UNMIK-UNMIK Police-KFOR- Press Briefing, 29 April 2002

UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel
UNMIK Police Spokesman Derek Chappell
KFOR Spokesman Drew Andersen

UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel

SRSG

SRSG Michael Steiner returns today from his trip to New York and Berlin.

UNMIK Police Spokesman Derek Chappell

Two murders were recorded in the past week:

The first was on April 24th in North Mitrovica at about 11:00 at night. A K-Albanian male shot another K-Albanian male, who died on the scene. The incident occurred inside a café-bar and apparently involved a dispute between two individuals who knew each other. UNMIK Police went to the scene, interviewed witnesses, and collected forensics evidence. Investigators have identified the suspect in the case and are searching for him.

The second murder occurred in Vitomirica Village (Pec Region) on April 25th at about 6:00 in the evening. A K-Albanian male was shot and killed by a known K-Albanian male, apparently as a result of a dispute. The suspect escaped on a motorcycle and police are searching for him.

Attack on KPS officer

A K-Albanian male KPS officer was attacked, beaten, and robbed while driving to work in Mitrovica South at about 7:00 on Saturday morning. The incident occurred in a rural area, on the track between the officer's village and the Mitrovica-Zvecan Highway. He was stopped by a group of eight Serbian-speaking males who were armed with assault rifles. They dragged him from his vehicle, severely beat him, and robbed him of personal & police property. The suspects stole his car, leaving him on the ground with a fractured skull. The officer was later transported to hospital in critical condition, but he has improved to "serious but stable".

False Euros

Several incidents involving counterfeit Euros have occurred recently. The Modus Operandi usually involves a 100 Euro note being used to pay for a relatively small purchase, and usually at night. These incidents involve low-quality counterfeit money. The notes are on ordinary paper and are darker than real Euros. Also, watermarks are not visible.

UNMIK Police have arrested several suspects in various incidents for using the false money. The arrests include two men who were taken into custody on April 23rd near Kamenica. They were caught in possession of 20 false 100 Euro notes.

Overview

Crime in Kosovo continues to decline. For example, the crime statistics for the past week represent a 25% reduction as compared with the same week in 2001. We expect this trend to continue as Kosovo moves farther away from the post-conflict period and as UNMIK Police and the KPS improve our operations.

KFOR Spokesman Drew Andersen

Operation Iron Fist IV

Since early morning, 27 April 2002, KFOR has executed an extensive search operation across Kosovo named Iron Fist IV. This is the fourth large-scale operation of its type and involves different combinations of KFOR resources from all Multi-National Brigades. Working in close co-operation with UNMIK-Police, the operation intends to have maximum impact on any criminal and extremist elements within targeted areas. Furthermore, these activities provide proof of our continued determination to support the people of Kosovo by ensuring a safe and secure environment for all. The operation itself continues; during the first 48 hrs KFOR and UNMIK-Police have searched approximately 9200 vehicles.

COMKFOR takes great personal interest and pride in all KFOR operations and he often visits the sites where operations are underway. Iron Fist IV is no different. Yesterday COMKFOR visited check-points in Multi National Brigade (East) and was pleased to witness that the citizens of Kosovo had reacted positively to the operation.
Consequently, all Multi National Brigades report that throughout Kosovo there has been great willingness to assist during our searches. We wish to thank all Kosovars for their co-operation. As COMKFOR has pointed out, this type of operation is not targeted against law-abiding citizens but against those who are involved in criminal activity and extremism. Although Iron Fist IV is due to conclude today, 29 April 2002, this will not be the last operation of its type. We will continue to carry out similar actions without prior notification.

Questions:

Q: Why was Zoran Stancic, the bridge watcher arrested in January, released last week?

SM: He was released on bail. I believe the judge felt there was not sufficient evidence to continue to detain him further but I understand there will be an indictment.

Q: Will there be a comment by Mr. Steiner after he comes back about Mitrovica and proposal by the Government, draft strategy on resolving Mitrovica issue?

SM: I imagine he will be speaking about Mitrovica but I cannot predict what he will say.

Q: He said that he has a plan for Mitrovica and the question is will he start doing something?

SM: Let's wait and see what happens when he comes back.

Q: Is there investigations going on regarding attack on KPS officer?

DC: Well of course. This officer was severely beaten. It was in fact an attempted murder. As I said he was in critical condition and he has recently improved to serious but stable; he could have died, and the people who attacked him had obviously no concern as to whether they killed him or not so this is an attempted murder investigation, and as it is involves one of our own officers, of course we are putting every effort towards it. This happened early in the morning in a rural area on a farm track. As such it is not likely that there will be a lot of witnesses. People in the area might well have seen the people and substantial amount of evidence will come from the officer who was attacked.

Q: In remarks published in an interview for Koha Ditore, the Northern Sector Commander deemed the situation in the north as being safe and said that we can't say that the bridge watchers are behind the incidents in the north? Do you agree with this? He also says that the conditions have been created for UN's return to the north. Do you agree with this evaluation?

DC: I read the headlines to that article and I believe that the full text of the article elaborates on those points; certain items have been pulled out form the body of the article but I think if the full article is read, it explains more than is obvious from those titles. I am not in the position to say that things are back to the state of normalcy in the north so that we can resume normal patrol. I'd point out the incident on the weekend in which this officer who was merely attempting to go to work was confronted by a gang of eight people with assault rifles and I think that speaks very well to the dangers our police would be facing should they attempt to go back to the north without us anticipating all of those dangers and making plans for them. I believe that we have established who is behind the incidents on the eight.

Q: For KFOR. Did the operation take place also in the northern part of Mitrovica?

KFOR: This is, as I understand, we had the operation, we had all the multinational brigades had been involved, so as I said we have checked a number of vehicles…

Q: What did you find there?

KFOR: What we've done at the minute is, this is still an ongoing operation and as I said I have no details at the present time what has been found across the whole of the multinational brigades so we are waiting to find out what will come towards the end of that.

Q: So you have found nothing?

KFOR: I said I have no information as to what has been found thus far.

Q: Why didn't UNMIK Police start patrolling in the northern Mitrovica?

DC: Well that is not what we've said. We have said consistently that the conditions are not right for us to return to normal patrolling. We've said consistently that we will remain at the north station, we will not abandon it, and we will respond to any public assistance for help, and in fact one of the murders I gave you details earlier was in the north and we responded to that with the support of KFOR and we dealt with it as a normal crime scene. We went out looking for a suspect we have identified. We have never said that we are doing normal patrolling in the north.