UNMIK/PR/386

PRESS RELEASE - 10 October 2000

IAC to hold Special Session on Changes in Yugoslavia

PRISTINA---The Interim Administration Council today agreed to hold an extraordinary session on Friday to discuss the recent changes in the presidency of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Recently the IAC agreed to suspend its regular Friday meetings until after the 28 October municipal elections. However, IAC members today noted a need for further discussion of the  recent election of Vojislav Kostunica as FRY president and its possible impacts on Kosovo.

During the meeting Friday, the IAC will also continue discussion of the draft regulation on residential property claims and the rules of procedure of the Housing and Property Claims Commission.

Today PDSRSG Jock Covey presented the IAC with the draft regulation establishing the Administrative Department of Civil Security and Emergency Preparedness. The IAC also continued discussions on the draft regulation which would establish assistance for war invalids and next-of-kin of those who died as a result of armed conflict.

The IAC agreed to the proposal from UNMIK Pillar Two for a temporary and special cemetery in Suva Reka, where approximately 240 unidentified bodies exhumed by the International War Crimes Tribunal for forensic evidence could be re-buried. The site had been agreed to by the UNMIK Victims Recovery and Identification Commission, KFOR, the OSCE, ICTY and General Ceku.

Finally, the IAC bid farewell to Gen. Juan Ortuno whose tenure as commander of the KFOR forces ends in the coming week.