UNMIK-KFOR- Press Briefing: 13 December 2000

UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel
KFOR Spokesman Steve Shappell

UNMIK spokeswoman Susan Manuel

Good morning

Yesterday a tragic accident claimed the lives of two young children, a three-year-old boy and four-year- girl, Pavle and Ruzica Radevojovic,  who died in what police believe may have been an accidental  electrical fire which swept their home in Northern Mitrovica. This was around 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon.

On behalf of UNMIK, I wish to extend our deepest condolences to the Radevojovic family in this time of their terrible loss.

Otherwise Mitrovica has been relatively calm for the past two days, following a rather tense period which began last Thursday.

KTC

Regarding the Kosovo Transitional Council, we decided to postpone the first closed-circuit televised session of the KTC until the return of Dr. Bernard Kouchner who is coming back tomorrow. Next Wednesday he will conduct the first meeting of the expanded KTC. I think they may be some confusion over what we mean by  televised; we will televise the session, and it will be broadcast out here in the lobby over three monitors in Serbian, Albanian and English languages. This will happen as I said next Wednesday. Today's meeting will cover security issues and the area of Post and Telecommunications.
 
IAC

The Interim Administrative Council yesterday discussed the Kosovo Consolidated Budget for the year 2001 as well as three economic regulations on foreign investment, business organization and the sale of goods. These are all drafts of a package of measures which will assist in developing the private sector in Kosovo.

ECHO

A reminder of the visit of the EU Commissioner Poul Nielson who  arrives in Kosovo today to meet officials and to review projects funded by the European Commission-European Union humanitarian aid office, known as ECHO)

Commissioner Nielson today meets with Dr. Ibrahim Rugova at his residence, Velania 9, at 1600 this afternoon. There will be a photo opportunity. He will then meet Bishop Artemije at Gracanica Monastery at 17 00.

Tomorrow there will be a field visit to ECHO projects in the Mitrovica area to which journalists are invited. Please check with Emrira Mehmeti, who is here, or at 044 161 521. A bus leaves the Grand hotel at 8 a.m. tomorrow and is expected to return by 3 p.m.

Commissioner Nielson then meets Dr. Bernard Kouchner in his office at 1600. There will be a photo opportunity.

Also tomorrow Dr. Kouchner will be meeting with Ambassador James Pardew, Principle Deputy Special Advisor to the US President and Secretary of State for Kosovo and Dayton Implementation. He is supposed to be meeting Dr. Kouchner at noon tomorrow but check with our office if we are going to have a photo-opportunity tomorrow.

Supreme Court

SRSG Bernard Kouchner returns to Kosovo tomorrow and will inaugurate the Supreme Court of Kosovo at 3 p.m. in the third floor of the municipal building…Will broadcast media please see press officer Sunil Narula, as space is limited.

The Kosovo Supreme Court is the court of last appeal in Kosovo, somewhat like the US Supreme Court. It will consist of 14 Kosovo judges and 2 international judges, appointed by the SRSG. At this point we have 13 of the Kosovo judges and one international in place. The President of the Supreme Court, Rexhep Haximusa, and the Registrar Rexhep Maqedonci will of course share in the ceremonies tomorrow, along with the president of the commercial Court…Adem Ajvazi, and the five district court presidents. Prosecutors before the Supreme court and district courts will also participate, along with members of the Advisory Judicial Commission, who recommends the appointments to the Court to the SRSG. And the International Judge of the Supreme Court, Mr Antii Ruotsalainen

OSCE

Tomorrow the Kosovo Law Centre sponsors a seminar along with the IOM on the issue of the Trafficking of Women…to raise awareness of the problem in and outside of Kosovo. Six experts will give presentation on the situation in the region and will cover the legal framework, draft laws and possibilities for law enforcement…The seminar will go on from 9 to 1700 at the Hotel Iliria…Media are welcome to attend. Please call the Kosovo Law Center at 548-9975 for more information.

Winter

To prepare for the coming winter, which thankfully has been rather late this year, UNMIK has set up a Winterization Information Center within the Department of Local Administration in the UNMIK Government building…This  Center will act as a clearing house to track the implementation of preparations for winter and to coordinate efforts  by municipalities, departments and organizations regarding activities such as humanitarian assistance, snow and ice clearance, provision of public utilities and heating of schools and health facilities.

The Centre has also warned that drivers should now put on appropriate winter tires and have snow chains ready.

EU

There will be a press opportunity on Monday .to note the 20,000th house constructed with international donor support this year. Andy Bearpark, DSRSG and head of the EU Pillar 4, will conduct the ceremony along with major donors including the EU Agency for Reconstruction. Further details will be provided at Friday's press briefing.

KFOR Spokesman Major Steve Shappell

Good morning ladies and gentlemen

Man shot and stabbed

Last night in Multinational Brigade North area, two Kosovo Albanian men brought their father to a KFOR compound and Skenderaj, Srbica. Initial reports indicated that he had been shot twice and stabbed by four unknown Kosovo Albanian men. Because of the seriousness of his wounds, KFOR military medical experts flew the man by medical evacuation helicopter to the KFOR British Military Hospital in Fushe Kosovo/Kosovo Polje. Sometime early this morning the man's condition stabilized and he has been transferred to the University Hospital here in Pristina. The incident is under investigation.

Grenade Explosion

Yesterday morning in Multinational Brigade East, a Kosovo Serb couple informed KFOR Task Force 2-6 Infantry that a grenade had exploded in a yard in Gnjilan/Gnjilane. KFOR EOD experts went to the couple's house to investigate and after a thorough examination,  found a grenade pin, spoon, fuse and grenade fragments in the yard. Fortunately there were no reports of injuries. UNMIK Police is investigating.

Reopening of Railway Station

Several media opportunities for you: At 3pm tomorrow KFOR Commander Lt.General Carlo Cabigiosu is going to host a ceremony at the Pristina Railway station commemorating the reopening of the Fushe Kosove/Kosovo Polje to Nente Jugoviq/Devet Jugovica railway line. Media are cordially invited to attend. For more information, contact KFOR Media Operations in the Coalition Press Information Center.

Transfer of authority

On Friday KFOR's MNB East will transfer authority from Brigadier General Denis Hardy to Brigadier General Kenneth Quinlan at Camp Bondsteel at 10am. Hardy who is the US Assistant Division Commander for Support took command of the Brigade in July. Quinlan is the Assistant Division Commander for  Manoeuvres. Following the ceremony, Hardy and Quinlan will meet briefly with the media. If you would like to go, please see MNB East Lt Deeker in the Press Center. If you will drive there directly be at the main gate at Camp Bondsteel at 9 am.

COMKFOR Press Conference

On Monday at 12.30 Lt. General Cabigiosu will hold his monthly press conference in the UNMIK Government Building in Pristina. The normal UNMIK press conference will take place immediately afterwards.

Band concert

And finally on Tuesday night, December 19 at 7 pm, Allied Forces Southern Europe band will perform in the Pristina National Theatre. The band is based in Naples, Italy, where most of the KFOR staff are based. They will present  a one-hour rock and roll format. KFOR Commander Lt. General Cabigiosu will attend the concert and invites all members of the media to attend this event. For more information contact KFOR Media Operations in the Coalition Press Information Centre.

Questions

There were no questions today.