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United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
Press Briefing Notes, 13 May 2003
UNMIK Spokesperson Izabella Karlowicz
KFOR Spokesperson Gary Bannister-Green
UNMIK Police Spokesperson Barry Fletcher
OSCE Spokesperson Edita Buçaj
EU Spokesperson Monique De Groot
UNMIK Spokesperson Izabella Karlowicz
Good morning everybody. As you know the SRSG on Friday signed Land Use Regulation and this regulation was the last hurdle for the process of privatisation to actually start in Kosovo. This regulation was promulgated after a long process of consultation between UNMIK and the UN headquarters in New York, the World Bank, the Prime Minister and the Trade Unions, and Monique will give you all the details about this regulation.
The High-ranking working group is about to start and around two or shortly after two the SRSG Michael Steiner will make a statement. I don’t know the exact time as it clearly depends on how long the meeting lasts.
I also have an announcement from the Office Of Missing Persons and Forensics. Now the Forensics inspections of the mortal remains which were transferred from Serbia proper last week begun on Friday on the 9th of May in the Orahovac morgue. The bodies were initially identified using DNA-tests. And the examinations have already confirmed the identities of the 22 bodies. The families will be the first to receive information about this. Examinations of mortal remains are done in a way to facilitate group reburials, so that they are done according to the “group disappearance”. The Forensic inspections are scheduled for completion by the end of this week and by the end of this week the bodies will be ready to be released to the families. Family members will not be able to visit the mortuary during the process of forensic inspections.
KFOR Spokesperson Gary Bannister-Green
The Ministry of Education has approved an initiative by KFOR, to conduct Mine Risk Education at a number of local schools. This potentially life saving teaching is aimed at children in primary and junior schools, and is designed to increase their knowledge of the dangers of mines. It will be conducted prior to the summer holiday and will be undertaken in schools, which are near to potential risk areas.
This afternoon, KFOR will be conducting a joint recce with the Albanian General Staff and Border Police. The recce will involve briefings and a border flight in a KFOR Super Puma Helicopter, and is an excellent example of cooperation between KFOR and Albanian Security Forces.
Finally, KFOR operations in conjunction with UNMIK and KPS, over the
past week have resulted in the confiscation of the following illegal weapons
and ammunition:
· 10 Rifles
· 5 Pistols
· 3 Rockets
· 6 Grenades/Mines
· 2,565 Rounds of ammunition
KFOR remains committed to the safe and secure environment of Kosovo and
will continue to take all necessary measures to guarantee security.
UNMIK Police Spokesperson Derek Chappell
Homicides
No homicides were recorded during this reporting period.
Accidental Death
On 09/05/03 near Podujevo in Pristina Region, a K-Albanian male was found dead under then-unknown circumstances. The investigation has confirmed the victim fell while climbing an electricity tower, and died from injuries sustained in the fall.
Grievous Assault
On 04-05-03 in Mitrovica North, a badly-injured K-Albanian man was found
on a roadway. The victim is now in stable condition and is expected to
recover. According to his statements and to information received from
witnesses, the victim was walking through a majority-Serbian area when
he was attacked by a group of unidentified Serbian men. The motive for
the attack was ethnic hatred.
Arrests for Attempted Murder
On 12-05-03 in Gnjilane Region, a 28 year-old man was attacked by another man who was armed with an axe. The victim sustained severe injuries and was admitted to hospital in critical condition. The motive for the crime involved a personal dispute. Police arrested the suspect on a charge of Attempted Murder.
On 10-05-03 in Pristina Region, a 27 year-old man was shot at several times by anther man armed with a pistol. The victim was not wounded. The motive for the crime involved a dispute over repair work at the suspect’s home. Police arrested the suspect for Attempted Murder on 12-05-03.
On 10-05-03 in a market in Pec/Peja city, a 44 year-old man was shot several times by another man who was armed with a pistol. The victim was seriously wounded but is expected to survive. The victim and suspect are related and the motive involved a dispute over money. Police arrested the suspect on a charge of Attempted Murder.
EU Spokeswoman Monique De Groot
Privatisation
The SRSG announced yesterday to the media last Friday's promulgation of
the Land Use Rights regulation which effectively paves the way for the
launch of the privatisation process. A KTA Board meeting has been scheduled
for Thursday (15 May) to be followed by the publication of the first six
tenders earmarked for the first round.
BPK
As of today, 13 may 2003, the Memorandum of Understanding on mutual recognition
of vehicle insurance between UNMIK and FYROM has come into effect.
This means that Kosovo citizens crossing the border with Macedonia are not obliged to pay temporary insurance for their vehicles as was the case until now. In order to gain this right one needs, prior to travel to Macedonia, the TPL Kosovo Plus card which serves as a proof for the regular insurance for Kosovo and which is accepted in Macedonia. Kosovo citizens can get the TPL card in the insurance company where their vehicle is already insured.
Customs
On Monday 12 May the Pristina Customs Operational Branch has moved from
UNMIK Customs HQ in Lenin Street, Pristina (co-located with Customs HQ)
to Offices with UNMIK Railways at Kosovo Polje/ Fushe Kosovo.
All Freight Forwarding Agents will be moving to that location. So all
goods
including cars that would have been cleared at Pristina Custom House will
now be cleared at Fushe Kosovo. The Customs House in Pristina will become
an Headquarters building at which senior management will be located along
with some other operational units. Members of the public wishing access
to the Customs archives will still need to come to Pristina Custom House.
Any members of the public coming to Pristina Custom House for the clearance of goods will be redirected to Fushe Kosovo/Kosovo Polje.
Questions:
Q: I have got three questions. First one is regarding the request of Nebojsa Covic’s on the extradition of Shefket Musliu. The Serbian Government is putting pressure on UNMIK asking for the head of Shefki Musliu. Which are the next steps that UNMIK or KFOR will take, what actions? Also the second question is for Izabella, yesterday DOS and Momcilo Trajkovic the head of the DOS party announced that the delegation for Kosovo, their names were published yesterday, and the question is what is UNMIK position on the request of meeting with political parties. Question is what is going to happen with this proposal from Momcilo Trajkovic. Will UNMIK accept this delegation?
IzaK: The DOS proposal is considered to be a proposal of cooperation of exchanging information between political parties and UNMIK certainly encourages the discussion between political parties, political parities should talk. This is my answer to your second question. The first question regarding Musliu. As we have said before, criminal files of Musliu are being analyzed and departments of justice are currently cooperating, no decision has been made. The issue is still under judicial investigation.
Q: Monique this green cards that is issued in Macedonia for cars, are
they accepted in Kosovo.
MDG: It’s a mutual agreement so for Macedonian vehicle owners, wanted to come into Kosovo, they need that card.
Q: So they don’t have to pay any insurance in Kosovo?
MDG: As a mutual agreement, Kosovars don’t have to pay extra insurance, when they go to Macedonia, its reciprocal.
Q: A quick question for Derek. If you got 20.000 hunting rifles registered in Kosovo, do think that that is a bad sign for wild animals in Kosovo?
DC: Well, I suppose I chose to look on a good sign that its 20.000 law bidding people who chosen to tell us about the guns. But I am not sure, are that many wild animals left to hunt in Kosovo?
Q: So why do you think that people need hunting rifles?
DC: I think that for somebody who lives here you are probably better able to answer that.
Q: Is it an indication in Police thinking why people want to keep weapons?
DC: I think it’s a traditional hunting in this area. It’s a traditional with outdoor sports, whether it’s fishing, hunting, just as it is in many countries and that probably dates back along before the war, if your question is around to that way of asking are people keeping these weapons for self protection, the obvious answer is no, because they have come to the police and told us about them.
Q: What are Mr Steiner and Mr. Covic going to discuss about, what is in the agenda?
IzaK: Mr. Steiner will brief you on the issues that will have been discussed on the high ranking working group. High Ranking Working Group was created to discuss the issues which are included in the Common Document, so this is the general answer. If anybody needs or is curios to see what the common document says, we can give you copies afterwards.
Q: Do you think that there is a quite a large amount of issues that needs to be discussed.
IzaK: Indeed.
Q: But you don’t know about it?
IzaK: No I don’t. The exact agenda will be refined at the beginning of the meeting