UNMIK/PR/1014
Thursday, 31 July 2003

Acting SRSG Charles Brayshaw visits Pristina municipality

PRISTINA – Acting SRSG Charles Brayshaw today visited the Pristina municipality, where he met with the Albanian and the Serbian Vice-President of the Assembly and the CEO.

Mr. Brayshaw also visited the Ashkalija returns site in Kodra e Trimave/Vranevac, the Local Civil Administration in Nente Jugoviqet/Devet Jugovic and the mixed Serbian/Albanian village of Bernica e Eperme /Gornja Brnjica.

In his meeting with the municipal leaders, Mr. Brayshaw discussed the security, economic and employment situation, registration issues as well as the significance of returns to Pristina and to Kosovo. Mr. Brayshaw again welcomed the all-party statement urging IDPs to return. He emphasized, “respecting each others rights is the road to the future”. Both the Albanian and the Serbian Vice-Presidents agreed that the security situation as well as the living conditions had improved a lot but that work still remains to be done.

In his meeting with the community representatives at the Ashkalija returns site in Kodra e Trimave/Vranevac, the acting SRSG discussed their specific concerns such as property issues, infrastructure and the employment situation. Mr Brayshaw stated that employment was essential for sustainable returns, otherwise IDPs wouldn’t want to come back.

During his visit to the mixed Serbian/Albanian village of Bernica e Eperme /Gornja Brnjica, the acting SRSG discussed with members of the two communities issues such as agriculture, employment, utilities, health services and education for the minority community.