UNMIK Press Briefing: 20 December 2000

UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel

As COMKFOR was unable to brief today, KFOR will be here Friday to brief, instead of today.

Police

UNMIK condemns another act of mindless violence, which occurred last night in Zubin Potok. Just after a police patrol had returned to the station, the building was attacked by automatic gunfire and grenades. The UNMIK Police station is in the Municipal building which is shared with the local municipality and also with UNMIK Civil Administration. Four white UNMIK cars were damaged by bullets and a fifth one was exploded, it seems by a grenade placed inside.

There was also a rocket-propelled grenade fired into a window on an upper story. Fortunately, no one was injured. There were approximatively 15 to 20 rounds fired according to the Police who were inside. Contrary to some media reports, the building sustained only minor damage. There are bullets holes on the outside and windows broken.

Dr. Bernard Kouchner yesterday said that UNMIK would not tolerate attacks on our property or personnel, nor attacks on the Kosovo Police Service. He called on the members of the Serb communities in northern Kosovo to act with wisdom and patience and tolerance during this time of tension.
 
UNMIK police meanwhile are continuing their patrols in Zubin Potok and also restarted patrols in Leposavic. Clearly, they are also investigating last night's incident.

Kosovo Police Service members in Leposavic have not yet returned to work.

I would like to remind you that UNMIK Police does not have primacy regarding law and order in the northern municipalities, where KFOR is responsible for security.  Our operations are performed in support of KFOR and include investigations into crimes. Therefore it is not correct to say that UNMIK has "lost control" of the northern municipalities. Police are continuing their operations as well as KFOR.

Hartmann

Yesterday international prosecutor Michael Hartmann charged Vladimir Tomovic with driving under the influence of alcohol in such a way as to endanger human life (article 166 of the Kosovo Criminal Code). Tomovic was the suspect whose arrest led to the violence in Leposavic Saturday night.

Hartmann ordered his release at 5:30 p.m. yesterday, pending further investigation by the investigating judge and a possible indictment by a court. The charges he sustains could bring a maximum prison sentence of 3 years.

Other incidents

In Gnjiliane yesterday, an UNMIK police station received a bomb threat by a Serbian-speaking caller.

In Gracanica yesterday, a Serbian member of the Kosovo Police Service returned home to find his house burnt down and all the contents robbed.

A grenade attack was reported in Pristina on an elementary school called Zemel Hajdini. A witness saw someone throw a grenade from a Golf car at about 4 in the morning. There was no real damage.

KTC

The Kosovo Transitional Council is currently meeting. They are discussing the security Situation. They are receiving an update on ID cards and travel documents, as well as an update on developments in the sector of transport and infrastructure.

Security Council

Yesterday, the UN Security Council discussed the latest report by Secretary General Kofi Annan on Kosovo, which was presented by Mr. Hedi Annabi, the Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping. For those interested in reading the entire report, we can arrange for copies this afternoon.

Press Briefings:

 Two press briefings will be held this afternoon: both in room C301: At 2 p.m., the co-heads of the Central Fiscal Authority will present the Kosovo Consolidated Budget for 2001. The IAC (Interim Administrative Council) yesterday endorsed this budget, which will provide for expenditures up to DM 739 million. 541 million of that is to come from domestic revenues and the rest - some 202 million DM - is expected to come from donor grants.

A second press briefing will be held at 3 p.m. by the Department of Public Utilities on the power situation now and as foreseen into the winter.

Erratum

I need to correct something from the last briefing: Incoming SRSG Haekkerup will be here January 4th and 5th, and not on 2nd and 3rd, as I mistakenly said. He will be here for internal briefings and we understand he will not be seeing the media during that visit, but rather after he returns in mid-January to be officially installed.

Questions

Q:  You mentioned different incidents like the one in Zubin Potok, the house of Serb officer in Gracanica and other troubles that mainly in the Northern part and the threat in Gjiliane. Can tell us what seems to be the connection, because it is  clear that there is a connection?

SM: We definitively think that there is a kind of pattern going on in Northern Kosovo. I mentioned some other incidents that may have not been mentionable at other times, such as the threat to the Gjiliane station, because it does seem that, at least in Northern Kosovo, that there is some kind of a pattern going on. We don't where it's coming from and where it's going, though.

Q: Mr. Ivanovic, the Serb leader in Mitrovica has said he has sent his own people to investigate what happened in Leposavic. So who is investigating actually, Mr Ivanovic and his people or you are investigating? It sounds like Mr. Ivanovic has been much much more quicker than you have been.

SM: We really have no connection with what Mr. Ivanovic is doing at all. We have police as well as KFOR investigating the incidents in Leposavic.

Q: How does it happen when we have all these troubles and this kind of troubling situation in the North? As you say KFOR is in charge of security in that part of Kosovo. It is not UNMIK Police fully in charge of security. So how does it happen that KFOR is not on the podium? We have questions and they have to answer.

SM: COMKFOR was expected today. I don't really know why he is not here. But you know where to find KFOR

Q: When do you expect to redeploy UN Police personnel in Leposavic?

SM: They have been redeployed in Leposavic, but not the Kosovo Police Service.  There are UNMIK Police patrols.

Q: Is  UNMIK staff in UN buildings and OSCE as well?

SM: As of yesterday, the police restarted patrols. I don't know if the UNMIK civilian staff went back to work yet. They had been evacuated on Saturday night. I don't believe, as of yesterday, that they had returned.

Q: What actions have been taken following the reports that plain cloth Serbian policemen asking for identities of journalists in that area?

SM: KFOR and UNMIK Police are investigating the whole incident of Leposavic

Q: My question was that, after the incidents there were journalists who went up to Leposavic and were asked for  identity papers by people claiming to be Serbian policemen who were armed. Are you taking any action to ensure that the plain cloth Serbian Police or are you investigating these reports at all?

SM: I don't know about these specific reports, but we do weapons searches and house searchess regularly  in Northern Mitrovica.

Q: You said the police patrols have begun again in Leposavic. Are they based in Leposavic Police station or are they coming in from outside to do that? Lastly, I heard the Police station was empty. Is there anyone in there now?

SM: I am not sure if they are operating out of there because the station was apparently damaged - you have seen it and I haven't - but they could easily be driving from Mitrovica town. I could find out for you.

Q: Have the Police investigators had access to the information they need by  KFOR?

SM: Regarding Leposavic?

Q: Yes. I heard that Michael Hartmann has also requested that the Belgian-Luxemburg battalion furnish him with the information they gathered.

SM: I  think there are some primacy questions there that have come up, as was said in the BBC Report this morning. The Police are the lead agency in investigating the shooting death of the Kosovo Serb on Saturday night, but they have got to work obviously in conjunction with KFOR on it. I don't know what stage they are at now with that.

Q: Perhaps, if KFOR had been present, they would have been able to help us with that.

Q: Do you have any updates on the status of any monitoring that might take place or the provision of any UNMIK or KFOR security, regardless of primacy that might take place in Serb areas of Kosovo where Serbs might feel inclined to vote on Saturday? Do you know if we are going to have a statement as to whether Doctor Kouchner has made any decision yet?

SM: I think the statement he made the other day was very clear. We will in no way assist, organize or monitor the Serb election in Kosovo. We have not been officially approached by Belgrade about their intentions. However, if there is voting that goes on in Kosovo, KFOR and UNMIK will supplement security on that day.

Q: Have you any information from the Serbian side where the polling stations are going to be on Saturday, because we some information that they informed UNMIK where the polling stations will be.

SM: No, I don't have that information.