UNMIK-KFOR- Press Briefing: 2 Aug 2000
UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel
KFOR
Spokesman Major Craig Snow
Co-head for Department of Democratic
Governance and Civil Society, Vjosa Dobruna
Co-head for Department of
Democratic Governance and Civil Society, Robert Pulver
UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel
We are starting a series of briefings by the co-heads of administrative Departments, and today we have a briefing by Ms. Vojsa Dobruna and Mr. Robert Pulver, co-heads of Democratic Governance and Civil Society. They will follow our regular briefing.
Elections:
First a few words on Monday's briefing. I was asked if Kosovo Serbs had a right to participate in the Yugoslav elections. I told you that UNMIK had not yet developed a policy position on the issue. I said that the people of Kosovo have a right to participate in federal elections, but that we have not yet developed our policy on any voting or any elections, other than the municipal elections which UNMIK has organized for October.
I find it very disturbing that media here choose to provide such speculations and distortions as were printed in newspapers yesterday, specifically in Kosova Sot. The same newspaper, Kosova Sot, has complained that we spokespeople are boring. We try to answer your questions as best we can. However, it is the wild and misinterpretation of our remarks which will force us to be even more boring.
IAC
At the Interim Administrative Council the recent meeting at Airlie House outside Washington DC was discussed. The IAC members who attended the conference briefed the others on the conference activities and the declaration which emerged from it. PDSRSG Jock Covey congratulated them on them on the declaration. And the IAC discussed ways to follow up on the declaration.
Mr. Covey also briefed the IAC on Monday's meeting in Ankara between the Turkish Foreign Minister and SRSG Kouchner. The meeting concerned a discussion on the rights of the Turkish community in Kosovo and their participation in the interim political process. The IAC was informed that the discussions between UNMIK and the Turkish community had improved, and that in that context, UNMIK was studying the possibility of re-opening a few, select registration centres.
The IAC also endorsed the draft regulation on the administrative Department of Youth and they discussed the draft regulation on setting up the Department of Utilities. Technical discussions are continuing on that regulation, which will have another review by the IAC in the future.
KTC
The Kosovo Transitional Council, which is
meeting now, will also be discussing the same subject. In addition they
will discuss possible initiatives and proposed specific measures for each
non-Serb minority community. This follows from last week's KTC meeting on
Kosovo's communities. Dr. Kouchner plans to begin individual discussions
with representatives of each community next
week.
Power
On Friday, Kosovo B's Unit 2 will be closed for a four-month long overhaul. This will result in some power cuts over the weekend, as Kosovo B moves to restart its Unit 1. We will be holding a press tour of the Kosovo B plant on Friday afternoon to review the problem and the plans for repair. We will let you tomorrow the exact time. But it will be after the press briefing. Please contact EU spokeswoman Irene Mingasson.
Media House
On the Media House, The Kosovo Power Company has a recent increase in electrical bill payments from tenants of the Media House. This will mean the power will be turned back on. UNMIK with the help of the Kosovo Protection Corps is going to undertake a large scale removal of all garbage and fire hazards. Generators are to be removed and any other possible fire hazard. Following this, a second assessment by the fire marshal and engineers will take place to see what needs to be done in the most immediate sense. In the meantime we call on all tenants to take extra measures to prevent fire. It remains a very dangerous building.
Post Office
From the Post Office, as of yesterday, the Post and Telecommunications Company has begun to accept parcels for delivery around Kosovo. Parcels up to five kilograms can be accepted in the beginning. They are expected to begin international parcel service on 1 October.
Bus Service
A bus service has started from Pristina bus station and the Grand Hotel to the airport. Buses are regularly approximately every hour from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. This service began five days ago and will continue for a month to determine the real need.
Japanese Volunteers
Some 400 university students from Japan arrived in Kosovo to carry out programs of garbage removal and beautification (that is planting trees, bushes and flowers) in Pristina, Skenderaj and Glogovac, over the next three weeks. The project is sponsored by the NGO ADRA. The young Japanese visitors who are majoring in environmental issues, development studies or international relations, will be joined by young people from Kosovo. After some training sessions they'll begin work in Skenderaj on 8 August. Please contact
Ms. Mayumi Watabe for further information at ADRA, at phone number 500 560.
Mitrovica pollution
The French Ministry of Defence has drawn the attention of SRSG Bernard Kouchner to the high levels of lead pollution in the area of Mitrovica. Upon receiving this notification last week, Dr. Kouchner immediately formed a working group of international experts to assess the risk and to determine the public health measures which must be taken. This is a joint effort by both KFOR and UNMIK. When we receive the final results of the assessment, we will make that public along with our recommendations for action. The incidence of high lead levels in the atmosphere is not new to Mitrovica. It was documented in the 80s and 90s and we have been monitoring it since last year. However this report from the French Government which referred to a recent increase in the level of lead in the blood, which was beyond acceptable limits recognised in European countries.
Police:
In Podujevo yesterday at 8 p.m., AGIM VELIU, 40, a local LDK leader and deputy director of the Municipal Council was shot in his arm and back and was brought to the Pristina hospital. His condition is not life-threatening. An unknown suspect in a grey BMW is being sought. There is a press release outside.
A hand grenade was thrown at the Obilic Serbian refugee camp at 9:30 p.m. last night.
A 13 year old Kosovo Albanian girl was assaulted and beaten to death. This occurred at 18:30 yesterday in the village of LOSKOC near Klina. She was attacked by a group of local young people. UNMIK police are seeking a suspect.
.
KFOR Spokesman Major Craig
Snow
Security Measures
Further to the announcement made on Monday that KFOR has increased security along the eastern boundary due to escalation in violence and incidents in the Ground Safety Zone, in and around Dobrosin, we can confirm that the UCPMB has conducted harassment operations against local MUP units.
Specifically, there have been exchanges of mortar and small arms fire. We can also report that the UCPMB have improved their defensive positions around Dobrosin and that the MUP have extended their trench positions and checkpoints around the area of Konculj.
All incidents have taken place inside the Ground Safety Zone and KFOR has increased security measures in order to monitor the situation and to prevent these incidents spilling over into or originating from Kosovo in the future. KFOR has increased its surveillance, foot and mobile patrols and security checks at boundary crossing points, in particular at Checkpoint 65, which controls access into and out of the Dobrosin area. KFOR is determined to prevent any action that would make Kosovo a staging area for exporting violence.
The UCPMB is not recognized or supported by
KFOR and KFOR categorically denies that
any KFOR personnel have been
involved in any negotiations with the UCPMB. KFOR is committed to
ensuring stability in the region and building a safe and secure
environment for all the people of Kosovo.
The aim of KFOR’s efforts opposite Dobrosin is to prevent the situation escalating into a crisis that would destabilize and negate the progress made in Kosovo since the end of the conflict. All in Kosovo and southern Serbia must share with us the futility of violence and the necessity of working for a peaceful future.
Train-Auto Accident
An accident between the KFOR Train and a
civilian truck with three Kosovar Albanians occurred early yesterday
morning two kilometers north of Vushtrri / Vucitrn at a highway
crossing.
KFOR regrets that one of the passengers in the car was
killed. The other two passengers suffered injuries and were
evacuated to Vushtrii / Vucitrn. None of the 196 passengers on board
the train were injured.
Multi-National
Brigade North transported by vehicle the 196 stranded passengers as well
as 36 people waiting at Frasheri i Madh / Svinjare Station to their final
destination
Railway Maintenance
The Italian Military Maintenance Company from Bologna, Italy arrived earlier this week and will start working on the railway line in Fushe Kosove / Kosovo Polje, Prishtina / Pristina and Devet Jugovica / Nente Jugoviq fuel depot. The Company will replace approximately 18 kilometers of unsuitable railway tracks with standard European S49 tracks, replace sleepers, clean the line through Pristina and rework the line with new ballast. As a result, Pristina Station will become accessible for passenger and freight trains
Home Reconstruction
The KFOR CIMIC unit in Multi-National Brigade
South will supervise a reconstruction project by various aid organizations
who have agreed to reconstruct damaged homes.
The project,
which started yesterday and will run through the end of October, will
result in the reconstruction of more than 100 homes in several villages
and towns within Kosovo.
For more information contact the liaison from MNB (S).
Reminder: Media Opportunity
Celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Russian Airborne troops. The program includes a parade, hand-to-hand fighting demonstration, parachute jump, armament show and sports competitions. The celebration is at 3:00 p.m., 2 Aug. at the Russian Military Contingent Headquarters base near the Prishtina / Pristina airport.
Questions:
Q: Question for KFOR: if the Serb police or
military forces takes any kind of operation on the UCPMB or the local
population in the Ground Safety Zone, what will be KFOR’s
reaction?
Q: Question for UNMIK: OSCE said yesterday that the media
house would be closed, but so far as I understand from today you are not
going to close it. Does this mean that the electricity wires have been
repaired?
CS: As far as not knowing what actions you are talking about, our actions will be consistent with what we are doing and the KFOR policy. Our soldiers also have the inherent right to take actions for self-preservation. But I will not to talk about possible actions that I would not know will occur – I can not give you any guesswork.
SM: The payment of the bills means that the power can be turned back on. The fire marshal has determined that generators and the way they are wired are one of the main fire hazards. Then we do a total overhaul of garbage which includes getting rid of the generators. Then there’ll be another inspection by the fire marshal. I can’t say that the Media House is not going to close. We really appreciate the incredible hassle this is going to pose to the media there. We are going to do anything we can now to see if any part of the building can remain open during the other repairs, and search for money to do these other repairs. The Media House is not going to close today or tomorrow.
Q:
1. How frequent are the incidents
in the Presevo Valley and around Dobrosin, and can you evaluate if there
is a conflict situation, or that the zone only has a predisposition for
incidents?
2. Second, are you able to prevent any possible
massacre against the civilian population there?
3. Third, if no,
does that mean that KFOR doesn’t have a plan on how to react in a specific
situation?
CS: We simply don’t maintain that type of detailed information. These incidents are occurring more frequently, and the increased security measures that KFOR is implementing are a precautionary measure, and a direct result of these incidents. On the second we are talking about possibilities out there, and I would say that KFOR soldiers are doing everything they can, and that is part of why we are having the increased security measures, because we are very concerned.
Q: You are having increased security measures inside Kosova. Is KFOR able to prevent massacres in the Presevo Valley (Ground Safety Zone)?
CS: Right now we are doing this within Kosovo, and that is where we have to remain our focus, to do everything we can within Kosovo boundaries.
Q: Douglas Davidson has left Kosovo. When will you name a new media commissioner? In the meantime, can Mr. Covey and Mr. Kouchner sign an order to stop the Dita publication?
SM: We anticipate a new media commissioner to be named within two weeks, and in the meantime an “acting acting” media commissioner will be named in some days. Incidentally Dita has filed an appeal to the fine.
Q: Where is Dr. Kouchner?
SM: He’s on a couple of days of vacation.
Q: According to the Military Technical Agreement no military activity is supposed to happen in the Ground Safety Zone, and yet it is. The UCPMB and the Serb VJ and MUP forces are increasing their presence. How are you respecting the Kumanovo agreement?
CS: I would have to say that I need to become more familiar with that agreement, so I can’t give you an answer right now.
Q: Do you have a response to my question on Monday regarding the Russian KFOR troops and mines?
CS: KFOR Russians have not laid land mines around their checkpoint or camp. What they have done to increase security is using trip flares and signal devices. They have clearly not laid any land mines, nor would we allow them to.
Press Conference by the Department
of Democratic Governance and Civil Society
SM: I’d like to welcome Ms Vjosa Dobruna, she’s
the co-head of the Department of Democratic Governance and Civil Society
and Mr Robert Pulver. Most of you are familiar with Ms Dobruna; she is a
pediatrician and trauma care specialist. She founded and directs the
Centre for the Protection of Women and Children; this emphasises the
psychological needs of women and children who are victims of war crimes.
And earlier this year she was awarded the Jonathan Mann Award for Global
Human Rights. Welcome to the regular press briefing. Mr Robert Pulver is a
lawyer who has spent five years developing the rule of law in the Balkans.
He was Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo’s Rule of Law Division until
June. He helped establish the Ombudsperson institution here in Kosovo and
helped establish the Albanian Women’s Bar Association and its Legal
Aid Clinic also the Kosovo Law Centre, the Kosovo Judicial Institute, the
Office of the Legal Counselorand the OSCE Rule of Law Division. Welcome
and thank you very much for coming.
Can you tell us a bit about the
department.
VD: I don’t know, what’s the practice here?
SM: Unfortunately we normally brief in English
VD: Okay is everyone comfortable with that? I would like to respect languages. That’s one of our tasks in our department to monitor respect of all languages spoken in Kosovo. So I am a Kosovar co-head of the department called Democratic Governance and Civil Society and it’s one of 20 departments of of the new JIAS structures. Robert Pulver is international head of department. I will try to explain what the department is what is the concept of the department. I know I’m trying to anticipate your questions. I’m just right away trying to tell you our department has a task to develop the foundation for future democratic Kosova. So we are trying to work and we have already established three bureaux and two offices. The three bureaux work on our main – the human right policy bureau, equal opportunity bureau and democratic governance bureau. And two offices one with media and one with NGO development and support. So. Til now we have employed several staff members and we are working different issues and we are hoping to have completed our department with staff by the end of September. This is basically, simple explanation of what department is about.
RP: Let me just add a couple of things. We are just getting started. Our regulation was approved about two weeks ago and we’re doing a lot of administrative things to develop this department. But we have been active in a few substantive areas already. We are charged under Regulation 16 of UNMIK with providing advice to the UN registration office on the application of political parties for registration. We have been very active with that and that will consume us for the next couple of weeks probably. We’ve also been providing advice already on some of the draft regulations that are coming out through our various advisors mainly the human rights bureau and our equal opportunities bureau. We are also very involved already in the issue of trafficking of women. There’s a working group on the issue there’s a very early draft regulation on the issue and its possible that under that regulation we’ll play the central role in overseeing the implementation of the trafficking regulation. We really do as a department want to stress some things, as Vjosa pointed out we are working to establish a foundation for a future democratic Kosovo. It’s very important to us that things that happen now be done in a transparent a way as possible, in a way that includes Kosovars as much as possible. What we would really like to do is put the J in JIAS for jointness. So we see it move in that direction we think it’s important because the things that are done now will certainly be seen as models for what happens further down the road in Kosovo. This being said we really are advisors and supporters to the JIAS departments and the IAC and we also have the role of monitoring those departments. We want to be seen as advisors early in the process to promote the values of human rights equal opportunities, democratic governance etc.
Q: It’s a question for Vjosa or Mr Pulver or any of you can answer that. It’s about the working group on draft regulation on trafficking in women. I’m very interested to know more about that, even to have the draft regulation if it is possible. What’s the content of it and when can it be signed by Dr Kouchner what can be done to stop the trafficking of women in Kosovo or from Kosovo outside.
RP: we’re one of several partners in that working group. The side that’s been taking the lead in the drafting of the regulation has been the legal office of the SRSG. What is important is that there be a legal basis. We’re all aware women and children are brought across international boundaries, including the boundaries into Kosovo, for exploitation. And there needs to be specific legislation to address that situation and to hold criminally responsible perpetrators of that sort of crime.
VD: Linda, in this draft regulation, for the base is being used the former Yugoslav law and other laws that were acting in different countries. I’m not a lawyer but advisors for department told us that is one of the best draft regulations, and we hope to be signed very soon, that ever existed. It really has a very good human rights approach and our, really, duty of our department is to review in sense of how much complying from human rights perspective compliant with international law it is, and how much compliant for the situation in Kosova it is too. So this is the role of our department, reviewing and giving recommendation on that draf regulation. It is in the process. And up to now it is one of the best regulations that is made. And of course you can have it.
RP: As far as whether it’s available to the press at this stage or not I’d have to defer to the legal office of the SRSG as the main drafter of that and I don’t know if it’s been released or if it’s just a rough working copy. I don’t know.
Q: Question for Vjosa. Many Albanians are deported by force from the northern part of Mitrovica. I don’t want to speak on the human rights of this, but according to your regulation how do you protect them.
VD: Security issues are the issues of KFOR in Kosova and SRSG has pointed out to all of us in many occassions legally we just have started to work. Our approach was we were monitoring what’s going on in northern Mitrovica and not only in northern Mitrovica but in other parts of Kosova where issues of freedom of movement are being how to say, abused. Up to now in that sense we’ve been able to produce a paper in that direction. Just to let you know it’s a very very hard political issue and its in competence of KFOR and within UNMIK. We are searching to make a paper on that but not only about northern Mitrovica but other parts of Kosova too.
Q:in Albanian
VD: At the Media Advisory Board we have given our reccommendations in writing about what we think about Code of Conduct of press media. So it is a document there and we are actively participating in that advisory media board to give our opinion and recommendation about that. Up to now that regulation, that code of conduct is not signed so it is in the process too. But as much as I know from that, the Media Advisory Board in that code, many articles that were written from Association of Journalists of Kosova were included and that code of conduct has taken into consideration many code of conducts that are in function, acting, in different, I think 27 countries or something like that. So it’s in the process.
Q: Vjosa you’re talking about the Media Advisory Board. Does this Media Advisory Board really exist and if yes don’t you think it’s a kind of duplication of the role between Media Advisory Board and the Temporary Commissioner UNMIK commission Temporary for Media or something like that.
VD: No I don’t think it’s overlapping and Media Advisory Board has specific role and role to give advice and Interim Media Commission is something else and Media Advisory Board is functioning. I think the latest meeting we had was beginning of June so there were many many members of the Media Advisory Board, not all of course, I haven’t seen them all coming since March. But there was quorum there, to give a proper advice. But as I told you again that draft regulation is not adopted yet, that regulation’s not adopted yet and the Advisory Board has a chance to give proper advice and opinion of the department was adopting regulations and that’s why boards are made they’re supposed to be to have really approval at least of boards, that’s why boards are made to have consensus of members of board on the regulation that’s going to be adopted. And there was consensus that regulation its needed but there was no consensus of part of regulations.
RP: I would just add on that last point that its not, its certainly not a legal requisite that there be a consensus on that board because it’s an advisory board. Just to clarify.
SM: Thank you very much. We have a background paper on the department outside.