UNMIK/PR/1039
Thursday, 25 September 2003

PDSRSG Charles Brayshaw visits Grapc/Grapac community and Dubravë/Dubrava prison

PRISTINA - PDSRSG Charles Brayshaw today visited the village of Grapc/Grapac in Klinë/Klina Municipality where he met with residents of the Serbian community together with the Municipal President Ramë Manaj and Community Leader Milomir Tocic.

Mr. Brayshaw congratulated the residents on the first anniversary of the first group of returnees on 10 September 2002 to the village of Grapc/Grapac which was completely destroyed in context with the conflict. He then discussed the social and health issues, the economic and movement situation and in particular the significance of returns to the Region and to Kosovo.

The PDSRSG highly commended the municipal and community leaders on their effort and their support to the returns and reintegration process to Klinë/Klina Municipality. "Grapc/Grapac is a very encouraging example", he said. "Reconciliation was the main message in the recent speech by former US-President", he continued, "And I am glad to see that the Leadership here is committed to that".

Mr. Brayshaw thanked the German government and all international donors who through their contributions made returns possible. "I also very much appreciate the Kosovo Government's contribution of € 7 million from last years budget surplus to returns projects", he stated. "Those Kosovar leaders really carry the message of reconciliation."

The PDSRSG was pleased to hear from the community leaders that the use of the KS-license plates gave them freedom movement all over the Region. "We are working with the officials in Belgrade to make the KS-license plates acceptable in Serbia as well", he told the assembled residents.

Earlier in the day Mr. Brayshaw had visited the prison in Dubravë/Dubrava together with high officials from Pillar I and the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR) to get an impression of the necessary reconstruction works within the facility.