UNMIK-KFOR-OSCE-EU-UNHCR Press Briefing: 24 November 2000
UNMIK Spokeswoman Claire
Trevena
Brigadier Robert Fry, Commander MNB (C)
OSCE Spokesman
Roland Bless
EU Spokesman Reinhold Brender
UNHCR Spokeswoman Astrid
Van Genderen Stort
UNMIK Spokeswoman Claire
Trevena
Brigadier Fry has joined us on the platform. He wont be actually be making any statement this morning but he will be available to answer any questions that you may have.
Killing
UNMK Police are still questioning people following the killing of Xhemajl Mustafa. We are now looking at ways to increase security for the LDK headquarters and for those political figures who request it. As you know the PDSRSG Jock Covey expressed his outrage and the outrage of all of UNMIK over the murder, describing it as contemptible and cowardly. The SRSG, Dr. Bernard Kouchner underlined this from Zagreb where he is at European Union Summit.
Zagreb Summit
The summit is looking at co-operation in the Balkans, at the growth of democracy and economic assistance. The French Presidency of the European Union invited the leaders of the states which made up the former Yugoslavia -- Dr Kouchner was invited as a representative for Kosovo. His remarks to the meeting will be made available later today. And the SRSG will be returning to Kosovo today.
President Chirac Visit
Tomorrow Dr. Kouchner will be hosting French President Jaques Chirac who is coming to Kosovo essentially to meet with French troops here. There will be a meeting between Chriac and Kouchner in the afternoon, at the airport and this will be followed by a press conference which will also take place at Slatina airport. If you have not registered you have about one minute to do so after this briefing. See Sylvana.
Plemintina Visit
The SRSG's visit to meet Roma representatives at Plementina was cancelled on Wednesday, because of the bomb attack on the Serb Ambassador's house. It has been rescheduled to Monday morning.
Municipal Assemblies
An update on municipal assemblies - all but one of the elected assemblies now have their presidents elected and most have their deputy presidents. Now the assemblies are starting work on setting up the committee structure and electing people to them. The mandatory committees are Policy and Finance, a Communities Committee and a Mediation Committee.
KPC
The Department of Civil Security and Emergency Preparedness is inviting applications from people who are not Albanian to join the Kosovo Protection Corps. To be eligible they should have a secondary school diploma, be aged between 18 and 45, have lived in Kosovo at least three years and be able to speak Albanian. It is an effort to increase minority participation in the KPC. 10 percent of posts in KTC have been allocated to minorities.
Other Business
Just to draw your attention to a couple of items
we released yesterday :
A vehicle registration center has opened in
Gracanica. All residents in Kosovo who have vehicles should have Kosovo
plates. The Gracanica center is the first to be set up outside a major
urban center.
Dr. Kouchner has established a Council of Ministers which will be meeting every two weeks. It is made up of the co-heads of the 20 JIAS departments and will be used as a forum to discuss policy and the development of regulations.
And finally, this is the last briefing with Roland
Bless the OSCE Spokesman. He has been here for the last 15 months. You may
still be seeing him again because he is taking up the post of spokesperson
for Bodo Hombach, head of the Stability Pact.
UNHCR
Spokeswoman Astrid Van Genderen Stort
Good morning everybody.
The UNHCR is deeply shocked by the incidents that have dominated this week and have expressed their condolences to both Mr. Viukicevic and Mr. Rugova.
For UNHCR, both incidents represent yet another setback to the efforts of the international community to establish a multi-ethnic society in Kosovo. Despite the intentions of this tragic incident, UNHCR remains committed to the right of all of the people of Kosovo to remain in their homes and to be free from persecution.
I want to give you an update on the situation in the Preshevo Valley and I thought you might be interested in some more detail.After several weeks of no new arrivals of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), the security situation deteriorated rapidly. The recent clashes between the UCPMB and Serb Police are involving villages that until now were at least out of the firing line. On Wednesday UNHCR staff observed over 200 people from Lucan entering Kosovo with their tractors and private vehicles in a two-hour period. All of these people were forced to leave the town due to fighting that was taking place in the village. On Thursday UNHCR monitored GATE 5-border crossing for most of the day, and again witnessed more movement of people from Southern Serbia into Kosovo. During the day at least 350 persons arrived from Preshevo Valley. The latest movement of people has increased the total number of new arrivals approximately up to 600 persons in the last two days since movement began. Some persons have clearly fled quickly from the area as they have arrived with few belongings and some without an overcoat as they could not return to their houses. Some persons arrived with their animals. Some vehicles were bringing family members, mostly women and children, and then returning once left with family or friends. Some people were visibly upset from the shooting and the shelling.
According to the IDP statements they feel insecure due to the clashes that are taking place in and around these particular villages and that is the main reason for fleeing.
Heavy mortar fire was also reported. Yesterday it was reported that three mortar shells landed in Koncul and three others landed in Lucan. In Lucan two private houses and the village school were shelled. The shelling supposedly came from Yugoslav army V-J barracks in Somolica. In all these latest developments, three Serb police officers are also reported to be killed.
Most of the IDP traffic has headed to villages of Kamenica. So far only one family of eight has approached our office in Gnjilane for shelter assistance. We expect over the next few days more people to arrive seeking assistance.
Referring to rumours that the road between Bujanovic-Gnjilane remains closed for some time as well as the border between Kosovo and Southern Serbia, UNHCR would want insist that all people that flee difficult circumstances will have freedom of access and not be obstructed in their movement by anyone, be it the MUP on the FRY side, the UCPMB or the KFOR troops.
Current Assistance Planning
Our contingency planning is currently ongoing. ICRC has been advised of the influx to assist with food and emergency medical assistance. ARC and IRC have been advised of TCS accommodation that may be needed in Gnjilane town. IMC and MSF advised for health/medical assistance. The sports hall and dormitory are being prepared in Gnjilane to receive IDPs if needed. Logistics has been informed of the potential need for the more NFIs. All staff are on stand-by and concentration on boundary monitoring.
Winter
The UN Humanitarian coordinator remains concerned about the more than 20,000 - 30,000 families that might get caught in the gaps that have arisen in the transition between the emergency phase and the long term development. UNHCR has since August emphasized with donors to commit their money on a bilateral basis with their direct implementing partners to meet winter needs in Kosovo. So far, many donors have so far not committed their money to meet these need, either because Kosovo in their eyes is not at all in al emergency phase anymore, or because Kosovo winter needs are just lower on the agenda.
Shortfall would be, in the worst case, 8,400,000 DM (40,000 families with 210 DM per family wood need and 1,800,000 DM for reconstruction).
Ashkalija
After the other severe incidents of these past weeks, the killing of the four returned Ashkalija members, Mr. Eric Morris UNHCR Special Envoy met with the Ashkalija leaders last Friday in our office. The Ashkalija leaders expressed their great concern about their security situation and their urgent need to have a dialogue with the Albanian leaders and have more access to the media to present their situation in more detail. As mentioned before, Dr. Kouchner, who had planned to visit Plemetina camp last Wednesday had to cancel his visit as a result of the Wednesday bombing, however this visit will take place at the beginning of next week.
Despite all these incidents, UNHCR emphasises the importance not to lose sight of the major concerns of these minority communities.
The last point that I would like to make is that I would like to thank Peter Kessler who has been here for the past 15 months and who is just in transit from Dili to Geneva where he will take up a post. Peter thank you very much and I think we will be having a drink with you at the OSCE Spokesman's reception after this press briefing.
EU Spokesman Reinhold Brender
Good morning.
PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
Substantial increase in power supply before long
Good news and bad news with regard to the power
supply.
Power supply will considerably increase before long. On 30
November, power generation unit B2 will restart working and produce up to
250 MW per day. And from 2 December onwards, Unit A4 will have been
repaired and produce 120 to 150 MW per day.
For the coming days however, load-shedding is to be expected: As foreseen, power generation Unit B1 is being reduced today and will have to be stopped from 27 - 29 November. B 2 is expected to be back with the full capacity of up to 250 MW on 30 November. Not foreseen were the problems with Generation Unit A3 which tripped yesterday due to a leak in an economizer. A3 will be repaired until Monday. The reduced capacity of B1 and A3 will partially be compensated through additional imports from Montenegro during the coming days.
Later this day the Public Utilities Department (PUD) will inform the media about the details of the expected load-shedding in the coming days.
Repayment Scheme Established
PUD has
established a scheme for the repayment of unpaid consumption of water and
electricity. A letter to the municipalities details the terms of repayment
of the power consumption and the exemption process.
The following is
the schedule for repayment:
All applicants who were exempt from
payment for the period 01.10.1999 - 31.03.2000, must now pay for
electricity used after that period, by scheduled installments extending
until 01.04.2001.
All applicants who did not qualify for exemption
must now pay by scheduled installments until 01.04.2001
In order to
establish that payments are indeed made by installments, before 20
November 2000 all applicants had to go to the Department of Distribution
(KEK) and arrange for payments to be made by installments. Therefore
basically the message here is that the exemption period is now over and
the electricity bills after this period will have to be paid by
installments.
If users are experiencing difficulty with payments they
are asked to contact the KEK Department of Distribution in their area so
that a schedule for payments can be agreed.
The KEK 'energy
saving' campaign is now underway and an intensive schedule of interviews
has been drawn up with the different media.
DEPARTMENT OF RECONSTRUCTION (DOR)
Housing Reconstruction Monitored
The Housing
Directorate prepared a proposal aiming at establishing a consultative
working group with regard to specific vulnerable groups. Information and
data are to be collected and strategies with regard to the housing
reconstruction needs of these groups for the 2001 programme are to be
developed.
The Housing Directorate briefed the Economic Advisory Group
of the Kosovo Joint Interim Administration on the ongoing housing
reconstruction programme and its objectives. It also presented data
regarding the performance of housing reconstruction
activities.
Reconstruction of Schools
The Islamic Development Bank
(IDB) announces the start of a 10 million US$ programme to reconstruct 17
schools in Kosovo.
The Department of Reconstruction (DOR) will organize a media event at a school in Skenderaj on Saturday together with IDB. The leaving time from Pristina will be approximately 8:30hrs in the morning. A press release will be available later this day, for questions please contact directly Mr. Lindmeier of PUD, Tel. 6839
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (DTI)
DTI is continuing the commercialization of enterprises in Kosovo.
Ongoing Tender for Ferronikeli
The tender for
the Ferronikeli Complex remains ongoing. Although initial interest was
high, investors have to date failed to take the next step to review the
facility. The Department remains ready to assist investors as needed - the
tender deadline is 6 December.
Discussions with Enterprises
DTI
continues to prepare commercialization of a range of enterprises in
Prishtinë/Priština and the regions.
The meeting with the
representatives of the Coca Cola Company in Prishtinë/Priština proved
successful. DTI is moving ahead with the commercialization of the former
bottling and distribution enterprise. The tender documentation package is
complete and ready for distribution to prospective investors.
CENTRAL FISCAL AUTHORITY (CFA)
Budget Preparations
CFA continues
the preparations for the Kosovo consolidated budget 2001. Meetings
involving CFA, DOR and JIAS Departments to review departmental proposals
for the budget of 2001 were completed. CFA reviewed the commitment and
expenditure data for 2000 as well as the arrangements for managing
end-of-year activities, including priorities for utilizing any possible
surplus funds.
BANKING AND PAYMENTS AUTHORITY OF KOSOVO (BPK)
First
Loan of the Interim Credit Union of Kosovo (ICU)
On Tuesday the Interim
Credit Union of Kosovo announced the approval of its first loan. The ICU
was established by UNMIK's EU Pillar in April as a Non Bank Financial
Institution, regulated by the Banking and Payments Authority of Kosovo
(BPK). The primary aim of the ICU is to provide finance on market-based
terms to small and medium sized enterprises in an effort to jump-start
production and economic activity in the private sector.
OSCE Spokesman Roland Bless
Good morning everybody.
Murder of LDK member
The OSCE expresses shock and dismay at the cowardly murder of Mr. Xhemajl Mustafa. Please find a press release to that end outside.
This afternoon there is going to be an opening ceremony of an NGO resource center in Kosovo Polje/ Fusche Kosova and the media is kindly invited to attend. It is going to take place at 3.30 this afternoon.
Training of municipal assembly members
We do training for the newly elected members of the municipal assemblies. So far eleven training sessions have taken place. Over the weekend we will have training session in Ferisaj, Urosevac and Maleshevo. That brings to about half the number of municipalities that have had such training.
Broadcast license applications
On 28 November the deadline for license applications for broadcast licenses expires. This is an extension of three days, it was initially announced for 25 November. Eight applications have been received for Kosovo licenses and 19 for local licenses of various kinds.
Ombudsperson's Institution
As you know, this week the Ombudsperson's Institution was opened and they started to work for the Public of Kosovo. On its first working day, the Ombudsperson received five cases all of them related to property issues. I would just like to remind you that the Ombudsperson has offices in all five regions of Kosovo and they are located at the regional offices of the OSCE.
Central Election Committee (CEC)
Yesterday CEC held a meeting. It was a wrap-up meeting on the municipal elections. They took a couple of decisions. One referred to the removal of one municipal election's commission member. Two polling stations committee members were not recommended for rehiring They also decided that the sensitive elections' material is going to be destroyed so we will have a burning of this election material under the supervision of the CEC. This is all kinds of elections' material from ballots to list, et.
There is also an issue of outstanding fines. Some parties still haven't paid their fines from the elections. A reminder letter will be sent out to the parties. If they fail to pay the CEC reserves the right to consider sanctions for the upcoming elections.
And finally the detailed results of the municipal elections are going to be produced on a CD Rom and will be made available electronically to the Kosovo public.
Well that is all I have. This is my last press conference. I wish everybody good luck and I hope that I am going to have sporadic contacts also in the future. As Claire said, I am going to join the Stability Pact. I will take questions today if you really insist. Otherwise I would kindly invite you to share a drink with me after this press briefing.
Questions
Q: For Claire. UNMIK is in charge of Kosovo
according to 1244 how is it possible that such a crime should happen
in the middle of the day in the middle of Pristina and you don't have any
information right now about the perpetrators and how it happened. How did
it happen that you don't even chase those guys, or if you did, then tell
us.
CT: We are questioning a lot of people, but you're right we don't have suspects in custody. But police are doing a very thorough investigation. They are following all the leads they have as they would anywhere. They are working round the clock on this. There is no way to protect every politician in every place. These gunman came and shot somebody.
Q: To follow up. I don't have much hope right now. None of the murders committed recently…no one was sent to court. Why should we have hope now that you'll find the perpetrators. Can you tell us what can give us hope in this case?
CT: The police are working round the clock. They are talking to many people. Hope is a philosophical question. They're doing their job.
Q: And for Brig. Fry, how much do you know about this case. What was the role of KFOR. It happened in Dardania and you said once that Dardania was the most dangerous place in Pristina.
RF: I don't like having my words to be correct as they have in this place. Let me take you back ….how could this happen? Because terrorists and murderers have such malevolent intent that they decide to do this. That is where the problem lies, not necessarily in a failure of security. There is also a responsibility with the wider community here. Kosovo is a small community. People know each other. People know what goes on. There is a great responsibility ..that you as the press and everyone here as private individuals to give us whatever help they possibly can…If we had that sort of cooperation I'm sure we would be producing the prosecution that both you and we wish we would achieve.
Q: Do you believe that we can protect ourselves.
RF: That's what organs of security are for. I would point out to you that the incidence of murders over the past year is far lower now than it was earlier on. I think that is a measure of success.
Q: You told us there are security measures for the LDK have been beefed up. Can you tell us more?
RF: It can in some cases involve some sort of close protection for the leaders, i.e. body guards.. But I don't think anyone wants to live inside a prison in the way this implies. We can increase security measures. It is distasteful for those who have to endure that because it places so many restrictions on the way they lead their lives.
Q: Claire--Could you ask KFOR given the seriously decreasing security situation on Kosovo's boundaries whether they might put a spokesman on the podium.
CT: We'll talk about it.
Q: MNB center can field their commanding officer, what about MNB East?
RF: It's unusually non-pushy of you to ask me a question directly , but I am here as a representative of KFOR.
Q: Second, for UNHCR, can you clarify details you gave us, regarding heavy mortar fire with three rounds landing control, three in Lucani…You say these came from the direction of the VJ barracks…Is this information being received from IDPs or information you are treating as reliable.
AVGS: Our staff from Gnjilane were at the border all day yesterday and today and interviewing as many people as possible and this is information we have received from them.
Q: How do we know from these IDPs that the mortar fire came from the Serb side and not from inside Kosovo?
AVGS: This is the information we received. I don't know how reliable you can say it is. But this is what was reported.
Q: Are you going to ask KFOR to lift their blocking of the boundary to enable freer movement of IDPs?
AVGS: Discussions with KFOR are presently going on and as far as I know people are still allowed to move into Kosovo. There is just increased searching of trucks, car and people.
Q: For Roland. Over the last months, the OSCE has been carrying out substantial training for Kosovo Albanian journalists. How effective has it been?
RB: I can't give you a black or white answer. What we do see is that the level of journalistic professionalism among the Kosovars--and I'm not commenting here on the internationals because we have no mandate to train them--but referring to the Kosovars, it's very varied and this is reflected in the training. Training course have been very successful. If we look at elections, for example, we are very pleased with what the Kosovo media have achieved with elections coverage. Most of it has been professionally done. Where we had aberrations were a matter of editorial policy to do so, not necessarily bad writing of individual articles. So it is improving, the level of professionalism. But I'm fully aware this job has to continue, probably for many years, and has to shift from training active journalists to recruiting and training new professionals and our emphasis will probably shift with it.
Q: Brig. Fry, having in mind the killing and bombing of the FRY representative the day before, can you see from the military perspective any connection? Do you believe there is a cell organising all these things/ Do you have any lead to get you closer to the truth?
RF: I'd be speculating. I know no more than you do about this. I think that what has happened recently is a series of violent outrages. It is possible to say they're connected, but I have no evidence that is the case. In some ways I would prefer that not be the case. I would prefer these be spontaneous and opportunistic attacks by people for whatever motive. If it was possible o identify some central orchestration that would be a very serious and sinister development. But it's certainly not one I'm able to make at the present time.
Q: For UNHCR, this big numbers of refugees …the boundary is closed. It's barbed wire. No one can get through. Are you speaking about some other crossings leading to southern Serbia.
AVGS: The information I have is the border crossing to Dobrosin is closed…I don't have details on other crossings….
Q: Is KFOR ready to help you to open the border, at least for refugees.
AVGS: As I said, the information I have is that people are still allowed to enter. If I get other information later, I'll inform you.
Q: Two people arrested for questioning in relation to the murder of Mustafa. Are they still being held? and what are their nationalities.
CT: Don't know the nationalities. I know two people are being questioned. They haven't been arrested or charged. But they have been detained for questioning.
Q: To UNHCR. You said the IDPs coming from Presevo reported heavy shellings from VJ barracks. You've sent your team to …But as far as we know,,, you have access to the Serbia, why haven't you sent your team deep into the ground safety zone or on the Serb territory.
AVGS: Our teams from Serbia have gone to that area…and we are getting reports from them now but I have no further details.
Q: Do you trust the IDP reports?
AVGS: We have to verify their reports and that's
also being done on the other side. But we have to take their reports
seriously.
Q. All these incidents are happening the day before some
important days. The first was before the xxx, now the anniversary of the
entrance of KFOR in Kosovo. Now this incident was a day before the Balkans
summit in Zagreb. What is the reason for making this pressure?
CT: It's impossible to say whether anyone has a plan and wants to highlight Kosovo. This is clearly put Kosovo on the map and has been described as marring the EU Summit. It is making sure Kosovo will be discussed at the summit.
RF: I'd draw the same conclusion as anyone with any curiosity into the subject: I think what people are trying to do is convey a political message by acts of political terrorism, and the way you convey a political message is across a council table. after showing themselves as dignified and mature as the electorate did on the day of municipal elections, they are being let down by these terrorists who are choosing to convey political messages in a completely corrupt manner.
Q: In which condition would KFOR intervene in Presevo Valley, and if Belgrade asked KFOR to intervene, would they do so.
RF: It's completely hypothetical and I have no intention of speculating. If and when such a request is forthcoming you'll be given a categorical answer. It hasn't been forthcoming up to now and I don't want to indulge in speculation.
Q: Can you contribute to questions as to whether there is any evidence of Serbian forces forcing Albanians to leave the Presevo valley and if the roads are still closed to refugees. Reports from Presevo Valley suggest that the fighting results purely from an offensive by the UCPMB…Is that true? Do you have any evidence of Serb attacks from the Serbian side?
RF: I have nothing to add to what was already
given, and that was purely anecdotal. there are no separate military
sources able to confirm this. I am aware of displaced people coming into
the central area and taking refuge in Kosovo Polje and Obilic. From them I
have nothing to add to what has already been said. The second
question…There is certainly evidence of resistance being put up by the MUP
who are allowed to operate inside the Ground Safety Zone and they have
exchange fire with the UCPMB…
How much is the conflict being dictated
by the UCPMB, very considerably. It seems a co-ordinated effort on their
part, again perhaps to send a political message.
Q: Claire, you've got a cell that should have been dealing with political violence, and as everyone knows Mr. Mustafa was a politician. Did this cell convene last night. Do you have any information from this famous cell.
CT: The cell meets regularly and yes they talked last night and from 3:15 yesterday afternoon with the report of the killing. They don't issue reports. They're there to advise and assist. It's not a cell w3hich comes together to meet and discuss and issue reports. They have contacts with lots of people and they discuss ways of going forward. One of the ways is working out ways with UNMIK Police and KFOR to increase security.
Q: Did they decide anything?
CT: They discussed with KFOR and UNMIK Police ways to increase security.
Q: Brig. Fry, you have a lot of information on crimes and organised crime in Kosovo. When three incidents happen one by one, there must be a connection. Can you tell us about reports you have received?
RF: What I have tried to do is assist the police in operations they conduct into organize crime. It's not something that I as a military organization would ever contemplate doing directly. As far as connections between the three, I have no information about that at the present time. It gives me no pleasure to say that. I would love to be in receipt of the intelligence you think I am, but unfortunately I am not.