UNMIK/PR/31

Press Release

21 August, 1999

Security, Reconstruction Discussed in Transitional Council

PRISTINA -- The Kosovo Transitional Council considered issues of security, economics, reconstruction and its future work during its second meeting held today at UNMIK Headquarters. The Group also decided to increase the frequency of its meetings to once a week.

"It was a very interesting and I think useful meeting," said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Bernard Kouchner, who chaired the meeting. "Everyone spoke on concrete measures -- there was real movement, a real exchange of views."

The Council, which first met on 16 July, is the highest political consultative body under the United Nations Interim Administration. It 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.

During the meeting, Dr. Kouchner proposed a number of initiatives to bring normalcy and unity to Kosovo as well as increase the involvement of Kosovars in rebuilding the province. Among them, he suggested organizing young people to go out to destroyed areas to rebuild houses and repair damage. "We have the money, we have the technicians -- we need their hard work, their good will," he said.

On the issue of security, Dr. Kouchner said a number of views were expressed and UNMIK was considering many different proposals on the matter. Together with KFOR, there were also attempts to identify problem areas and to station more police in those places.

Dr. Kouchner cautioned, however, that there would be no quick-fixes to security problems. "Please don’t believe that confidence and good will would come in just days or weeks," he said. "There is a fantastic density of hatred here, but the answer is not the police, the answer is not soldiers, the answer is development, peace, democracy, the answer is jobs for young people."

Asked about a proposal by Serbian Resistance Movement leader Momcilo Trajkovic cantonization" of Kosovo Serbs, Dr. Kouchner said:

"We received a paper today from Mr. Trajkovic on cantonization, I’m not in favour of it, but we must consider and study all the propositions on protection. But believe me, the police and the army are working very hard and they are patrolling, and controlling. They are doing what they can do, nothing more. If there are other ideas we must consider them."

Participating in today's meeting were: Ibrahim Rugova, Kosovo Democratic League (LDK) President; Bilal Sherif, member of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) Political Directorate; Rexhep Qosja, United Democratic Movement (LBD) President; and Mehmet Hajrizi, LBD Secretary-General. Independents were Veton Surroi and Blerim Shala. Representing Kosovo Serbs was Bishop Artemije of the Raska and Prizren Orthodox Church and Momcilo Trajkovic of the Serbian Resistance Movement. Also attending were Numan Balic, a Bosniak and President of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA) and Sezair Shaipi, President of the Turkish People’s Party.  Observers included KFOR Commander Gen. Mike Jackson and the UNMIK Deputy SRSG’s.

The next meeting of the Council is scheduled for Wednesday, 25 August, at 10 a.m.