Thursday, 9 October 2003 Unofficial Transcript

Press Conference of SRSG Harri Holkeri
9 October 2003

SRSG Harri Holkeri made the following statement:

Ladies and gentlemen, I wanted to meet you because recently we have been working very intensively with the political leaders, with the PISG, with the representatives of the international community here, and for instance last night we had intensive talks with the so called Quint and the Kosovar Albanian political leaders. I would like to make a statement after these meetings where I stand and what I stand for, and it is as follows:

I support the dialogue as an important element in reaching the standards endorsed by the international community and resolving practical issues important to Kosovo.

In order to improve the ability of the institutions to conduct meaningful dialogue I will strive to enhance the capacity of the PISG through further elaboration of the governmental functions and structures as envisaged in the Constitutional Framework in the fields of energy and international cooperation as of the beginning of the next year.

That is the end of the statement.

I would like to say that I have experienced quite a lot in my previous capacities in the political life and the international life, in business, in cultural, in sports and so on. And I know from experience that you have to make the difficult decisions if you want to be in position to make the easy ones, and this is the order of the life. You must be able to solve the difficult questions, there after may be you are able to do some easy decisions. I thank you for your attention.

Questions

Q: Mr. Holkeri the Prime Minister has said that he will not go to Vienna without the backing of parliament, and parliament is reluctant to do it and hasn't done so. What does that mean for you, what position are you in now?

SRSG: Well, time is running and we have to make our preparations. But the door is open.

Q: Will the dialogue begin without the presence of the Kosovo Albanian delegation?

SRSG: I have already said that if you invite difficulties you will get them. I do not speculate.

Q: I have got two questions Mr. Holkeri. Why do you think that this decision is difficult for the Kosovo Albanians? And second question is, what is the deadline set for them after which you will call off the talks?

SRSG: I think those difficulties, which are inside the Kosovo Albanian camp are based on some earlier experiences, are based on traditions which I am not very familiar with. I know that during the time UNMIK has been here quite a lot of serious work has been done but of course the mission is still ongoing and has not been completed yet and it's my duty to try to do that. I try to convince everybody that I am here to make myself unnecessary, UNMIK is here to retreat and we need cooperation with the society, with the leaders to do so, but perhaps we need further consultations, we need further mutual understanding that we can do that together. I need help from the Kosovo Albanian side to make myself unnecessary and Vienna talks is one, very important door or gate on that road. Deadlines are always, always very dangerous. We have a deadline of 14 October, but of course, speaking in practical terms we need to continue our preparations and we need to discuss with our friends how we are moving on what.

Q: Are you going to be here in Pristina?

SRSG: Yes I am going to be in Pristina.

Q: Mr. Holkeri you have said that there will be strengthening of the competencies in the areas of international corporation and energy. Is that a sign of encouragement for the Albanian side before the talks in Vienna?

SRSG: I wanted to make it clear, what I stand for, what I am trying to strive. We will continue our efforts after Vienna in many areas. We have a common interest with the PISG, for instance, in implementation of certain things of our mission. The issues of the dialogue are not the only ones on which we must have good cooperation. I wanted to be very careful in my wording in that text which I just gave to you because I know that I am working with people who have their own responsibilities, who have given their own word and who have to meet the challenges in their own way and as I have earlier said to you, I am coming from the environment where a man's word is much, much more then ink on paper.