First Press Conference of SRSG Harri Holkeri
14 August 2003

SRSG Harri Holkeri made the following statement:

My pleasure at coming to Kosovo has been overshadowed by the terrible events near Gorazdevac. I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of the victims of yesterday's senseless violence. We will do everything to bring the perpetrators to justice.

I can inform you that this morning eastern US time, UN Security Council has got a briefing on this.

Before coming here I have had meetings with officials from the UN, the US and the EU and all the permanent members of the Security Council. I will continue the meetings with international representatives in the foreseeable future in Europe, for instance in Brussels. I am very grateful for the assurances of full support from all the leaders I have met.

Today I met Kosovo leaders. We had very constructive discussions. But one thing I liked to underline is the responsibility of Kosovo leaders to work with UNMIK to combat inter-ethnic violence.

I told the leaders that I would be completely transparent in my work. That means that my programme is available, where I go here in Kosovo, who I am going to meet. My programme will be available to you and to the public.

I declare that I would have open cooperation with all communities and I am committed to working with them. But being open, I will not be influenced by other people's agendas or criticism.

I am responsible to the UN Security Council and the Secretary General. I do not want to be co-governed by others. Of course I will work with my colleagues in UNMIK and I am very happy having met such professional people and am looking forward to working with them. I have been briefed already by senior UNMIK staff, which means I continue to work on the mandate as dictated by UNSCR 1244.

I can assure you that after all these briefings I have had that the commitment of international community to Kosovo has not diminished even though there are couple of other challenges around the world.

I see certain questions as key issues for Kosovo.

We have to strengthen rule of law and enhance fight against organised crime and terrorism or extremist activities.

Yesterday's event strengthened our determination to support returns, it strengthened our determination.

Further development of democratic and multi-ethnic judiciary, police and Provisional Institutions is a priority.

We will work to promote multi-ethnicity, dialogue and integration. We welcome the appeal by political leaders for return of all IDPs.

We will work to bring Kosovo closer to international and European standards.

We will promote economic development and development of a free-market economy.

And finally we will follow-up on commitments made at Thessaloniki summit to initiate direct Belgrade/Pristina dialogue on practical issues of mutual interest.
So I promise to be transparent and publish my programme. You will get my programme in written form when I come back in a week. Since I have jumped on to a saddle of a galloping horse, I have to cancel my previous commitment. I will be here perhaps sometimes after one week or so. I am trying to settle down here. It will happen gradually by as soon as possible. As I already announced I am going to be a Pristina citizen very soon. Of course I cannot give up my Finish citizenship. My family lives in Helsinki but my home town will be Pristina soon.

Questions

Q: If you could elaborate that you are not going to tolerate any meddling on issues of co-governance. Who are you referring to and what sort of co-governance you are speaking about?
SRSG Holkeri: My mandate comes from the Security Council resolution and I am going to work on that. That is my guidance. Whatever is said elsewhere, the guidance comes from that resolution, inline with the framework document. That's my only alternative.
Q: How would you describe your future relations with Serbia, Belgrade? You are traveling there tomorrow. What will you be telling the Serb leaders?
SRSG Holkeri: Well. I gave my message today to the political leaders of Kosovo. My message will exactly be the same, exactly the same message.
Q: Mr Holkeri three of your predecessors promised to us that those who committed numerous crimes against the Serbs will be brought to justice. You promised the same thing today. Do you think your mission will end in a different way compared to your predecessors? Will only the perpetrators of this crime be brought to justice?
SRSG Holkeri: First I regard very highly the work of my predecessors. They have done quite a lot. But much remains to be done. As far as the perpetrators are concerned, in this case or the previous ones, I have got the report that the investigations are going and progress has been made. But we need commitment of all political leaders of Kosovo and elsewhere and I appeal to the public to the ordinary people to stop this barbarism immediately. It depends on the cooperation of different institutions and man on the street can play a very key role in this respect.
Q: About the dialogue when the dialogue with Serbia will start and do you think during your mandate talks on final status will start?
SRSG Holkeri: Since I have not met the representatives of Serbia yet, I cannot give any estimates. But as far as my intentions are concerned, we will follow the signal which was given to us from Thessaloniki and the sooner the better we will start the dialogue. But I think you will be back with this question at a later stage when we know a little more.
Q: Mr. Holkeri, what about the standards before status policy. Will continue with it?
SRSG Holkeri: Certainly, yes.
Q: Is it your purpose to be the last chief of the UN administration in Kosovo?
SRSG Holkeri: Two things. First of all, I am eager to be with in fulfillment of the mission. But it doesn't depend only on my decision and I am not, if I have lifetime ahead, I am not going to stay here for ever, for the rest of my life. But there is a general hope that the mission can be completed as soon as possible and I am working on that.
Q: What are your first impressions of Kosovo?
SRSG Holkeri: After having seen quite a lot on TV and newspapers concerning the conditions the conditions and challenges in this area, the first impression from the window of a car was somewhat positive. It was better than I expected. Maybe too much information has been given on problematic things, this is a beautiful city with plenty of active people but I am fully aware that Kosovo has a huge economic challenge and that is where we have to work, we have to do something in order to create the economic development because the shadows of poverty are always present everywhere on the earth where conflict exists. Thanks you very much. See you later, hopefully you will be adjusted in my programme.