UNMIK/PR/22

Press Release

31 July 1999

PRISTINA - Bernard Kouchner, Special Representative of the Secretary General and head of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, announced today that the UNMIK administered Customs Service had become operational.

Customs control is an essential part in the economic recovery process of Kosovo. Commercial traffic is now being requested to provide relevant information on trade flows into Kosovo, which will eventually serve as a basis for determining how future customs duties will be levied.

The restoration of customs services in Kosovo has begun under UNMIK overall supervision. United Nations International Police officers have been deployed at two border posts at the Macedonia frontier in Hani i Elezit/Djeneral Jankovic and Glloboçic?/Glabocica and two border posts at the Albania frontier in Qafa e Prushit/Cafa Prusit and V?rmic?/Vrbnica. About 3,000 trucks were checked at Hani i Elezit/Djeneral Jankovic today.
 
This is the first step towards the re-establishment of a fully operational customs service that will contribute to the generation of revenue and to prevent the proliferation of a black market. In addition, customs services will contribute to the protection of public health and safety and ensure the control of hazardous goods.

The re-establishment of the Customs Service is an essential pre-requisite for protecting the interests of the people of Kosovo and for generating revenue for the budget that will support its administration.