UNMIK/PR/1034
Thursday, 18 September 2003

PDSRSG Charles Brayshaw visits Magurë/Magura and Lipjan/Lipljan

PRISTINA - PDSRSG Charles Brayshaw today visited Lipjan/Lipljan Municipality where he held a met with the Municipal President and the Albanian and Serbian Vice Presidents. Together with the Municipal President Mr. Brayshaw also visited the village Magurë/Magura where they met with the leaders of the Albanian and Ashkali communities.

In his meeting with Municipal President Xhevat Olluri, Vice President Shemsi Recica and Additional Vice President Borivoje Vignjevic, Mr. Brayshaw discussed the security, economic and employment situation and in particular the significance of returns to the Region and to Kosovo. The PDSRSG highly commended the municipal leaders on their effort and their support to the returns and reintegration process to Lipjan/Lipljan Municipality. "I congratulate you on this encouraging level of integration", he said. All agreed that the security situation as well as the living conditions had improved a lot but that further success was only to be reached in a joint effort. "We need your help to encourage returns, while we work on the assistance by the international community", Mr. Brayshaw assured the presidency.

Further funding was necessary for projects to return people to their homes. "The Kosovo Government just dedicated € 7 million from last years budget surplus to returns projects", the PDSRSG could tell the municipal leaders. "This provides the necessary means and is a powerful message to backup the statement made by the political leaders on the 2nd of July in their open letter regarding returns."

In his meeting with the community representatives at the mixed village of Magurë/Magura, where before the conflict Albanians, Romas and Ashkalis, Serbs and Bosniacs had lived together, Mr. Brayshaw discussed their specific concerns such as health-care and sanitation, general security issues and the employment situation.

In light of the recent returns of 21 Roma/Ashkali families the PDSRSG congratulated the village leaders on their success for re-establishing all communities in their home-village.

Mr. Brayshaw applauded the development of the Kosovo Police Service, who through their professionalism had contributed greatly to a positive security environment.
The support of the people of Kosovo was still essential for a positive development. "It is up to all Kosovans to work together to fight violence and serious crime", the PDSRSG concluded.