UNMIK Press Briefing: 04 December 2000
UNMIK Spokeswoman Claire Trevena
KFOR
Spokesman Major Fl. Lt. Mark Whitty
UNMIK Police Spokesman Dmitry
Kaportsev
UNMIK Spokeswoman Claire Trevena
Regulation 2000/62
The SRSG has signed a new regulation for public
safety and order. The order - Regulation 2000/62 - allows the relevant law
enforcement agency, whether it's KFOR or police, to require that a person
stay away from an area if it is deemed he or she is likely to disturb
public peace and order. These people can be excluded from a defined
geographical area for up to 30 days. And if they breach the order, they
can face up to two months imprisonment. The individual can ask for a
review of the order and that would be brought in front of an international
judge.
This new regulation essentially bolsters Regulation 2, issued
last year. That Regulation allowed for the removal of an individual if
they were deemed to be a threat to public order, but had no judicial
process involved. Now, if a person breaches an exclusion order, one can
face a penalty.
There'll be a press release on this later today.
Disability Task Force
The first meeting of the disability task force is
taking place today. This was set up under the auspices of the Social
Welfare section of the Health Department and aims to ensure that issues
relating to the disabled are taken into account in all policy planning. It
wants to produce a white paper on a disability strategy for Kosovo by next
summer.
There'll be a press release on this later today.
Housing Property Directorate
The Housing and Property Directorate has started serving notice on occupants of apartments in response to the more than 800 claims which have been made. People occupying the property against which claims have been made are given written notification of the claims. A list of properties is also posted at the offices of the Housing and Property directorate. This follows the recent signing by the SRSG, Dr Kouchner, of regulation 2000/60 on the rules for dealing with property claims. A person notified of a claim against the apartment they occupy has the right to answer the claims and take part in proceedings relating to the claims.
Domestic Violence
The Kosovo Judicial Institute in co-operation with the Department for Democratic Governance and Civil Society, the Council of Europe and the Kosovo Police Services School is holding a 3-day symposium on domestic violence in Kosovo. International and local experts are making presentations. The next two days will be devoted to training for members of the Kosovo Police Service. It's the first time that police in Kosovo will have had training on such an issue. Officers will follow through the role of the police in investigating such crimes. That conference is on at the Grand Hotel starting today until Wednesday. The media are welcome to observe the proceedings.
Youth Project
The Department of Youth, along with Pristina municipality and the Catholic Relief Service (CRS) is assisting Pristina University students. Under the project, 33 students receive each 100 Deutsche Mark a month to cover living expenses. In return, the student should do 4 hours community service a week. It is an effort by the Department of Youth to encourage a sense of community and a spirit of volunteerism. Organisations who want to use students in this way should contact the Department.
TMC
The Temporary Media Commissioner, Simon Hazelock, is holding a press briefing at 3 o'clock today. He'll be discussing the issuing of TV licences and the decision on Bota Sot. That's at the media chalet. There's an OSCE press release on this outside.
SRSG
Tomorrow, at 2 PM, the SRSG, Dr Bernard Kouchner, will be at the re-opening of the Kosovo B2 power plant. As you know, it's undergone a major overhaul over the last four months, which has cost 80 million-DM. The unit will produce approximately 250 megawatts a day - about a third of the daily needs through winter. If you want to attend the re-opening you should contact François in the press office. A bus will be leaving at 1.30 from the auditorium entrance.
KFOR Spokesman Major Fl. Lt. Mark Whitty
Yesterday afternoon, two K-Albanian men died as a result of a traffic accident, north of the town of Obilic. The driver, involved in the accident, was driving north of the town in a heavy fog when he attempted to cross the railway tracks in front of an oncoming KFOR passenger train. The driver of the train, which was travelling at less than 40 kilometres per hour was unable to stop in time to avoid hitting the car. Both driver and passenger died as result of the collision. Speaking about the death of the two men, KFOR Commander, Lt. General Carlo Cabigioso said: "I extend my deep sympathies to the families of the victims for the great loss. We sincerely regret this tragic accident". The accident is under investigation.
Two media opportunities: There will be a meeting between General Cabigioso and General Ceku tomorrow at HQ, Main at 1:15PM. There will be a media opportunity. Interested media are requested to contact media OPS after this press conference for further details and transport. In MNB South on Thursday 7 December, at 10:00AM, the Commander of KFOR, Lt. General Carlo Cabigioso and the Deputy Commander of the German Army, Major General Dieter Henninger will pass command of the MNB (S) from Brigadier General Fritz von Korff to Brigadier General Wolf-Dieter Langheld. The change of Command will take place at Camp Progress in Prizren. Media representatives are cordially invited to attend this event. There will be a helicopter shuttle to Prizren. Journalists are invited to sign up the helicopter shuttle on a list posted on information board next to media OPS 2.
UNMIK Police Spokesman Dmitry Kaportsev
The UNMIK Police Traffic Enforcement Section recorded the following statistics from 25 November to 2 December of this year, which is less than 90 days: 58 fatal accidents, 460 injury accidents, and 1624 non-injury accidents, which is a total of 2142 accidents. Note that some of the fatal accidents and many of the injury accidents had more than one victim. So the number of casualties is greater than the number of accidents. These statistics represent an ongoing tragedy in Kosovo, and wintertime - when accidents usually increase - is not here yet. UNMIK Police officers are on the road to enforce the laws but it is up to the drivers to practice road safety. As winter weather is quickly approaching, we encourage the people of Kosovo and all internationals to drive more carefully, to reduce the speed and to use seatbelts.
I would like to inform you about an initiative of the German contingent of UNMIK Police. The 350 German officers decided to renovate, rebuild and expand two schools in the province, one Serbian and one Albanian. Since August, the contingent members have raised a total of 130,000DM from personal donations and through fund raising from Kosovo and German business. In the village of Orllane, this money has been used to rebuild an Albanian school, repairing structural damage, installing a roof and 65 news windows. In Caglavica, a Serbian school serving 120 primary schools pupils has been rebuilt and expanded, with the provision of two classrooms. Prior to this work, the students were crowded into small rooms and, because of overcrowding, had to be taught in three shifts.
Overview
The weekly crime index indicates that the number
of major crimes has decreased as compared to the previous week. There were
four murders reported in comparison to five last week. The murders
occurred in Pristina (1), Pec (3). The victims were Kosovar Albanians.
Sixteen attempted murders occurred, nine in Pristina, one in Gnjiliane,
two in Prizren and one in Mitrovica. Six cases were reported last week.
Victims were fourteen Kosovar Albanians, one Bosniac and one is classified
in "others".
Twelve aggravated assaults occurred this week, eleven last
week. During the week, three kidnappings were reported and the facts
occurred in Pristina (2), in Pec (1) - as compared to six cases least
week. The victims were three Kosovars Albanians.
A total of 122 persons
were arrested during the week and are as follows: 69 arrests in Pristina,
13 in Pec, 9 in Mitrovica, 11 in Prizren and 20 in Gnjiliane region. There
were thirty-four arrests reported for major crimes: 12 for murder, 6 for
kidnapping, one for arson, nine for attempted murders and 6 for grievous
assault.
An overview of the total crime activity in Kosovo indicates
that crimes have decreased to 437 cases this week from 555 cases last
week. Intimidation cases and assaults are still at the same high level
such as all thefts cases.
Several high profile, recent incidents have
given the people the impression that crime is increasing in Kosovo.
However, as you can see from the statistics, the opposite is
true.
Questions
Q: Was there any specific reason that you can mention to us for issuing this new regulation?
CT: It was just to give the other one more teeth. The previous regulation had no judicial backing in it. There was essentially no punishment if somebody did break the exclusion order. It was deemed necessary to put more judicial authority to it. So now, if somebody does break the exclusion order, they can end up going to court and facing 30 days in prison.
Q: Is it confirmed that Mr. Kouchner is leaving
and if he is leaving, when and who is coming?
CT: As
everybody knows, the SRSG told Kofi Annan when he was at he Security
Council that he saw the municipal election as a very good marking point
and after the municipal elections, he would be ready to leave. But he is
not going to leave until his successor has been found and up to this
point, his successor has not yet been found. Therefore we have no dates
for when he leaves.
Q: Is the Saturday gunshots from Grand Hotel is somewhat related to stabbing of the girl few days before?
Police: We cannot comment on an ongoing investigation too much, but, yes, affirmative there is.
Q: UNMIK Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the Berisha case. Did you release them? Are these people the brothers of the girl that was stabbed?
Police: As I already said, we can't comment on an ongoing investigation. We have now three suspects being questioned by Police for the last case of shooting at the Grand Hotel. This I can confirm. They are not released yet.
Q: inaudible
Police: As I told you, we cannot release any information on who shot whom unless it will be found by investigation and unless that we've proved it. We have three suspects in the case: that I confirm.
Q: Until when the border with the Presevo valley will be closed? We need to know this because the refugees who came in Kosovo need to go back home.
KFOR: The only border crossing point that is closed at the moment is checkpoint 65, opposite Dobrosin. All the other border points are open. However, as a security measure, we are stopping and questioning males, aged between the age of 18 and 35. If, for any reason, we suspect that their motives for returning are not appropriate, we will not allow them access.
Q: In the Checkpoint in Kocul also?
KFOR: As far as I am aware, it is open. The only checkpoint that we have closed - except for humanitarian aid - is checkpoint 65.
Q: The flow of Albanians out of the buffer zone into Kosovo has dropped down to a trickle. Do you feel that it is because of the calm within the buffer zone or is because of tighter checks by KFOR not allowing so many people through?
KFOR: Difficult one to speculate on, but what we have done is that we have increased our security measures along the border. Hopefully, that has stopped the flow of weapons, ammunitions, etc into the Ground Safety Zone. But the latest reports are that the situation in the Ground Safety Zone is calm. Both sides have committed to the ceasefire, which looks hopeful for the future.
Q: Do you want to arrest Mr. Berisha? We know that he is still in hospital but after?
Police: At this stage, I am telling you we are not releasing any information which would indicate our intentions to arrest somebody or which would be a part of an investigation. I can't confirm or deny this statement in a general sense.
Q: But he (Mr. Berisha) was involved in that case? Do you want to put any charges? Do you want to arrest him?
Police: If there will be charges laid against any person involved in the investigation, we will inform you. We can only inform you after the charges have been laid.
Q: You said you have definitively closed down border checkpoint 65 and you are not allowing people from 18 to 30 years old to cross the boundary. Are you not afraid that in this case of any kind of retaliation acts on the Albanian civilians in the Presevo valley by the Serb MUP and VJ forces?
KFOR: At the moment, and as I said before, the situation within the Ground Safety Zone remains calm. Both sides are committed to the ceasefire. Anything else I would have to ad would be speculation.
Q: The civilians are talking about the reinforcement of the VJ and the MOP forces close to the Ground Safety Zone.
KFOR: I am not aware of what reinforcements they have if any that they have sent in.
Q: There were several cases with major crimes, like the killing of Xhemail Mustafa, earlier some other killings, some serious crimes. Till now, you have arrested people; you have arrested suspects and then released them. How does it come that you could not solve any specific case in Kosovo since UNMIK Police arrived in Kosovo?
Police: In case of major crimes, we were able to solve from 45 to 50% of murders. We have even a better average for attempted murders. It is not true that we cannot solve any serious crimes in Kosovo. In regard of the last case, yes we have arrested people, suspects and then, we release suspects. That is normal in a police procedure. We have to establish the truth. If we arrest somebody, it does not mean that this person is guilty and that he would be held in prison just because police arrested him. As for the last case, there is a very intensive investigation ongoing. I mean the shooting at the Grand Hotel. There are a lot of police forces working on that. I can tell you - that's the general rule in the case of serious crimes, we are doing our best. All the assets of the police are a valuable for the investigation.
Q: How many troops you need to control the eastern boundaries of Kosovo?
KFOR: That's a difficult question to answer. At the moment we have MNB's there with both American and Russian KFOR soldiers doing a good job. They have been reinforced by the "Operation Reserve" as outlined by Lord Robinson as an action to take. But that is in a direct response to the insurgent activity that is taking place in Kosovo. As KFOR has stated time and time again, we will not allow Kosovo to be a staging post for insurgent activities.
Q: I understand that, Mark, but again, at least how many troops you have at the eastern border?
KFOR: I don't know. I don't have that figure on top of my head.
Q: We know that Doctor Kouchner has been expressing himself against having Serb elections here - I am talking about the parliamentary Serb elections. Has that decision changed? Is there any country that is supporting having these elections in Kosovo?
CT: As far as I know, no decision has yet been made about what is going to happen on the 23rd?
Q: When can we, euh?
CT: We hope soon, but no decision has been made yet.
Q: Is it being discussed or not?
CT: Of course, it is being discussed.
Q: how many people UNMIK Police has arrested here for different crimes and especially for the serious ones? If you have figures from the court on how many of them have been sentenced by the Kosovo courts?
Police: You have probably been late. I have just read out all the figures you asked for. There will be a valuable in the transcript of my speech for today, including the arrests for the serious crimes. We have been releasing these figures for the previous times.
Q: I am talking about an overall figure.
Police: About an overall figure, it is just a matter of adding one figure to another. It is not a big deal. We can do that for you after.