UNMIK/PR/16

Press Release

24 July 1999

NO BANK DEAL APPROVED BY UNMIK

PRISTINA - Reports from Belgrade that a Yugoslav bank has signed an agreement with the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo are false.

A news wire report on 21 July claimed that the company, Komercijalna Banka, had signed a deal to provide banking services in Kosovo. While UNMIK officials have met with several banks to discuss possible services, including Komercijalna Banka, no agreement has been reached.

UNMIK Spokesman Kevin Kennedy said the story had originated with the bank in Belgrade and was then picked up by wire services.

The story is untrue and it is unfortunate that the news service had not checked with UNMIK before publishing the story, he said. There is no agreement with Komercijalna Banka.