UNMIK/PR/393

PRESS RELEASE - 17 October 2000

IAC Endorses Department of Civil Security and Emergency Planning

Pristina--The Interim Administrative Council today endorsed a draft regulation, which would set up the Administrative Department of Civil Security and Emergency Planning.

The department has already been functioning under co-heads Roland Nilsson and Bislim Zyrapi, however its exact role and functions had not yet been codified.

The IAC also endorsed a draft regulation, which would amend the UNMIK regulation on the applicable law in Kosovo. With the passage of that regulation (24/1999), the death penalty had been removed as a possible sanction available to the judiciary in Kosovo. However, until now, no other sentence had been stipulated for the most extreme crimes, and the maximum prison sentence under the applicable law has been 15 years. The draft regulation endorsed today would extend the maximum sentence to 40 years in prison.

Also discussed today was the draft regulation on assistance to war invalids and the next-of-kin of those who died as a result of the armed conflict in Kosovo.

DSRSG Daan Everts gave an update on preparations for the 28 October elections.