UNMIK/PR/44

PRESS RELEASE

September 1999

Kouchner Meets in Moscow with Ivanov

SRSG Bernard Kouchner was in Moscow yesterday where he met for two-and-a- half hours with Foreign Minister Ivanov of the Russian Federation. The talks, which were frank and lively, focussed on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1244. Within that context, they discussed a broad range of issues of mutual interest including the protection of ethnic groups in Kosovo, particularly the Serbs, and the necessity to speed up the reconciliation process. The issues of sovereignty and demilitarization were also evoked. The Russian Foreign Minister reiterated his support for UNMIK.
 
At the subsequent press conference, the SRSG, in answer to a question on Russia’s reaction to the transformation of the KLA, stated that responsibility for the demilitarization of the KLA lay with KFOR, not UNMIK.

"On 19 September", said Dr Kouchner, "I hope that in Kosovo no one will be wearing uniforms or bearing arms other than KFOR and the United Nations International Police. I also expect that UNMIK will be making proposals during a two-month period of transition which will lead to the transformation of the KLA into a purely Civilian Defense Corps. This Corps which may be called the `Kosovo Corps’, would be similar to those existing in other European countries, such as the `Securit civile’ in France."

Dr. Kouchner  noted that last week the Security Council had given its unanimous support to UNMIK and that Foreign Minister Ivanov during his talks with the SRSG had cautiously supported demilitarization. Elaborating on the civilian corps, Dr. Kouchner stated that it could be composed of reconstruction, fire and environmental brigades, which would be the responsibility of UNMIK’s Civil Administration. He stressed however that KFOR would remain in charge of supervising this operation to ensure that it would not be transformed into an army.
 
To a question regarding the departure of Serbs from Kosovo and the problem of their protection, Dr. Kouchner said that the security and protection of all ethnic minorities were constant preoccupations. He pointed out that there were approximately 45,000 KFOR troops and 1,200 international police in Kosovo; 47 judges and prosecutors had been appointed as well as five appellate court judges. "Although many Serbs have left and it may be a while before they come back", said Dr. Kouchner, "I  hope that they will return at a later stage." He also recalled that in New York last week, he had asked the international community to double the capacity of the international police to 6,000. He noted, however, that even that number would not be enough to stop the intensity of hatred that had accumulated over the years from spilling over into violence and crime. Dr. Kouchner felt that it would take time, not police--as well as jobs, employment and development-- to change mentalities and attitudes in Kosovo. That, he said, was the immense task of UNMIK.

Today near Frankfurt, Germany, the SRSG briefed the KFOR Leader Training Conference on the UN Mission in Kosovo. The purpose of the conference was to give  key personnel among officers replacing General Jackson’s team in Pristina the necessary orientation and background for their upcoming task. The new team will be under the command of General Klaus Reinhardt of Germany.UNMIK/PR/44

PRESS RELEASE

September 1999

Kouchner Meets in Moscow with Ivanov

SRSG Bernard Kouchner was in Moscow yesterday where he met for two-and-a- half hours with Foreign Minister Ivanov of the Russian Federation. The talks, which were frank and lively, focussed on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1244. Within that context, they discussed a broad range of issues of mutual interest including the protection of ethnic groups in Kosovo, particularly the Serbs, and the necessity to speed up the reconciliation process. The issues of sovereignty and demilitarization were also evoked. The Russian Foreign Minister reiterated his support for UNMIK.
 
At the subsequent press conference, the SRSG, in answer to a question on Russia’s reaction to the transformation of the KLA, stated that responsibility for the demilitarization of the KLA lay with KFOR, not UNMIK.

"On 19 September", said Dr Kouchner, "I hope that in Kosovo no one will be wearing uniforms or bearing arms other than KFOR and the United Nations International Police. I also expect that UNMIK will be making proposals during a two-month period of transition which will lead to the transformation of the KLA into a purely Civilian Defense Corps. This Corps which may be called the `Kosovo Corps’, would be similar to those existing in other European countries, such as the `Securit civile’ in France."

Dr. Kouchner  noted that last week the Security Council had given its unanimous support to UNMIK and that Foreign Minister Ivanov during his talks with the SRSG had cautiously supported demilitarization. Elaborating on the civilian corps, Dr. Kouchner stated that it could be composed of reconstruction, fire and environmental brigades, which would be the responsibility of UNMIK’s Civil Administration. He stressed however that KFOR would remain in charge of supervising this operation to ensure that it would not be transformed into an army.
 
To a question regarding the departure of Serbs from Kosovo and the problem of their protection, Dr. Kouchner said that the security and protection of all ethnic minorities were constant preoccupations. He pointed out that there were approximately 45,000 KFOR troops and 1,200 international police in Kosovo; 47 judges and prosecutors had been appointed as well as five appellate court judges. "Although many Serbs have left and it may be a while before they come back", said Dr. Kouchner, "I  hope that they will return at a later stage." He also recalled that in New York last week, he had asked the international community to double the capacity of the international police to 6,000. He noted, however, that even that number would not be enough to stop the intensity of hatred that had accumulated over the years from spilling over into violence and crime. Dr. Kouchner felt that it would take time, not police--as well as jobs, employment and development-- to change mentalities and attitudes in Kosovo. That, he said, was the immense task of UNMIK.

Today near Frankfurt, Germany, the SRSG briefed the KFOR Leader Training Conference on the UN Mission in Kosovo. The purpose of the conference was to give  key personnel among officers replacing General Jackson’s team in Pristina the necessary orientation and background for their upcoming task. The new team will be under the command of General Klaus Reinhardt of Germany.