18 March
SRSG Michael Steiner
flew to Skopje for talks with fyROM President Boris Trajkovski and reached
agreement on setting up a Joint Expert Committee to discuss practical
matters arising from border issues. Following the meeting, SRSG Michael
Steiner told media that the border agreement between fYROM and the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia, signed in February 2001, must be respected.
He added that "we both agreed on the need to take into consideration
the lives of normal people." The committee would not deal with
demarcation but with practical problems on the ground. The committee
is expected to meet as soon as possible. UNMIK's co-chair of the committee
will be Jean Cady, who is the head of "Pillar 1", the Police
and Justice arm of the UN Mission in Kosovo. Mr Cady is also mandated
to discuss police cooperation with the fyROM authorities and the issue
of the recognition of Kosovo number plates, travel documents and visas.
UNMIK, in co-operation
with UNHCR, announced that it was to start the registration and re-registration
of persons from fyROM with temporary protection in Kosovo. The exercise,
to be implemented through the Municipal Civil Registration Centres in
the five regions (Gjilan/Gnjilane, Mitrovica, Peja/Pec, Prishtina/Pristina
and Prizren), was to be launched on Monday 25 March. A significant number
of these persons arrived in Kosovo during the early part of 2001 and
were registered on arrival. Many have now returned home because of the
improved situation in fyROM, but UNMIK and UNHCR need to obtain accurate
information on all persons who fled the conflict in fYROM and are still
living in Kosovo in order to continue planning and providing public
services to them.
19 March
SRSG Michael Steiner
held an "intensive and fruitful" meeting with Serb members
of the Kosovo Assembly. The three main issues discussed were the participation
of the Serbs in the government in accordance with their constitutional
right; the question of returns; and the security situation in Kosovo.
At a press briefing after the talks Mr Steiner said that he intended
to continue the dialogue with elected members of the Assembly on a more
regular basis. Concerning Serb participation in the Provisional Government,
Mr Steiner explained that Serb members of the Assembly had been offered
the Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, and a
newly-created position of an assistant minister responsible for cooperation
in returns issues, and on issues of communities, within the Prime Minster's
office.
SRSG Michael Steiner
signed Regulation 2002/6 on Covert and Technical Measures of Surveillance
and Investigation that would help fight organized and other crime in
Kosovo.The regulation enables law enforcement authorities to use technical
measures such as interception of telecommunications, covert photography
or video surveillance in private places, covert monitoring of conversations,
undercover investigations and disclosure of financial data. The regulation,
which will be in force for an initial period of one year, has been drafted
so as to conform to international human rights standards.
21 March
The Government of
Kosovo met for the second time. It continued the discussion on the priorities
and progress with regard to the Government Plan and recommended it would
consult with political parties and members of civil society on the principles
of the Plan. The Government said intends to ensure full transparency
and participation of all segments of society.The SRSG's meeting with
FYROM President Trajkovski was also welcomed.
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