UNMIK/PR/437
PRESS RELEASE - 5 December 2000

IAC Briefed About Presevo Situation

PRISTINA---The LDK leader, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova today briefed IAC about the Athens conference last week. He termed the conference successful in the sense of starting a dialogue between the Albanian and the Serb leadership. However, Dr. Rugova felt that a dialogue with Belgrade could wait a little at least until democracy is strengthened in Kosdovo and the Belgrade leadership has the time to consolidate its position.

The conference, 'Albanians as Majorities and Minorities, A Regional Dialogue', was attended by SRSG Dr. Bernard Kouchner, Dr. Rugova himself, PDK leader, Mr. Hashim Thaci and many other Albanian and Serbian leaders.

COMKFOR Lt. General Carlo Cabigiosu briefed the IAC about the situation in Kosovo, in general and in Presevo Valley, in particular. He detailed the steps taken by KFOR in the area along that boundary and said the situation was calm now. According to the UNHCR figures, about 600 people have returned to their homes in the Presevo Valley.

DSRSG Andy Bearpark briefed the members about the three draft regulations before IAC. These are: the draft regulations on foreign investment, business organisation and the sale of goods. These regulations will be discussed in detail next week again.

SRSG Dr. Kouchner also broached the idea of a demonstration against violence and killings in Kosovo.
 
IAC was also briefed about Budget 2001 by head of the CFA, Mr. Alan Preston-Stanley. IAC will take up the budget for final discussion in its meeting next Tuesday. Next year, Mr. Preston-Stanley said they expect to generate DM 330 million in Kosovo thus relying much less on the donors. Besides, while there wouldn't be many more public service employees next year, there would be a lot more expenditure on goods and services. For instance, he said, it would mean more science equipment and textbooks for the students or more food for patients and improvement in the facilities that they would be using in the hospitals or more maintenance of roads.