UNMIK/PR/1032
Wednesday, 17 September 2003

DSRSG for Civil Administration visits Peja/Pec Municipality

The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Civil Administration, Mr. Francesco Bastagli, visited Peja/Pec to meet with the Municipal Representatives of the South West Region and discuss with the local authorities the significant issues at the municipal level.

Following a security briefing by Colonel Emilio Sen, KFOR Commander of Task Force “Aquila”, the DSRSG met with Mr. Ali Lajci, President of Peja/Pec Municipal Assembly. Fair share financing was high on the agenda. Peja/Pec is among the five Kosovo Municipalities that have failed so far to achieve the required minimum percentage of expenditures (in Peja/Pec 12.1%) for minorities in all the three budget lines – Municipal Administration, Education and Health – provided for in Regulation 2002/23.

An effort is needed, the DSRSG said, to ensure Peja/Pec administration’s progress in allocating the adequate source of revenues. Mr. Lajci shared UNMIK’s concerns and undertook to submit an expenditure plan to achieve fair share financing by the end of this year.

Integration of minorities was also discussed, in the light of the particular situation in the municipality, where last July 25 Serbian IDPs returned to Belo Polje and two children were recently shot dead in the village of Goradzevac. Mr. Bastagli urged the President to double the Municipality’s practical efforts in reaching out to minorities, also underlining the importance that symbolic gestures from the municipal leadership have in fostering integration and reconciliation. “Both the local administration and UNMIK are held accountable to show progress in interethnic relations and returns”, Mr. Bastagli stressed, expressing the wish that the municipal strategy the President outlined be put in place soon.

The Municipal President was unfortunately unable to accompany Mr. Bastagli in his subsequent visit to the Belo Polje return project site. He however indicated his intention to visit the site at the earliest opportunity.