UNMIK/PR/38

PRESS RELEASE

1 September 1999

UNMIK Launches New Customs Service

PRISTINA-The UNMIK Customs Service will begin collecting duties on goods imported into Kosovo on  3 September, under a new regulation signed into law yesterday by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Bernard Kouchner.

Dr. Kouchner, will officially open the UNMIK Customs Service at the Hani I Elezit/Djeneral Jankovic border crossing point with Macedonia on Friday at 1 p.m.

The new regulation, number 1999/3, which went into force today, basically amends the previous customs law. It applies only to Kosovo;  and it directs all customs revenues to be allocated to the Kosovo budget.

UNMIK has appointed 40 customs officers from Kosovo, all with previous customs experience, who will run three authorized international border crossing points  on the Kosovo border with Macedonia and Albania. Other crossing points at Vermice/Vrbnica and Globocice/Globocica will open later this month. Kouchner has also named a Director-General of Customs Services.

The new regulation establishes customs rates, excise duties and a sales tax on imported goods for the transitional period in which UNMIK holds executive authority in Kosovo. Fees will be collected in Deutsche Marks and deposited in the Public Payment Service in Kosovo. The UNMIK Customs Service will be the sole institution in Kosovo with authority to perform customs functions.