UNMIK/PR/78

Press Release

22 October 1999

SRSG Kouchner meets with NATO Chief

PRISTINA - Bernard Kouchner, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, met today at KFOR Headquarters with NATO Secretary-General, Lord George Robertson, who was on a one-day visit to Kosovo. Lord Robertson was accompanied by 19 ambassadors of the NATO countries as well as the Chairman of the Council’s military committee and the Supreme Allied Commander.

Dr. Kouchner first chaired a meeting of the representatives of the Kosovo Transitional Council including the political parties and the leaders of the ethnic communities. Bishop Artemije, leader of the Serb community, was also present.  There was an exchange of views between the group and the NATO delegation on all aspects of the situation in Kosovo.

Following a lunch with the recently appointed SG of the North Atlantic Council, the SRSG and KFOR Commander, General Klaus Reinhardt, briefed the visiting delegation. Dr Kouchner outlined the political situation in Kosovo, the security problem in the territory, the progress achieved so far by UNMIK, the Kosovo Protection Corps and the issue of elections.  Dr. Kouchner also raised the issue of the need for financial commitment by governments to ensure the success of the peace process and the UNMIK operation.

On this last point, Dr. Kouchner was asked at a follow-up press conference whether he was satisfied with the level of funding being received for the mission.      

"No, I’m not satisfied at all. We need money. Without enough money it is impossible - to build or re-build the administration, to run elections, to face not only the coming winter but the rest of the rehabilitation and the re-building."

Kouchner added that, "We have a lot of promises, pledged money, but we don’t have the resources to pay stipends, not even salaries, for the people coming back to work. By the middle of December we will be without money. The United Nations involvement is nothing without the support of the other nations," he said.