Thursday, 19 September 2002

Transcript from the main Press Briefing at the UNMIK HQ of the Rt Hon Commissioner Chris Patten and SRSG Michael Steiner

Michael Steiner: Let me just say that I'm very happy and I mean it that Chris Patten was here yesterday and today and he had a quite short but intensive program. You know we had many guests who come by here, but this one is really special.

The EU is by far the biggest donor here in Kosovo, and the EU Commission is the institution, which answers the main question people have. What is the main goal of the people of Kosovo? They want to have a European perspective and the Commission is the gate to Europe.

Let me just say, you know what my motto is on the benchmarks. We are saying, standards before status, but this is only one part of it. The benchmarks are also the way to Europe. If we talk about the way to Europe and how Europe is engaged here in Kosovo, Chris Patten the External Relations Commissioner is the key man and we are happy that he is here.

Chris Patten: Thank you very much indeed. I first came to Kosovo in 1999, which was the last time and I met the Prime Minister in Mitrovica and I was a regular visitor in 1999 to 2001. I got some memories to compare today with.

I have to say that I'm extremely impressed by the progress since I was last here. There are obvious visible signs of economic recovery of reconstruction and of a greater stability, political and in terms of law and order. As the SRSG said the European Union has made a substantial contribution to all this, we have contributed about a billion Euros, we have certainly been the biggest donor and we have been spending money here per head greater than anywhere else in the world.

And what I'm able to say to the members of the European Parliament and to the European Public Opinion that the investment has been extremely well used by the people of Kosovo. Our assistance is now moving into a new phase, as Kosovo moves from crises to normality. Our help is shifting from a focus on physical reconstruction to building institutions to help your politicians deliver effective government, justice and robust economy.

I want to make it absolutely clear that we will work with Kosovo, as long as you want us here, we are long time partners. Whatever the future holds for Kosovo, I firmly believe its place is in Europe as President Rugova said to me this morning, and as the Prime Minister said as well in his meeting.

I want to make a promise today that the European Union will do everything it can, to help you in the ambition, which was stressed by the President and the Prime Minister, to integrate into Europe.

We have huge confidence in the Special Representative, we think he is doing a very fine job. Powers are of course being progressively transferred to the Kosovo authorities from UNMIK. The challenge now is to use these powers well, so that Kosovo can move on to further responsibilities and the next steps for what I'm sure will be a successful future.

Just one last thought.

I think Kosovo has been a terrific success story, but the story is not over. It will be a real mistake, I think, for anybody to think that we could now relax, that we could go to some parts of the world where the story isn't as good as in here Kosovo. I'm absolutely determined to take the message back to Brussels, and to Europe's Foreign Ministers that while we've done a good job in partnership with Kosovo, there is still more to do and there is still greater contribution that we could make even in the future.

Questions and Answers

(Chrstian Jennings / Daily Telegraph - The Economist) Something very briefly for funding for 2003 and 2004? Kosovo is facing its fourth post war winter without reliable supply of electricity and not enough hot water. Is this one of the forms of development that you are in particular impressed with?

Chris Patten: On the second point, I was extremely impressed by the progress we have made by last spring. We spent, committed I'd guess 340 million Euro in the energy sector, in particular in the power stations here in Kosovo, which I visited almost as many times as I've had a hot meal here.

I think we made a considerable contribution, but the last, and we cannot interfere in the business of the Allmighty, and could not do anything with the lightning strike.

What we now have to do is to work with UNMIK and to work with the authorities to deal with the consequences of that act of nature, which has unfortunately set back the obtainment of our objectives in the energy sector.

But, I'm confident that UNMIK is on the top of the problem, confident in the management of the power sector and we are ensuring that some of our existing contributions in the energy sector and the next years' contribution can be used to deal with the current problem.

In the longer term, the investment required in the energy sector here, is going to be of course immense and I'm sure that this is an issue UNMIK is talking about with all donors.

Secondly, on your first question. We have always believed that the development assistance here should be front-loaded. From 1999 to 2002, we have contributed for about a billion Euro, as I said earlier, about 830 million of that through the Agency for Reconstruction. The plan was always that we should move from reconstruction to institution building. We've got a budget for next year of about 50 million at the moment and we may be able to see some increase in that, but that does not take into account any micro financial assistance that we are able to provide. It is very important that we continue to provide development assistance into the future and the amounts we are spending in Kosovo, were compared extremely favorably with the amount we are spending with other countries and places throughout the region.

(Nebi Qena AFP correspondent) Mr. Patten, can you update us on the whereabouts on the investigation for the alleged fraud in KEK?

Chris Patten: That's an investigation that is conducted by OLAF, who investigates fraud in the EU. Their investigations, all I understand, are going extremely well. I would not seek more than I would be allowed to intervene in that investigation. They are being pursued with professionalism and I'm sure they have recover most, if not all of the money.

Any fraud, any misuse of our funds it is to be condemned, but I have to say, when we look at all the amount we have spent here, and what I'm pleased about is that the money has been overwhelmingly well spent and well used.

Michael Steiner: I just would like to say the final word here. Having followed the talks of Commissioner Patten here with the Government, with the President and us, in my assessment is that Commissioner Patten is a real friend of Kosovo.

Chris Patten: As a one time democratic politician myself, I want to say that I was interested in talking to the political leaders today. To hear them discussing the next round of the local elections, which would be the third elections held in Kosovo. I think the last time managed by OSCE. I think you've made a terrific democratic progress, I wish we could say everywhere else. I just hope that in those local elections and in elections everywhere, as many people will turn out as possible.

Voting is about playing a part in shaping your own future. The municipalities have an exceptionally important job to do, and I think is a mark of citizenship to take the trouble to turn out and vote and vote for the people and for the ideas which can best help shape your future.

So, I hope you will be able here in Kosovo to widen the turn out figures, which we saw in Sweden or that we are about to see in Germany at the end of this week.