DPI

UNMIK-KFOR-OSCE Press Briefing: 21 July 2000

UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel
KFOR Spokesman Major Scott Slaten
OSCE Spokesman Roland Bless
EU Spokeswoman, Irene Minguasson
UNHR Spokeswoman, Paula Gheddini

UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel

Mitrovica

Yesterday afternoon, International prosecutor Michael Hartmann presented four charges against Dalibor Vukovic during an investigative hearing in the Mitrovica courhouse. The charges arose from an incident on 9 June in which a Kosovo Albanian driving a car in the north was robbed and beaten, and his car was set on fire.

Mr. Vukovic appeared before judge Shyyqyri Syla (Albanian) and denied any knowledge of the incident. After reviewing all the facts, considering the charges and hearing the initial statement of Mr. Vukovic, Judge Syla ruled that Vukovic could be freed on his own recognizance (meaning there was no bail money involved) and the accused promised to attend any court session or report to a police station when asked. The hearing will continue in about 10 days, with the examination of witnesses, statements from the victim etc... and the Judge will then decide if there is a case to send Vukovic to trial...

In the meantime, photographs of the accused have been circulated to all police units in the north and, if he is seen consorting with "undesirable groups" he faces further action.

Commenting on the court proceedings yesterday, Regional Administrator William L. Nash said he was pleased that the justice system had triumphed.

"It is essential that the rule of law prevails in Mitrovica and that all attempts to interfere with it are thwarted", he said.

In Mitrovica yesterday, although a demonstration followed the release of Mr. Vukovic, it was calm.

UNMIK Police as you recall UNMIK Police have investigative primacy in northern Mitrovica. They are continuing that work, but on patrols with KFOR. They are experiencing greater freedom of movement to do their work than in the past few days.

H owever we do have reports that unidentified persons moved into the apartment of UNMIK police officers…who had been on duty when the apartment was looted on Tuesday, and during yesterday afternoon, the apartments of two other police officers were looted. Others have received threatening phone calls.

In other news from UNMIK Police, a 75-year-old Kosovo Serb man was shot by an unidentified person reportedly wearing a "KLA" uniform in Gosalje on Wednesday evening. He was taken to the hospital where his condition is listed as stable.

Three murder cases this week in Pristina and Glogovac are already proceeding to the Pristina District Court. In the case of the double murder which occurred near the Dora restaurant late on the night of 19 July, the suspect whom UNMIK police arrested and charged has issued a statement confirming his involvement in what he said was a family dispute.

In the Glogovac case, two suspects were arrested after stabbing a man to death over a traffic dispute between pedestrians and the passengers of a car, also late Wednesday night.

Victims and suspects in both cases are Kosovo Albanian.

Finally on Wednesday, Mr. Ramush Haradinaj was interviewed by UNMIK Police at the Peja police station, regarding the 7July incident in Streoc. Since then police have conducted three other interviews and plan to question at least another 8 witnesses before completing the investigation. They are expecting the results of ballistic tests on weapons
.and the results of blood analyses from samples taken at the site. Police are finding the interviews with witnesses are revealing more information on the case.

Momcilovic case

Also yesterday, the case against three members of the Momcilovic family in Gnjilane re-opened, under presiding judge Patrice de Charette. The Momcilovic's had been charged with the killing of a Kosovo Albanian in July 1999.

You may remember the case was recessed in April while evidence was to be examined by experts. Due to the fact a new presiding judge was appointed to the case and to the long period of adjournment, the District Court of Gnjilane decided to re-start the case from scratch. The hearing is continuing today.

New Judges

In the next few weeks, SRSG Bernard Kouchner will appoint approximately 120-140 judges and prosecutors, plus lay judges, to each municipal court in Kosovo, following recommendations of the Judicial Advisory Commission ... The SRSG is currently reviewing the recommendations of the Judicial Advisory Commission of candidates they interviewed. In making these appointments, he will take into account candidates from all ethnic backgrounds with the goal ofa multi-ethnic, impartial and independent judiciary. All judicial appointments are made according to these and other criteria stipulated by UNMIK regulation1999/7.

Contrary to remarks published in a recent article, UNMIK has no policy to exclude candidates who worked as judicial officials in Kosovo after 1989 or before 1999.'

Swimming Pool

The Grand Opening of the Germja public swimming pool will be held at 2 this afternoon. From 2-3:15 there will volleyball games and animation by local DJs.

Beginning at 3:15, there will be speeches given by SRSG Bernard Kouchner, as well as Mr. Siegfried Brenke, the Municipal Administrator of Pristina, and Mr. Jean Selim Kanaan and Mr. Zenun Pajaziti, co-heads of the Department of Sport and Mr. Mexhit Syla, Senior Director of the Pristina municipality.

The ribbon-cutting will take place at 15:45 when access to the pool will be open. The pool will close at 20:00. From today on, official hours will be 10 to 1800s daily.

Regarding the Momcilovic hearing, media know that in general, we have a policy of no camera in courtroom. When this hearing was held back in April, the Supreme Court of Kosovo ruled that on the hearing date on 25April, based on the principle of public trial and public interest in the trail the Supreme Court ruled that filming and recording could go on of the Momcilovic hearing. So, judge de Charette had interpreted this ruling over that hearing to mean that cameras can film that hearing. In general, as I said it’s not the policy of the Kosovo judiciary to have cameras in the courtroom but in this case, I have to tell you that judge de Charette has open the courtroom to recording.

Finally, the India Special Police Unit is holding 12.5 kilometres running race, a cross country championship, on Sunday 6 August. All nationalities are welcome. You can win a glittering team championship trophy and attractive individual prices. You can enter as team or individual. There will be a medal for each participant who completes the running in 100 minutes. You can register with the India contingent that are based at Camp Alpha near BBC disco in Pristina. Registration deadline is 31 July.

KFOR Spokesman Major Scott Slaten

Suspect Released

Last night, the Kosovo Serb man arrested on the 18th of July by UNMIK Police for suspicion of arson and theft, was released from the Mitrovica / Mitrovica North Police Station pending a court date for trial in the next two weeks.

A crowd of an estimated one thousand local residents gathered near the courthouse and peacefully demonstrated. After speeches by Serb leaders the crowd dispersed.

Lt. Gen. Juan Ortuno stated earlier this morning that, “KFOR this week has increased its military presence in Northern Mitrovica in order to enforce the rule of law in close co-operation with UNMIK police. KFOR will continue to ensure that public order is established, whether it be in Mitrovica or any other part of Kosovo.”

Search Operation

KFOR soldiers conducted a major search operation throughout MNB West yesterday.

As a result of the search, six AK-47 Assault Rifles, seven rifles, one rifle silencer, one bayonet, one knife, six hand grenades, one club and an assortment of ammunition and magazines were discovered.

Additionally, one helmet, two NBC masks with filters, one bulletproof vest, five combat uniforms and three UCK insignias were uncovered.

In a house, located in the village of Mahala Staro, eight kilometers west of Klina, one rifle with ammunition, one NBC mask, one knife and some combat uniforms were discovered. Three Kosovar Albanian men were detained and transported to the Peja / Pec UNMIK Police Station for questioning.

KFOR troops also detained a Kosovar Albanian man found with a rifle without a valid Weapons Authorization Card. The man was handed over to UNMIK Police for questioning and later released after it was proven that the weapon did not belong to the man being questioned.

Men Detained for Suspicious Behavior

KFOR Task Force 1-187 reported that three Kosovar Albanian men were detained by KFOR last night for suspicious behavior.

The men were observed walking across an open field one kilometer east of the village of Pozharan / Pozaranje after curfew. A KFOR US Apache attack helicopter (AH-64) spotted the men as they attempted to cross the field. The men then dropped to the ground and started to crawl across the open space in order to escape detection.

The pilot of the helicopter notified the KFOR task force headquarters, which promptly dispatched a ground patrol to the area. The soldier from Task Force 1-187 moved to the location and secured the individuals for transport to the Camp Bondsteel Detention Facility.

The men were questioned and their names reviewed on the computer database for previous offences. The investigation is still ongoing.

Pristina Bypass Opened

Department for International Development (DFID) Minister, Mr George Faulkes opened a road improved by KFOR on Wednesday, which will direct eastbound traffic from the centre of Prishtina/ Pristina.

The road runs north to south on the east side of Ulpiana/ Gracanica; it starts on the road to Gjilan/ Gnjilane and meets the road to Gate 4. Forty KFOR Swedish and British Engineers from MNB Centre, with the assistance of the KPC, have been repairing and upgrading existing roads which run through the area since early June. Seven kilometers of road have been improved to date.

The improvements on the road network will increase the quality of life for residents and travelers in the area. Local farmers have co-operated with the project in donating land to allow the road to be widened.

Additionally, the road will provide a bypass for the city of Pristina. This will allow a quick and efficient route for traffic that does not require moving through the city center. It is hoped that this bypass will reduce the level of traffic congestion in Pristina and lower the number of traffic accidents in the local community. The road will also allow for a secondary route in case the main road from Ulpiana / Gracanica is closed.

Prior to KFOR improvements, the road consisted of dirt farm tracks that were largely inaccessible during the winter. The road will now be capable of taking cars throughout the year. The improvements made include, widening (two cars will now be easily able to pass), culvert creation for drainage of rainwater and a durable hardcore surface.

The road is now open to traffic and is part of the wider network of road improvements that KFOR is building throughout Kosovo.

UNHCR, Spokeswoman, Paula Gheddini

The UNHCR Special envoy and the Humanitarian coordinator Eric Morris arrived yesterday into Kosovo. He has already met with the several key figures here, including the SRSG and several commanders of KFOR. Early next week, he will travel in the various field operations to get familiar with the situation in Kosovo Eventhough he has been working the last five years in the Balkans. He also came last year as part of the DPKO mission to set up the UNMIK operation here. Next week or so, he will be available for the press. He is now in Mitrovica, following the evacs that occurred last weekend. We do have eight ethnic Albanian families who have evacuated between Monday evening and Wednesday from the Northern sector to the South.There are also others that have moved from their apartments and houses in the Northern area to other areas further North Mitrovica. Several of them did have quite heroic stories to tell; including an 80 year old man who was beaten quite badly and who was threatened for several days in a row. We are monitoring the situation of the remaining Ethnic Albanian families in the North as well the Ethnic Serbs families who remains in Southern Mitrovica. For now, the situation seems to be stabilised. We will keep you posted on any further developments.

OSCE, Spokesperson, Roland Bless

The Central Election Commission will hold its regular weekly meeting this afternoon. The composition and the eventual approval of the Municipal Election Commission will be their main topics. And they will continue their discussions on issues related to campaign’ finance – how much money each candidate or party might be allowed to invest. Beginning of next week, we expect to have preliminary consolidated figures on the registration process. We will try to give you a wrap –up of the registration process and start to explain the roll over into elections preparations and finally giving an outlook for elections campaigning. We will focus on this topic at our next Tuesday background briefing at 10 AM.

On behalf of the Temporary Media Commissionner, I have an announcement to make. He has issued a fine to the Dita newspaper and he warned to two others publications. Dita has been fined for repeated violations of the regulation on the conduct of print media also known as the regulation 2000/37. This regulation prohibits from publishing personal details that might put an individual’s security or life at risk. On July 4, Dita published names and addresses of several individuals describing them as war criminal and accompanied its charges with photographs. Dita is asked to pay the fine of 25.000 Deutsche Marks no later than by the 25th of July to the office of the Temporary Media Commissionner. This sanction can be appealed through the Media Appeal Board. An appeal can be filed within thirty days. Nonetheless. It does not stop Dita from having to pay this fine. If they are exonerated, the money will be paid back. That is the procedure.
The other two cases are warnings; one goes to Rilindja newspaper for an article on the 18th of July entitled “Criminals, Privilege and Albanians destroyed. The third warning is going to the magazine Kosovar for an article published on the 15 July and entitled “The nightmare butcher”.

EU Spokeswoman, Irene Minguasson

Power update

Power generation has been stable from Monday until Thursday, with units B2 and A3 running. Some power could even be exported to Greece. A3 had to be stopped yesterday because of water leakages; repairs should be completed by tomorrow afternoon.

· Today B2 is running, generating 250 MW,
· and also the Gazivode hydropower plant, at peak times in the morning and the evening.
· We import about 20 MW.

I was just informed by the dispatch centre that B2 would have to be shut down around midnight tonight in order to repair leaks on the screens.

· As I said unit A3 should be restarted tomorrow.
· The dispatch centre is currently negotiating with Greece for emergency power imports until Monday when B2 is expected to be back.

Unit A1 will be available next week.
The other units A2 and A5 require substantial investments for rehabilitation, so it is definite that they will be out for a longer period.

Coal production is low, but for the moment stocks are sufficient to supplement the daily consumption. Stocks of other consumables and chemicals are adequate.

On the exemption programme for utility bills, the review of the applications is continuing and should be completed in two weeks.

Customs

Customs expect a very good result this week with regard to revenue collection. Part of this result is linked to last week’s decision to allow customs and duty clearance of cars, which have been imported before 23 June, at the rate previously in force.
On the first day of the application of this measure, Customs received 10.900 declarations; 2.900 were processed during the next two days, generating DM 632.000. In comparison with the previous week, when almost nothing was collected, this is obviously an outstanding result.

The local newspapers state that there was quite a large gun battle that went out last Friday that would have lasted for several hours in that village. However, nothing like that was reported to KFOR. A primarily investigation of the area has discovered nothing that would demonstrate the fact that a large battle took place in the area. There is little to no damage in that area. So we are still investigating at this time in the village. KFOR patrols have visited the village since and currently, as we speak, are trying to discover evidences to sustain these kinds of descriptions.

Questions

Q. On the Momcilovic case, is the fact that the American army's criminal investigation division re-opened the case, interrogated Americans involved and announced new evidence, did this play any role in the decision to re-start this case?

SM: Maj. Slaten may say something, but this case was re-scheduled to restart…

Q.(interrupting) I mean re-start from zero. The CID asked you to allow new evidence to be brought in with possible statements on the involvement of American soldiers who were there at the time …

SM. It was restarted from zero because of Yugoslav law. The time for recess had passed, more than a month had passed. Under applicable law, the case must be restarted from scratch. Secondly there is a new presiding judge, which local law also stipulates that a case must restart when there is a new judge.

Q. And the CID statement had absolutely no effect on this.

SM. As far as I know, no. Do you have anything to add Maj Slaten?

SS I don't have any further information. The press release was put out yesterday which is available in the lobby. The US Army Europe Public Affairs Office is handling this and also the criminal investigation detachment is handling questions.

Q.Is there any explanation as to why it took so long when you knew that
the Americans were there, to ask for this investigation by CID?

SS. I don't have any further details on this case.

Q. Everything you are saying is different from what the Pentagon is saying. And I'm perplexed.

SS. I refer you to US army Europe who has the details on this case. I understand that the people who were questioned are no longer in Kosovo. It's an issue outside Kosovo and being handled through the court case. I can't make any statements at this time because it is currently going to trial.

Q. The words cover up and mismanagement seem to be applicable here.

SS. You have to understand that during the past year this has not been a normal environment when it comes to the legal system and so forth. This is not the first case. Information is provided. We'll look at it. The trial is moving on.

Q. Momcilovic has been in jail over a year now, and the witnesses testified against them are themselves accused of attempted murder yet they're released on bail. Do you have any consideration to release them on bail.

SM. You'd have to check with the court and I'll try and find out for you.

Q. For UNHCR, can you tell us the population figures for Albanians in Northern Mitrovica and Serbs in southern Mitrovica?

PG: The last time we did a survey was in end of February. What we've been trying to do is reconcile the figures we have for Albanians according to the assistance we're giving and the actual numbers. We don't have clear future but we think it's between 800 and 1,000, but some figures we use for assistance would have it much higher at around 2,000. But that's full assistance, fresh food. which means that other than aid agencies going in, they wouldn't have access to a market otherwise. With the ethnic Serbs in the south it's a much lower figure. In the city itself it's around 20, and we are closely monitoring that on a daily basis. .

Q. Can we have some details on what happened when with UNMIK police and their apartments. How many cases yesterday and overnight. For UNHCR, you said the Albanians had harrowing stories? What were they?

SM. Yesterday afternoon probably during the demonstrations and the lead up to the hearing there were two different UNMIK police apartments looted while the officers were not at home. Previously, on Tuesday, an apartment was looted, of two RUC officers on duty at the time. And another two were held up in their apartment…Nothing overnight.

PG. Three examples. Monday night a family left and arrived on the south side of Mitrovica and said they were visited by a couple who claimed they were members of the Serb National Council and warned them to leave within the next 24 hours as they said the SNC would be in control of northern Mitrovica at that time.

Q..I was fascinated by the success of justice in Mitrovica. Yesterday when Vukovic was freed, I'd like some comment on the part of UNMIK and the OSCE as well, who is building real institutions in Kosovo. First, do you believe that the decision made yesterday was made under no pressure, was just a normal judicial decision. Also, Mr. Ivanovic said yesterday we gave a lesson to internationals here with the release of Mr. Vukovic. What's your comment?

SM: It was just Sylva who made the decision on Mr. Vukovic. Technically is not freed, but released pending a summons to appear in court and we have many cases like this across Kosovo, because of the law. The law requires that after 72 hours of detention, an investigating judge either press charges that would bring someone to trial or release them on bail or on their own recognizance, with the understanding that he's in the area; they know where he is and he's available to be summoned again.

Q. In audible…But there were four charges, which is enough to keep someone in prison …how could he be released…

SM: It's not a matter of what the charges were, but at what point the investigation linking him with the charges is at.

Q. Are you sure you'll find Mr. Vukovic in the end in Mitrovica, and he'll not just make the walk to Serbia?

SM: I hope that Mr. Vukovic will remain available as the other suspects whom the court has adjudicated in a similar manner. as for Mr. Ivan Vic's comment, everyone politicizes everything here, and it's generally not very helpful. But for now the situation in Mitrovica is calmer and we hope his case will be promised completely. The hearing starts again in 10 days, so the case is not over…

RB: The OSCE does not run the courts, but only does judicial monitoring, so I have nothing to add.

Q. Who are the undesirables referred to?

SM: I imagine it includes the bridge watcher gang. He was allegedly a member of this group and has been asked to stay away from them.

Q. I heard Mr. Ivanovic said this was a victory for the protest, which has during the week proved to be successful. I'm also confused: whose success is this? Is it the success of justice or the protests?
SM: We have to ignore the way political leaders comment on decisions such as the courts' . Mr. Nash felt the legal proceedings were done very correctly and that's what he was commenting on.

Q. Chief of OSCE Daan Everts stated yesterday that UNMIK cannot solve the problem of Mitrovica. Who can solve it if UNMIK is not here to solve problems and KFOR cannot provide security.

RB: I have to correct you slightly there. If your sources happen to be Koha Ditore, I have to make this disclaimer. I contacted Daan Everts this morning upon reading this investigative piece in Koha Ditore and I asked him what have you said to the Permanent Council. He said he addressed the Permanent Council in the following way: "We have reached the point where the credibility of the international community in Mitrovica is at stake. Robust measures to regain confidence and restore authority are needed,'" So If I listen to he measures presented by my colleagues in KFOR and UNMIK regarding Mitrovica I do not think this is a contradiction.

SS. As far as the security situation, besides the political rhetoric that was being spewed last night, KFOR was fully prepared to handle any situation that presented itself in northern Mitrovica, and fortunately the situation didn't develop that we needed to put down violence. The crowds dispersed peacefully.

Q. It's clear throughout most of this year that the bridge watchers have been able to check peoples' identity cards, set up roadblocks and communicate by personal radios and act as a security force for northern Mitrovica. Which of these activities will not be allowed from now on, if UNMIK and KFOR can respond…

SM: Major Slaten will expand. But we worked together to set up this confidence zone and we have various measures to try and soften the role of the bridge watchers….There has not been any new decision on activities. Of course the road blocks were taken down. That's what this has all been about…

SS:. I was told road blocks would not be allowed in the future, but I don't have any other details…

Q. Is there anything in common between French KFOR and the other parts of KFOR when it comes to Mitrovica? We're saying different things. French KFOR says Mr. Vukovic was not contained because he was a member of the SSS, but because he did something to the car of an Albanian. The French are also saying the bridge watchers or SSS aren't doing anything and there's no reason for stopping them from 'watching,' I want to put that in quotes.

SS The individual was arrested on charges as being a potential suspect of arson and theft. It had nothing to do with the fact he was a member of the SSS, or an alleged member o the SSS. The original press release didn't state that. The follow-on press release said he was an alleged member of the SSS, but it never said he was arrested for participating in the activities of the SSS.

Q. Does it mean that KFOR has nothing against the bridge watchers…that they're doing nothing?

SS: According to Yugoslav law, we get our information from UNMIK police. If someone needs to be arrested, if someone breaks the law, we will detain them.

Q. UNMIK Police is not in charge of Mitrovica. It's KFOR.

SS. We work in conjunction with UNMIK Police. As far as arresting people, we were asked to provide security to arrest this person who was charged with arson and theft.

Q. So it's UNMIK who has to decide what to do with the bridge watchers?

SS. No what I'm saying is, you're going around in circles, Linda…

Q. I need to know your official opinion on the bridge watchers…Do you think they are doing nothing there. There is no reason to stop them? And that is for both UNMIK and KFOR.

SS: I don't know the details on that and I'll et back to you in the future.

SM. We have worked with KFOR and the Serb and Albanian leaders and community to establish this confidence zone. I know it's of questionable success so far, but we have attempted to defuse the bridge watchers. There is nothing wrong with watching the bridge. When they do something illegal or something which breaks the rules of the confidence zone, that's another matter. That's when KFOR and UNMIK act.

Q. This is a new thing that the undesirable group is referred to by the judge. Is this group also undesirable for KFOR and UNMIK?

SM: I was asked who the judge meant and I dared to guess whom he meant, but he didn't specify in his ruling.

Q. So who decides who is undesirable?

SM: You have to look into your own soul.

Q. No it's a serious point. If he is judged to have broken a judge's instruction, someone must have decided who these undesirables are?

SM: I think up there they know who the troublemakers are.

Q. If you look at the confidence zone, you have the situation where it has been established in the south, but not in the north. Is there any plan to enforce the rules of the confidence zone ,which includes no walkie talkie radios which are clearly being used in the north…

SM. I assumed they were being enforced….

Q. Oliver Ivanovic says the bridge watchers are there to enforce security in Northern Mitrovica…Under UNMIK regulation, the only .person to allow private security forces is the SRSG, and there are private security firms in Kosovo. Therefore the bridge watchers are outside the law and are breaking the law. Why are they allowed to continue?
How do you define a security firm? It's very easy. They go around with walkie-talkies. They guard premises. It's very easy to define the bridge watchers as falling into that category.

SM: The bridge watchers are obviously a problem, but there is room for the Serb community to be able to tell each other what's going on. I had understood the walkie talkie's would be banished in the confidence zone. But having a walkie talkie, outside the rules of the confidence zone, is not a crime.

Q. So you're saying the UN is not prepared to tackle the bridge watchers. You don't see them as a problem and are happy to let them continue as they are.

SM. I understand we have measures to try and control the bridge watchers as a group. We're not happy with what is going on in northern Mitrovica. But we have ways of trying to control it, and as we said on Wednesday things are better there than in February and March.

Q. But you don’t' think they're breaking the law?

SM: What law?

Q. The law concerning private security firms.

SM: that law talks about arms, no walkie-talkies. It's a different subject. A security firm needs a license from UNMIK . The point is to control arms and businesses.

Q. You said the security situation in the last weeks and months was better than in February and March. But how is it possible that 30 UNMIK policemen were kept in their police station in northern Mitrovica, and you still talk about 6the security situating being very good.

SM. Well, we went down this road on Wednesday. I'm not saying it's very good. I'm saying it's better than when we had eight Albanians killed in one night, and we had grenades injuring up to 20 people in a café. It is a bad development that UNMIK police are being targeted, but they have not been killed. There is a little bit of relativity here. It's not paradise and it's not great progress in Mitrovica. I'm only claiming minimal movement, but there has been some.

Q. Where was KFOR when UNMIK police were attacked?

SS. Any time there is a request for assistance we provide security. It's the same situation with some of the OSCE workers in the past. The UNMIK police are often operating as individuals or small groups. They live in the community. And if an event occurs, we don't know about it, then it's difficult to react. We can't be in every apartment, in every building in northern Mitrovica.

Q. Can you say there were no cases when police officers were attacked in front of KFOR soldiers and KFOR soldiers did not react.

SS. I don't have any information to that effect. If you have something, I'll try and find out and verify it. But UNMIK police is working very closely with us. In the future, they're looking at how to employ their tactics and KFOR will be working closely to provide security for their officers.