UNMIK/PR/76

Press Release

21 October, 1999

UNMIK Outraged at Attack on Serb Staff Member

PRISTINA-UNMIK’s Special Representative of the Secretary General, Bernard Kouchner reacted with outrage at last evening’s attack on an UNMIK local staff member in Gnjilane in southeastern Kosovo.

A Serbian interpreter working in the office of UNMIK Regional Administrator for Gnjilane, Richard Heaslip was seriously injured when a grenade was thrown into her apartment last evening as she sat watching television with her aunt.

"This deplorable attack on innocent women and on an UNMIK staff member deserves the world’s condemnation," said Dr. Kouchner. "It was a cowardly and disgusting act by criminals whom we will pursue relentlessly."

The interpreter had already been subject to harassment in her home town of Gnjilane. Last month, when she returned from visiting a relative, she found an Albanian family had seized and occupied her apartment. UNMIK and KFOR ultimately returned the apartment to her, but she later moved elsewhere, perceiving the locale as unsafe.

The interpreter received fragmentation injuries to her head and a broken nose. Her aunt sustained minor injuries and is suffering from shock. Both are expected to survive.

KFOR and UNMIK escorted both women and the interpreter’s brother to the Serbian border in order to pursue medical treatment outside Kosovo.

Regional Administrator Heaslip also expressed his shock and horror at the attack on his staff member.
UNMIK Police and UN Security are undertaking a full investigation of the incidents.