Press Briefing Notes, 4 February 2003

UNMIK Spokesperson Sunil Narula
KFOR Spokesperson Wing Commander Anthony Adams
UNMIK Police Spokesperson Derek Chappell
OSCE Spokesperson Sven Lindholm
EU Spokeswoman Monique De Groot

UNMIK Spokesperson Sunil Narula

SRSG in New York

SRSG Michael Steiner has left for New York, where he will be addressing the UN Security Council on 6 February. He will report to the Council on the situation in Kosovo.

KFOR Spokesman Wing Commander Anthony Adams

Future Size and Shape of KFOR

NATO is reducing the total number of troops in Kosovo as a process of improving efficiency and realising an operational structure focused to the real security needs of the region. The people of Kosovo should be in no doubt that KFOR’s commitment is as strong as ever. Furthermore, we must stress that reorganisation will always be balanced against the task. The security situation allows less heavy assets and more flexible and mobile forces.

Operational Reserve Forces (ORF) and Strategic Reserve Forces (SRF) have been earmarked and specifically committed to our region. In case of necessity they will be immediately deployed as seen, for example, in EXERCISE DYNAMIC RESPONSE and EXERCISE RAPID GUARDIAN.

As outlined in COMKFOR’s change of command address, KFOR is continually modelling possible future force structures and future reductions of KFOR will broadly follow the principles as outlined below:

1. Any rationalisation will be based on the forces required to meet the need to fulfil the KFOR mission under UNSCR 1244. In simple terms the operational requirement will drive KFOR’s total numbers.
2. The first forces to be rationalised are those currently in Force Protection duties; ie KFOR guards of KFOR installations and those at fixed sites that are yet to be passed over to the civilian authorities. These are sites such as fixed check points, border entry points and patrimonial sites.
3. Next, will be those support arms that are no longer required commensurate with the reduction in front line forces. These forces such as engineers, administrative staff, caterers and communication experts can be drawn down in direct proportion to the re-deployment of front line forces.
4. By local and international agreements, any draw-down of KFOR soldiers will be covered by alternatives that prevent loss of necessary capabilities. This deployment of contractor or other civilian personnel, will not only ensure continuity of capabilities but also result in the creation of some jobs for Kosovar citizens.

Contrary to the speculation in the press, final numbers and end-states have not yet been fixed and it is too early to postulate on the situation in Kosovo in 3, 4 or 5 years time. Suffice to say, KFOR will continually model its forces on our estimation of a safe and secure environment and, more importantly, on the ability of the people of Kosovo to feel safe.

Rapid Guardian 2003-1

During the 2nd part of the Operational Rehearsal Rapid Guardian 2003-1 the Operational Reserve Force, the United Kingdom Battle Gp, will reinforce MNB (SW).

This reinforcement will start on 08 Feb 03 with the deployment of the ORF to their forward assembly area, the ZASTAVA factory in KLINA. There they will prepare a takeover of an assigned AOR, similar to the KLINA Municipality.
After they takeover responsibility on 10 Feb 03 they will conduct framework Peace Support Operations in the new AOR until the 15 Feb 03. MNB (SW) will integrate with the UK BG as an 8th task force to be called TF KLINA.

MNB (SW) will provide logistic support and communications to the reinforcing ORF.

After a closing ceremony, the UK BG will re-deploy to their usual AOR MNB (C). Rapid Guardian continues to demonstrate NATOs commitment to peace and stability in the region.

UNMIK Police Spokesperson Derek Chappell

Sexual Assaults

In the past week 12 sexual crimes have been reported to police. Some of these involve the abduction of women and their assault by multiple assailants.

One of these crimes involved the multiple rape of a 12 year old girl by four men and one involved the sexual abuse of two boys by two young men.

In the last week police have arrested 13 men for sexual assaults.

Local Street Gang Arrested

Police in Pristina have broken up a local street gang who operated under the name of ‘The Pit Bulls’.

Five weeks ago this gang were responsible for the abduction and forcible captivity of two young women. Both victims were subjected to repeated sexual assaults and rapes, as well as physical beatings over long period of imprisonment.

Arrested are five K Albanian men.

Off Duty KPS Officer Arrests Burglar

On 23 January an off duty KPS officer in the Peje region noticed two men breaking into a local business. Even though he was off duty and without support, he arrested one suspect and was able to identify the other as he fled the crime scene.

The thief who escaped has now been located and arrested. The two men are responsible for at least 15 other burglaries in the Peje area. Both are being held in the Detention Centre.

Seizures of Illegal Weapons

Over the past week police have been conducting an intensive program of vehicle checkpoints throughout Kosovo. These are deliberately unpredictable, being set up at random and operated for irregular time periods on different roads. The purpose is to deny criminals freedom of movement by making it impossible to transport weapons without the risk of detection.
In the past week we have arrested 33 persons for illegal possession of weapons and have confiscated 20 pistols,26 rifles, 4 hand grenades, quantities of TNT and plastic explosive and a rocket launcher .

These intensive searches and road checks will continue as we deny freedom of movement to criminals.

OSCE Spokesman Sven Lindholm

I have no announcement to make today.

EU Spokeswoman Monique De Groot

Announcement

The European Union Mission in Kosovo (EUMIK) and The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) were greatly saddened to learn of the sudden and unexpected death of our colleague and friend, Mr. Thomas Allen on Friday, 31 January. Mr. Allen had joined the USAID supported Economic Reconstruction & Development Project in September 2002 where he served as Head of Privatization for the Kosovo Trust Agency. Mr. Allen is survived by his wife and two sons. He was 56. While Mr. Allen’s time in Kosovo had been brief, his commitment and dedication to Kosovo’s privatization program will be remembered.
A memorial service for Mr. Allen will be held at the UNMIK Mission Headquarters, Annex Cinema Hall on Wednesday 5 February 2003 at 14:00 hrs.

Customs

On Friday 31 January 2003, SRSG Michael Steiner signed into effect the Administrative Direction on Travellers Allowances (UNMIK Administrative Direction 2003/04). The Administrative Direction, which will take effect on 15 February 2003 sets out the Customs Control policy for persons entering or leaving Kosovo. The direction describes in detail the categories and amounts of goods persons entering or leaving Kosovo are allowed to bring free of duty and tax.

Macro economics Seminar
Friday 8 February the regular bi-weekly macro economic seminar will be held in the Statistical office of Kosovo. For more information including the topic please contact Selvije Kadriu from the macro economic unit. 044 – 307 195 / 038 540 564 ext. 251.

Energy

The daily energy update report can be found on the UNMIK web page:
http://www. unmikonline.org.

We continue to urge the citizens of Kosovo to save energy as much as possible and not to leave electric appliances switched on when not in use.

Questions

Q: I have got several questions for KFOR. This thing is getting more bizarre. Tony you just called ‘speculation’ the issue of KFOR numbers that General Mini has given to several newspapers, not Kosovo-based newspapers, can you just explain once more what’s the status of the numbers in Kosovo. What’s going to be the reduction of the troops? This is the first question. The second question is that KFOR upholds the line that the return of FRY forces is a political decision, while the Military Technical Agreement (MTA) in point 4 (a) says it rests with KFOR commander, who shall allow return of any such forces back in Kosovo. Is MTA wrong or is KFOR wrong?

AA: First thing you will know that we have never spoken about any … of numbers within KFOR. I think this statement that I have made has reinforced that, made it very clear that we will match troop numbers to our requirements. Obviously we do not have the 50,000 that we had at the end of the war, we don’t require them, we no longer require heavy tanks and the rest of it and we will match the number of personnel that we need to do the job on the ground. The figures that were quoted in Jane, in the interview that General Mini gave was for one of the models that is currently being considered. I am not ruling that model in or out. The numbers of KFOR are dependent on the security need of Kosovo and as a result of that we are also looking at more flexible ways of working, for example Rapid Guardian, at the moment. As you know even if the numbers do reduce the ORF and SRF and Over the Horizon Forces will stay committed to Kosovo. Even if numbers reduce, we will still have a substantial force we can bring back into Kosovo.
Further to your question about the MTA, if you actually look into appendix B, para 4 and take it down to sub-para 2, you will see that KFOR’s responsibility is to enforce compliance following return. So our job is supervision and compliance of instructions. The actual watching and supervision of forces. The decision for them to come in, like the decision for KFOR to come into Kosovo is a political decision. It is not a military decision. Our responsibility would clearly be to supervise those forces if they were to return. But COMKFOR is not the authority to bring those forces or any other forces into a military theatre. Military theatre follows the political directive.

Q: inaudible question….

AA: I have got it in front of me Fis. But you need to go into more detail in the appendixes.

Q: inaudible question….

AA: No there is no requirement because my answer won’t be different.

Q: question inaudible….

AA: Let me just quote it once more for you. The responsibility would be to enforce compliance following the return. Appendix B, para 4, sub-para 2. And there isn’t anything more to say on it. Our responsibility is to enforce compliance.

Q: Sunil, do you consider it to be a political decision. Are you guys going to allow Yugoslav forces to come back upon Djinjic request?

SN: I will repeat what the SRSG said on Sunday. He said “SRSG Michael Steiner says that UNMIK and KFOR are responsible for security in Kosovo. The SRSG sees no reason for the international community to change its position in regard to UNSCR 1244, paragraph 9 (a) and Annex 2 point 6.”

Q: Can you actually say that the Yugoslav troops will not come back?

SN: I am saying exactly what this says. I will repeat this to you.

Q: inaudible and scrambled question……

AA: Not at all. The Jane’s interview was talking about one transitional strategy. It’s a case of if you ask somebody one question, he gives you one answer. Had there been several other questions, there may have been different answers. But he was talking about a possible transitional strategy and that has been reported faithfully in the article in Jane’s.

Q: inaudible question….

AA: As I said earlier, Nebi, it would be based on the security situation in Kosovo. If we thought the security situation was getting worse, we brought an extra 5,000 troops in Kosovo, then you would use that as a stick to beat us with saying “you said it was 17,000, it is now 25,000”. Which is why we do not get into the issue of numbers. We will match the number of troops in Kosovo in order to promote our 1244 mandate.

Q: inaudible…..

AA: Certainly not. It was a scenario which was discussed with one transitional arrangement within that article.

Q: Question for Derek….(on Ghanian policeman)…inaudible..

DC: He is under house arrest. He is not performing duties of a police officer following his conviction.

Q: Just to follow up with Tony. Clearly we are not understanding each other on one issue. Point 4 (a) of MTA says that …… “without the prior express consent of the international security force (KFOR) commander.” So if the security force commander is General Mini and if General Mini tells them, yes you come to Kosovo, then FRY forces can come to Kosovo as requested by Djindjic. If the KFOR tells them we don’t need you, then that’s something else. Do you need 1000 Yugoslav troops in Kosovo today.

AA: Thank you for your long statement, Fis. I refer you to my previous answer.

Q: inaudible…

AA: I have nothing else to say. As I have said soldiers do not decide which forces come into theatre and it says clearly in the appendix and you need to go further into the MTA that our responsibility, if there was a return would be to supervise and I can’t make it any simpler than that.

Q: Sunil can you tell us what Mr. Steiner swill report to the Security Council and ..

SN: We will issue it when he delivers it.

Q: Is Mr. Covic going to be an official for Serbia or as the coordinator for CCK.

SN: You should ask Mr. Covic that question or the Security Council. The Security Council decides who it invites or does not invite and in what capacity.

Q: It is not right for him to go as coordinator for Kosovo.

SN: Well, the Security Council decides who comes before it.

Q: What is UNMIK’s reaction to Albanian members sending a resolution to the Assembly on independence?

A: Let’s wait and see what happens. It has just been sent to the Assembly.

Q: inaudible…..(On the assembly resolution)

A: We will have to wait and see what happens there. As for Mr. Steiner’s speech, we will send it to you on Thursday.

Q: Who from the Serbian official shot at an UNMIK worker in north Mitrovica?
DC: We had a call from the press yesterday to the effect that somebody had shot at an UNMIK official in the north. I spoke to the north police station at the time and we had no such report made to us.

Q: Our information was that Milan Ivanovic was thrown into custody exactly at the same time when rumours of the shooting came from north Mitrovica. Do you know if Milan Ivanovic was in custody for a couple of hours and he was released after the intervention of the Serbian government.

DC: You have information that I don’t have. I am glad that you qualified your statement as a rumour. That’s exactly what it was. I have no information that Mr. Ivanovic was taken into custody yesterday. So possibly that was also a rumour.

Q: Since the police is incharge of everyday security, do you see the need for FRY forces to come out in your duties?

DC: I think you are really asking me comment way outside my area of responsibility. I am not going to comment on that. It’s not something the police have any involvement in. I think Tony and Sunil have made it very clear.

SN: I will repeat what I have said.

Q: But you have said nothing.

SN: I have said what Mr. Steiner has said and he is the head of the mission.