UNMIK Press Briefing: 14 August 2000

UNMIK Spokeswoman Claire Trevena

Zvecan

UNMIK has today assumed responsibility for the Zvecan smelter. UNMIK took this action to safeguard the health of the community, which has been subjected to unprecedented levels of atmospheric lead since the smelter re-opened in June. Last month it was recorded at 200 times the World Health Organization's acceptable standards.
It was also taken as part of an overall effort to regenerate the industry of Kosovo for everyone.

An UNMIK technical team, operating with a number of the Zvecan workforce, has gone into the plant. It will then be assessed to see the extent of the repair work needed. An UNMIK administrative team has also gone in. There have been some demonstrations outside the plant.

Other operations of the Trepca mining complex, which feed into the plant, will continue.  And workers from the Zvecan plant will be paid while the smelter is repaired.

Serb Doctors and an international team of UNMIK public health doctors will be testing 600 workers and 2000 residents.

Speaking in Mitrovica this morning, SRSG Bernard Kouchner said "As a doctor and chief administrator in Kosovo I would be failing in my duties if I did not stop this smelter from pouring toxic lead into the Mitrovica environment.”
Dr Kouchner also announced an agreement between UNMIK and a multinational consortium to assess and start the rehabilitation of the entire Trepca complex.

The ITT Kosovo Consortium includes mining companies from Sweden, France and the U.S. It will establish the extent of environmental contamination and take remedial actions.

This work is vital for the regeneration of Kosovo’s industrial power base. It will bring Trepca back to life and bring as many as 2,000 jobs for people from across Kosovo.

Radio S has been closed by the OSCE – this is because they hadn’t completed a licence application.

Election

As most of you most likely are already aware, the SRSG Bernard Kouchner Saturday announced the date of the municipal elections. They will be on 28th October. The lottery -- being held to confirm the order that political parties, coalitions and citizens initiatives will be placed on the ballot paper -- will be held by the OSCE this Wednesday at 5 o’clock. The media are invited and the OSCE will be putting out more information later today.

SRSG visits

Dr Kouchner Saturday had a very productive Town Hall meeting with people of Vucitrn/Vucitrn.  Later today he’s going to be going to Suva Reka where he will continue his dialogue with the people of Kosovo. That’s taking place at one thirty at the Suva Reka municipal culture centre; the media are welcome to attend, but, as in the weekend meeting, the purpose is for local people to have the chance to talk to the SRSG about developments in Kosovo and the need for increased tolerance as we head towards the election. Dr Kouchner will also be visiting the Handikos rehabilitation centre while he’s there. If you want to come let Sylvana know. There is a bus leaving the back entrance here at 11.30.

Civpol

Last night two people were injured when a grenade was thrown at a Serb house in Obilic. They are being treated in hospital. Police are investigating a fire at an abandoned Serbian house in Vitina. And over the weekend there were also reports of attacks on Serbian houses in Obilic and Stimje. In Pasjane an incendiary device damaged a Serbian shop. Two Goran shops were damaged in Dragash early yesterday morning; according to police it’s because they were paying Serb music.

About 150 Serbs blocked a road in Domorovce, near Kamenica, yesterday afternoon. They were demonstrating their concerns about two Kosovo Serbs who are missing.

Social Assistance

The Department of Social Welfare has started to pay Category I social assistance payments. These are for those families in which no one is able to earn a living. An estimated 23,000 people are eligible for the payments that will be a maximum of 120 dm a month. The payments are being made through the Banking Payment Authority of Kosovo and special arrangements are being made for those who are unable to get to a BPK office. There’s a press release detailing this outside.

Judges

The swearing in of judges and prosecutors in Pristina, planned for tomorrow has been postponed for 30 days. Its being postponed until more office and court space has been made available.

Media Alert

The Housing and Property Directorate and the Housing and Property Claims commission is being launched on Thursday by Dr Klaus Toepfer, Executive director of the UN’s habitat programme and Tom Koenigs the DSRSG for civil administration. It will take place at 11 o’clock in the third floor conference room at the UNMIK government building.

Questions

Q:  Do you have the numbers of people injured in Mitrovica today?

CT: No

Q: Why KFOR is not at the press conference today?

CT:  KFOR is not here because they are in Mitrovica at the moment. They are holding a press conference right now. We are having ours because apart of what has happened in Zvecan, we have a number of items we wanted to put out. So, KFOR has decided not to participate with us today.

Q: The Serb director of Strepca has been prevented from entering Kosovo last night. Was it an order from Mr. Kouchner or did this order come out from KFOR?

CT: I have not heard him being prevented from entering Kosovo.

Q: Can we get some more details about this action in Svecan's factory? How many soldiers were involved and how this action was prepared?

CT:  Unfortunately, because KFOR is not here, I cannot tell you  how they planned their action. That one has to come out of their briefing that is being held in Mitrovica.

Q: A question about elections. We know that around 200,000 Kosovars have registered abroad to vote for elections. There will any elections for Albanians abroad. The day will be the same, the 28 October?

CT:  For those abroad, there was a registration process for them to register and to vote. The election date is the same for them. They will be voting by postal ballot.

Q: There has been some information released by KFOR according to which a large amount of cigarettes have been confiscated. Can you give us an insight of what UNMIK’s customs authorities are doing to prevent the smuggling?

CT: It is a KFOR issue, I am afraid. UNMIK customs authorities, I know, is working closely with police and special KFOR units to prevent any smuggling. Exactly how they are working or how many people are working, I can get these details for you.

Q: Can we have more information about 60 UNMIK Police officers who were sent to the border near Leposavic?

CT: I have not heard about that. I will find out for you.