UNMIK/PR/29

PRESS RELEASE

20 August, 1999

Kosovo Transitional Council to Meet Saturday

PRISTINA-The Kosovo Transitional Council will hold its second meeting on Saturday, 21 August, at 1500 hours at UNMIK HQ.

Chaired by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Bernard Kouchner, the KTC is the highest political consultative body under the United Nations Interim Administration, which holds executive authority in Kosovo. The KTC acts as a forum for  major political parties and ethnic groups and a venue for their direct input into decision-making on the major issues facing Kosovo.

The composition of Saturday’s meeting is expected to be the same as at the previous, inaugural meeting on 16 July, with the addition of Kosovo Democratic League President Ibrahim Rugova and another, as-yet-to-be-named LDK member.

Other participants are to include Hashim Thaci, Head of the Political Directorate of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) and Xhavit Haliti, Member of the UCK Political Directorate; Rexhep Qosja, United Democratic Movement (LBD) President and LBD Secretary-General Mehmet Hajrizi; and independents Veton Surroi and Blerim Shala. Representing Kosovo Serbs will be Bishop Artemije of the Raska and Prizren Orthodox Church and Momcilo Trajkovic of the Serbian Resistance Movement. Also expected are Numan Balic, a Bosniak and President of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) as well as Sezair Shaipi, President of the Turkish People’s Party.  Observers will include KFOR Commander Gen. Mike Jackson and the UNMIK Deputy SRSG’s.

Saturday’s agenda will be a follow-up to some of the issues addressed at the previous meeting, such as the security situation. The question of economics and reconstruction will also be discussed, as well as of course the future work of the  Council.

At the last meeting, the Council discussed security, judiciary and media as well as the creation of the Kosovo Police Service.