5 June 2003

Joint Press Conference
SRSG Michael Steiner and EU High Representative for Common Security and Foreign Policy

Remarks by SRSG Michael Steiner:

Grateful Javier is here. It's been a while since his last visit but he's come at the right time.

Yesterday cowardly and brutal murder of three members of the Stolic family in Obilic.

Just talked to Serb deputy president of Obilic, Lubomir Jakovljevic - agreed on a number of measures in Obilic.

Stefan Feller has given me first reports from Special Police Squad.

Just announced a Reward of 50,000 Euro for information leading to the arrest of the killers.

People in Kosovo sick and tired of these unspeakable crimes.

Let me take this opportunity to express my respect for RTK's coverage of the crime in yesterday evening's broadcast. Their coverage was intensive, objective and professional - as was coverage from other media in Kosovo with the exception of two newspapers.

Javier Solana and I agreed that these murders won't achieve their aim.

On the contrary - they renewed our determination to continue our work for a respected multi-ethnic society in Kosovo.

Furthermore, we understand the grief and frustration of Serbs, but urge them to remain in institutions so their voices can be heard.

Had dinner last night, intensive discussion - explained the situation in Kosovo and outlined our strategy.

Yes, we still face serious problems - especially 56% unemployment.

But progress cannot be denied.

Javier himself remarked on how much had changed since last visit.

We have an average of 3 violent crimes a day this year - compared to four last year. That's a 37% reduction in violence.

50,000 businesses.

Multi-ethnicity in key institutions has improved dramatically. We have overrepresentation of minority communities in the KPS - 15%.

I have informed Javier about preparations for Thessaloniki - my intention to include in the UNMIK delegation multi-ethnic representation from Kosovo's provisional institutions.

In Thessaloniki heads of 25 member states, 3 accession countries and 5 Western Balkans countries will meet.

Decisive summit for the Balkans.

Thessaloniki is about dialogue - therefore: everyone talks to everyone.

Grateful Javier supports this line and has conveyed this to Kosovo leaders.

My impression: our concept for Thessaloniki is gaining ground in Kosovo.

Javier…

Remarks by EU High Representative for Common Security and Foreign Policy Javier Solana

Thank you very much. I would like, from the very beginning to join Michael on his expressions of condolence to the families of those who were killed and to the Serb community, and I would like to underline that this cannot continue like this and therefore not only the responsibility of condemnation belongs to everybody, but everybody has to make an effort in cooperation with the authorities and the police to try to find the people who are responsible for this. I would like to make an appeal very clearly and publicly in the same manner as I did in private with all the leaders whom I met today.

Let me tell you what Michael has said about the evolution in Kosovo. I share it and I share it completely. I think that after Michael Steiner probably nobody in Kosovo knows it better except you and the Kosovars, I have been coming here periodically, this last part of my political life has prolonged the time in which I have not visited Prishtina, but you know very well that even though my body is not here frequently, my heart has been in Kosovo very, very often. I would like to say that I met with the leaders of the institutions, with President Rugova, with the representatives of the Parliament, with Thaçi, and I found very constructive attitude from all of them on all the points that have been made by Michael Steiner. I would like to say clearly, and on behalf of the European Union, that we fully support all the policies, all the actions and all the decisions that Michael Steiner has taken here. There is not a single line of the policy that Michael Steiner is putting forward, in particularly in what he has said about the Thessaloniki Summit that does not have full support of the EU. I would like to say that the Thessaloniki Summit is a very important summit, in which the representation of UNMIK will be composed of representatives also from Kosovo, just as Michael Steiner has said. You know that it did not take place in the first summit; therefore already something important is taking place in our way to Thessaloniki. The Thessaloniki Summit is about how to get the people of this region closer to the European Union. It is also a summit about how people can get together with each other. So it has two objectives: to get people closer to the institutions of the EU and to get people closer to each other in the region, and in the manner that Michael has just described it: Thessaloniki is a place to talk, it is a place for dialogue, therefore everybody has to be ready and willing to use positive attitudes to talk and to dialogue with each other. I am sure it is going to be a very successful one and that everybody will contribute to that success, it will be good, and it is the first time that the 25 members of the EU will meet all people of this region, therefore it will be without any doubt a very successful summit. But the most important issue that I would like to point out is the following: what I have just said about violence and what I have said about security is fundamental. Secondly, that Michael Steiner has the full support from the EU in all the difficult moments that he has to face now on the way to the Thessaloniki Summit in order for the people of Kosovo and the people of the region and in general for the people of the continent of Europe to succeed here. Thank you very much.

Questions:

Mr Steiner, you have been dancing around the actual issue all day. Are representatives from Kosovo going to meet with the representatives from Belgrade in Thessaloniki? And Mr. Solana, do you think that the time has come for talks between the two?

SRSG: My answer is that we will be dancing a little bit longer still.

Solana: The question for me, is a simple one and also the answer is also very simple: the answer is yes, yes talking and dialoguing is always a value that we Europeans defend. You want to be part of Europe, everybody wants to be part of Europe, and Europe is about tolerance, Europe is about talking, Europe is about dialogue.

Q: You both said that the Thessaloniki Summit is an opportunity for people of the region to get together and that this is a place to talk and to dialogue. Could you please elaborate on the particular case of the Serbs and Kosovo-Albanians getting together, Prishtina versus Belgrade convening in a dialogue? How do you imagine this to happen, will they meet in a corridor and what sort of dialogue and talks will take place between Prishtina and Belgrade in this summit?

SRSG: Let me say on this point that we will make the necessary announcement at the right time and you will be fully informed about all the circumstances in the right time. I think that it is clear from what is happening that more and more people understand, which is quite an achievement, they understand the importance of Thessaloniki. I think Javier that it is remarkable in the press, and if you look at commentators if you look at politicians they increasingly understand how crucial this summit is. I would also like to stress one point that Javier has made: the fact that it is accepted that within the UNMIK delegation we have the institutions in a fair and reasonable way, in a way that represents multiethnicity, that represents a success in itself, this is a success for everybody in the Balkans.

Solana: As I said before: talking and dialoguing is always good, before they do it directly. Tomorrow I will be in Belgrade where I will spend one day. You can imagine that we are going to talk about similar issues to them there.

Q: what are your expectations from the meeting between Serbs and Kosovar Albanians in Thessaloniki?

Solana: I think that that is premature to talk about it. Michael Steiner who is going to lead the delegation has spoken already today, I cannot go any further. It must be constructive, positive, these are things that I would to happen, but I think it is too early to say what the content is going to be.

SRSG: You will not get anything more on this issue, even if you try to ask the same question from all sorts of angles, you will not get it.