UNMIK-KFOR-UNHCR Press Briefing: 29 November 2000
UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel
KFOR
Spokesman Fl. Lt. Mark Whitty
UNHCR Spokeswoman Astrid van Genderen
Stort
UNMIK Spokeswoman Susan Manuel
Bomb Scare
During a routine check of the UNMIK parking area, a security guard heard noises from a car…He called in UNMIK Police who called the Royal Ulster Constabulary. These officers agreed that the noise coming from under the hood of the car was suspicious. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) experts were called in, who carried out a controlled explosion on the hood of the vehicle. They found no bomb, but that part of the battery had been malfunctioning and emitting a strange noise.
There will be no meeting of the Kosovo Transitional Council today due to the bomb scare.
UNMIK Police
The 15-year-old suspect in the murder of a Russian soldier early this year, from Skenderaj, has escaped once again from the Pristina detention center. This young man, whom we shall now refer to as Houdini, has now accomplished at least four escapes--from either kFOR or UNMIK police detention.
The Central Criminal Investigation Unit, along with the Spanish Special Police Unit, conducted a search of three houses in Cerovik, Klina municipality, as part of an operation to find suspects of intimidation and coercion against the local population. Four suspects were detained, including a member of the Kosovo Police Service and a member of the Kosovo Protection Corps. Several weapons were found including 5 rifles, six hand grenades, an antitank grenade and an amount of ammunition were seized.
SRSG
SRSG Bernard Kouchner leaves tomorrow for Athens
to attend a conference on Albanians as majorities and minorities: a
Regional Dialogue,, sponsored by the Project on Ethnic Relations of
Princeton, NJ. From Kosovo, so far Hashim Thaci, Ibrahim Rugova, bishop
Artemije, On the first day they will discuss Kosovo, FYROM and Montenegro.
On Friday, Albania, Serbia and the role of the international
community….
Representing of all countries of the region are
attending.
Yesterday Dr. Kouchner visited the Ashkalija-Roma camp in Plementina and addressed the 700 residents in the barracks…The idea was to commemorate and express his condolences over the recent murders of four Ashkali males who had recently returned to their home village in the Skenderaj area…
Dr. Kouchner announced that he is setting up a
joint committee on returns , similar to that he established last may on
the return of Serbs. The purpose of the joint committees are to explore
ways in which minority communities can return to Kosovo in a safe
manner.
The committee will begin work in January.
KFOR Spokesman Fl. Lt. Mark Whitty
Just one media advisory. Tomorrow, Thursday, 30 November, Lord Robertson NATO Secretary General and General Ralston, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, will visit Pristina. A press conference will be held in the UNMIK Building between 12.15 and 1 p.m.
UNHCR Spokeswoman Astrid van Genderen Stort
This is an update from yesterday and this morning. Yesterday there was a reduction in the numbers of persons crossing. People who arrive stated that there was an increase in the number of checkpoints along the main Presevo-Bujanovac road. They also expressed the belief that with the reported negotiations there would be a delay in any assault in the area. We estimate that no more than 400 persons entered Kosovo seeking refuge yesterday. The estimated total since the 20 November is 3,400 people who have entered Kosovo. At Gate 5, reportedly the Serbian police had imposed (sic) on the road between Lucan and Bujanovac, the traffic of the people into Kosovo has decreased rapidly, which we already saw yesterday. The first signs of dislocation started to appear day before yesterday. Yesterday KFOR's figures of people arriving was 50 per cent lower than that of people departing. Most people travelling to Serbia were going to Konculj and Lucan but not any further.
Those interviewed said that some of the remaining villagers of Nasalce and Osllara are trapped by a roadblock by the Serb police. At the same time there were more reports of continuing build up by the Serb forces outside the ground safety zone. Tanks and other artillery were reported to be positioned near Bujanovac. The situation in the village of Ternoc seems calmer than yesterday after the extension of the ultimatum by the Serb authorities. People claim that that village is practically under siege once side by the MUP and VJ and on the other side by the UCPMB. Yesterday we saw more tractors bringing in livestock and livestock feed. There was also firewood being brought in and the tractor drivers stated that they have decided to bring firewood in, in order to ease the pressure on their hosts.
As a general observation we saw that many of the IDPs that left this week have been accommodated with relatives but also with people they are not related to at all. Our expectation is that if this continues, we will be approached for more assistance.
There have also been some people leaving and crossing the FYROM border but it's not in big numbers and people continue to cross that border. In Bujanovac, there are about 250 Serbian people stuck because the buses didn't return back and they have find accommodation with relative and friends but also in temporary community shelters.
Questions
Q: This is for the UNHCR. You have people on the other side. Has anyone made any attempt to see the condition of the people within the Presevo valley. Has any aid like food etc, been sent across since that area was cut? Do you have any access to that area?
AvGS: We have had no access there and I have no additional information of aid that has gone there. But I would get back to you.
Q: You said you have no access to the ground safety zone. Why? Who is stopping you from going there.
AvGT: We just haven't been there yet. We haven't tried it from the other side or from this side. We might get permission. No we haven't been blocked by KFOR specifically.
Q: Two days ago KFOR denied access to all international organizations and journalists into the ground safety zone.
MW: As far I am aware the only border crossing point that is closed at the moment is the one opposite Dobrosin, Checkpoint 65. There is access through all the other recognized border crossing points.
Q: The Russian troops were blocking members of the UNHCR, other NGOs and journalists from crossing from Gate 75, which goes to Konculj. That was just a point. The ICRC was investigating reports of up to 5000 people leaving Ternoc. Did that come about?
AvGS: We have heard these reports as well through ICRC two days ago. But we still haven't got any confirmation. The latest that I have from Ternoc is in fact that not 5,000 have left yet. Maybe they were planning to leave and they are still there. Apparently 500 out of the 10,000 people have left. They say there is a special MUP Police HQ in the village and some of the villagers have indicated and this is again reports from the IDPs that we have had that they have a problem leaving the village. But the 5,000 so far as we know have not left or arrived anywhere.
Q: Have you received a written request from the Yugoslav authorities to enter the ground safety zone?
MW: No as far as I am aware we have received no written request to enter the ground safety zone.
Q: The Russian troops in the border in Konculj stopped me from crossing the border on Monday night. They couldn't speak English and they didn't have any translator. I couldn't understand why they wouldn't let me across. The American soldier there with a clipboard said her was waiting to record the names of people who went across, but no one had been allowed. But he couldn't communicate with his Russian colleagues either. Would it not make sense to have units working together to understand each other and explain to passersby why they couldn't pass?
MW: Yes, but given that we have got 44,000 troops from 39 countries, it's not always going to be possible. But I will look into that. As you quite rightly mentioned there was a breakdown of communication.
Q: In the light of this morning's article in the Guardian from England, should I put Dr. Kouchner on the invitation list of AFP's Christmas party. Or should I fill it out to his successor?
SM: Due to our inability to enter the building this morning, I haven't seen the news clips. But I believe that if the party is in the area of Kosovo, he may be in Europe visiting his family during Christmas. Otherwise you could still address him as the SRSG at that time.
Q: To the SRSG, to whom it may concern, or to the SRSG, Dr. Kouchner?
SM: To Dr. Kouchner, SRSG.
Q: KFOR is a kind of intermediary between the UCPMB and MUP or VJ forces to reach an agreement on ceasefire. But we understand that people are still leaving the Presevo valley for Kosovo. Have you been discussing with the MUP and the VJ forces this issue about the IDPs.
MW: Yes, KFOR acted as a conduit to pass information between the two parties. All we have seen so far is a ceasefire. As of this morning the situation was still quiet. So both parties look committed to conforming to the ceasefire.
Q: (inaudible)
MW: Again I have no information. As far as the KFOR is concerned, we are interested in the passage of information and primarily the ceasefire to stop the fighting. That's the first step towards a peaceful solution.
Q: What is the peaceful solution?
MW: It's the first step. Who knows? I don't know? And it's going to be a long time in coming. But it's the first positive step and any positive step has to be a good omen.
Q: Is there any possibility that the Military-Technical agreement could be renegotiated?
MW: My understanding is that no one is looking at rewriting the Military-Technical agreement. We have confidence in it.
Q: President Kostunica is quoted has suggesting that probably it's a good idea to have joint patrols between the KFOR and the VJ in the Presevo valley. Could KFOR comment on that please.
MW: We have no information regarding that. As far
as I have heard there are no plans for joint patrols in the ground safety
zone.