I said earlier they've been run by the Principle International Officers who are intended to become advisors to the ministers. The question is I think when will we begin to sign these regulations which are pending, and that will be decided in the next days or weeks if there is no government. But otherwise we continue to run Kosovo, there is really no difference in that since. Q: Do you consider Kosovo to be a country as Macedonia has imposed visa for UNMIK travel document, for Kosovo residents only? SM: My statement has nothing to do with the final status of Kosovo. The UNMIK travel document is not a passport. It took us months to get countries to recognize UNMIK travel document. If they want to charge 30 DEM or 100 DEM, it is up to them, for their visas. We are glad that people are moving that they are traveling. Q: Derek, can you give us more information about KPC robbery. For Susan, Since officially Kosovo is part of EURO, why is Kosovo map not on the coin? DC: I guess my answer will be quite brief; there isn't a lot more that I could say other then what I have already told you and what is on the briefing note which you can get outside. Obviously these people have not yet been charged. There is going to be criminal trial, so I can not disclose more details. I can not give you their names, but I think it is a success story, and I should point out that the armed robberies re the fastest growing type of crime that we see throughout Kosovo. But this street robbery was solved within 36 hours, and we recovered virtually all of the stolen property. Q: Are the KPC members ordinary members or do they have ranks? DC: I am not going to go onto any more details as to their rank, what they names are, etc. They have not yet been charged. As soon as they are charged, their names will be public information. SM: Like Montenegro, Kosovo is not a country so we are using … Most of the coins in circulation here have German symbols on them. EB: I thin I can answer that. Kosovo and Montenegro are not part of the EURO zone but have adopted EURO as a currency of official choice. But the dinar is still legally accepted here as it is in Montenegro. Q: Daz, you remember the AP reporter that was shot at the border between Macedonia and Kosovo. What is in the report sent to the Macedonian authorities? Where does investigation stand? DS: I know that the report has been sent to the Macedonian authorities some months ago, I don't have the details in the report and that is the matter for NATO higher authority and Macedonian authorities. I don't have more information on that at this time. Q: They are reports of arm groups in Sharr mountains. Has KFOR observed anything, a new group called ANA? DS: We have seen no indications of any organized activity, or organized extremist groups anywhere within Kosovo, it is just speculations. Q: Two days ago you said that you would have a list of candidates for SRSG. Is that list definite now? SM: I never said that there would be a list of candidates. I was trying to explain that there are candidates and that there are names floating. And just to correct something that was in the media. Kai Eide who was mentioned as a candidate is not from Canada, here is from Norway. I think someone mistook word candidate for Canada. Anyway, you are not going to see a list, you are going to see an SRSG within the near future. Q: So who is going to be the new SRSG. SM: I don't know. Q: How will the witnesses go to The Hague to witness at Milosevic's trial in February. Will that be organized? SM: I haven't heard that UNMIK is organizing anything, but I will ask the Legal Department. |