UNMIK/PR/1031
Wednesday, 10 September 2003

DSRSG Jean-Christian Cady addresses security concerns of Kosovo Serb Community in Cernica

PRISTINA – Deputy SRSG for Police and Justice Jean-Christian Cady today visited the Kosovo Serb community in the village of Cernicë/Cernica in Gjilane region where one Kosovo Serb was killed and five others injured in a grenade attack on 31 August 2003.

“I reaffirm the commitment of the international community and the United Nations for building up a multi-ethnic Kosovo. Such attacks will not deter us from making everything possible for all communities to enjoy a peaceful life in Kosovo,” he said.

Stressing the need for greater community participation in policing initiatives “which will be the focus of our security plan in the future,” the DSRSG added, “The ultimate guarantee for security are the people themselves.”

Mr Cady stated that six additional investigators from the Pristina Regional Crime Squad have been assigned to investigate the grenade attack of 31 August. He called upon the people of Cernica to cooperate with police investigations and work together with the police to evolve an effective community safety programme.

Reassuring the Kosovo Serb community on their apprehensions about security of children in schools, he outlined recent measures to enhance security in Cernica: There have been increased police and KFOR patrols, random vehicle check points and the Police Service Office in Cernica is now being manned on a 24-hour basis. “Special attention is paid to schools and points from where they get their buses or get off from them during school hours,” he said.

However, he discounted the efficacy of reinstating fixed checkpoints as that had proved to be not so useful in the past: “The absence of fixed checkpoints should not be construed as a reduction in the level of security for the enclaves and mixed areas. It is just a tactical reorientation that eliminates the element of predictability in security presence thus adding to its efficiency.”

Mr Cady discussed the security concerns with representatives of the Serbian community in Cernica and Serbian members from the Gnjilan Municipal Assembly. UNMIK Police and KFOR Officers were also present on the occasion.