7 May
SRSG Michael Steiner
announced that municipal elections would be held across Kosovo on 26
October 2002. He explained that a delay in passage of the OSCE elections
budget, which had been approved on 19 April, caused a delay in beginning
operational procedures for the elections and, consequently, a change
in date from 21 September, as announced earlier. "Six months is
the minimum amount of time necessary to conduct elections of this type
in accordance with the highest international standards," the SRSG
said. "And those standards will be maintained."
UNMIK and UNHCR
officials briefed representatives of donor countries in Pristina on
their assessments and plans for facilitating the returns of non-Albanian
displaced persons to Kosovo. "Respect for the right of Serbs and
other minorities to return and to remain is a key benchmark for the
development of Kosovo society, and for entry into Europe," SRSG
Michael Steiner said in opening the donors' briefing. He and Werner
Blatter, UNHCR regional co-ordinator for South-East Europe, stressed
the role of individual choice in the decision to return. Neither organization
would sponsor "politically-driven" returns, they said.
9 May
Following his meeting
with member of European Parliament Doris Pack, SRSG Michael Steiner
shared a "Europe Day" message with the people of Kosovo. "The
European Union was created 52 years ago today, founded on the basic
principles of respect for democratic institutions, human rights and
the rule of law," the SRSG said. "These fundamental values,
as well as diversity of cultures and traditions, have formed the basis
of European integration over the last 50 years." He stressed that
for Kosovo Europe Day was an opportunity to look back over the last
few years and reflect on the progress that had been made. "The
future of Kosovo is in Europe," Mr Steiner declared.
In addressing the
Kosovo Assembly, SRSG Michael Steiner said that UNMIK was transferring
step by step authorities and responsibilities from the international
community to institutions of provisional self-government. He stressed
once again that Kosovo's progress towards normalcy and integration with
Europe hinged on "whether all communities can live side-by-side
in security and dignity. Security is not just about physical safety-it's
about homes, jobs, education, public services," the SRSG explained.
He also stressed that there would be "no partition of Kosovo and
no return to the status quo ante of 1999".
SRSG Michael Steiner
went to Gjilan/Gnjilane to re-assess the relief work which was ongoing
since the earthquake. He visited the village of Gornji Livoc, which
is a mixed village where Albanians and Serbs are engaged in mutual projects,
such as establishing a joint school, ambulanta, and are preparing for
returns of former residents.
The Ministry of
Culture, Youth, Sport and Non-Resident Affairs announced the opening
on Friday, 10 May, of two Touring Exhibitions by renowned Kosovan painters.
Both exhibitions-one in Kacanik by Haki Xhakli and the other in Ferizai/Urosevac
by Avni Behluli-will run until 23 May.
10 May
A regional conference
to discuss ways to combat cigarette smuggling was held in Pristina as
part of UNMIK's efforts to fight organized crime and corruption and
create conditions for economic growth. The event was attended by ministers
of finance and customs directors from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia, who discussed solutions to to the smuggling which leads
to significant loss of public revenues.
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