UNMIK/PR/446

PRESS RELEASE - 14 December 2000

KTC Discusses Expansion Plans
 
PRISTINA---The Kosovo Transitional Council was yesterday informed about the proposed expansion of the KTC with new members from a number of Albanian and minority political parties being inducted next week.

PDSRSG Mr. Jock Covey, who chaired the KTC meeting today, said that the expansion would take place to broaden the political, religious and ethnic representation of the KTC. This expansion would include all those parties which received a minimum number of votes in October's municipal elections.  Among the parties which won seats in the October elections were the Bosniac BSDAK and the Ashkali PDASHK. The Turkish Democratic Union will also be invited to join the KTC. Additionally, Mr. Covey stated, they will look for ways to find representation for the Egyptian and Gorani communities. With the resignation of Father Sava, the Serb representation will also be re-examined.

A debate ensued among the members on the entry of the new members. Responding to the debate, Mr. Covey said that the representation of the minorities has been a complicated issue and that debate goes on. "The KTC is a consultative forum based on inclusion and consultation, where many voices can be heard. We wish to encourage a diversity of representation".

The KTC also discussed the issue of ID cards and travel documents. DSRSG Mr. Tom Koenigs told the members that the distribution of the ID cards and consequently, the travel documents had been delayed because of technical problems in data entry. He said that the distribution of some 34,000 cards should begin this month.

The KTC was also briefed about the Kosovo Albanian prisoners in Serbia by Ms. Maria Elena Andreotti. She said the Belgrade authorities had started moving prisoners from Pozarevac and Nis prisons to other detention centres with better conditions. She also gave information about some detainees who were sick and the action taken by the Belgrade authorities for their medical treatment.

Mr. Covey informed the KTC about the visit of SRSG Dr. Bernard Kouchner to Paris, Strasbourg and Brussels, where he has been having meetings to raise funds for Kosovo and to streamline ID card distribution, among other things. He also reminded them of the announcement by Secretary General Kofi Annan of Dr. Kouchner's successor, Mr. Hans Haekkerup, the Danish defence minister. He urged the members to help enlist grassroots support for the march against killing, proposed to be held on 12 January.