UNMIK/PR/1013
Tuesday, 29 July 2003

Acting SRSG Charles Brayshaw visits Peja/Pec municipality

PRISTINA – Acting SRSG Charles Brayshaw today visited Peja/Pec where he met municipal leaders, and representatives of Bosniak and Serbian communities. He also visited the Pec Patriarchate on the outskirts of the town, where he met the church representatives.

In his meeting with the President of the municipality Ali Lajci and other municipal leaders and officials, Mr. Brayshaw discussed the significance of returns to Kosovo. He emphasised that the international community will not address the final status until it sees that people have the right to return.

Speaking to the media later, Mr. Brayshaw said that he had discussed the importance of achieving the standards and integration of all communities in the Kosovo society. He welcomed the all-party statement urging IDPs to return. The local leadership had a major role to play in the returns process by reaching out to the minority communities so that they know that they are “safe and welcome”.

In his meeting with the Bosniak delegation in Vitomirica, Mr. Brayshaw said that “many people had left their homes and we want them to come home”. He said that the Bosniak community shares problems, such as economic difficulties, with others in Kosovo.

From Vitomirica, Mr. Brayshaw went to Gorazdevac, where he met members of the Serbian community. He heard their concerns, especially about lack of freedom of movement. He said that “reconciliation is difficult to achieve but is the only path ahead for Kosovo”.