25 June
The Economic and
Fiscal Council (EFC), which met on 24 June 2002 for the second time
in Pristina, discussed the issue of unregulated gambling activities
in Kosovo. It took note of SRSG Michael Steiner's decision to issue
an administrative direction to regulate gambling activities in Kosovo
as a temporary solution until the Kosovo Assembly adopts a law on this
subject. SRSG Michael Steiner chaired the second meeting. The recently
appointed Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development,
Goran Bogdanovic, attended the Council for the first time. His appointment
completes the membership of the Council. The EFC discussed, among others,
the draft legislation on Public Financial Management and Accountability,
amendments to the VAT Regulation and the Excise Regulation and the progress
report on coordination of economic legislation between PISG and UNMIK.
26 June
The UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean
Marie Gueheno briefed the Security Council on the latest situation in
Kosovo, focussing particularly on the completion of the government,
the forthcoming municipal elections, rule of law and refugee returns.
He said that, as preparations continued for the municipal elections
scheduled for 26 October, prospects for multi-ethnic participation were
encouraging. UNMIK had received a high number of minority political
parties applying for certification and by 14 June, the mid-point in
the certification process, more than 40 per cent of all applications
had been submitted. Regarding enforcement of the rule of law, he said
UNMIK had arrested four members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA)
on 18 June, and two more had turned themselves in to UNMIK Police the
following day. He said a total of 874 refugees had returned in the first
five months of 2002, 43 per cent of them Kosovo Serbs.
The decision of the FYROM Government to abolish visas for holders
of UNMIK Travel Document, was welcomed by UNMIK. The decision came into
force on 26 June 2002, and follows discussions between UNMIK and FYROM,
aimed at easing movement of people between Kosovo and FYROM. It will
help those who are seeking visas from foreign embassies based in Skopje,
those medical help or people who want to meet relatives.
28 June
PDSRSG Charles Brayshaw
addressed a Women's Parliamentarian Conference held in Pristina between
27-28 June 2002. "Kosovo has made a long and painful journey over
the past decade", he said, adding that the women must now draw
from their common experience as women to join the rest of society in
correcting the ills that were so evident over the past decade. "Your
potential as women often brings you closer to the real needs of families
and communities where many of Kosovo's most serious problems are rooted",
said Mr. Brayshaw. Calling Kosovo women among the most dedicated and
talented workers of this society, Mr. Brayshaw reminded the conference
that, with the statuette of the Goddess on the Throne, recently brought
back to Kosovo, they should be reminded of the central role of women
among people who inhabited this land 6 millenia ago. 'Use her as your
symbol of inspiration to create a Kosovo society where it is not thought
unnatural for women to hold power, where there is substantial equality
and where women join men as equal partners at the centre of social and
political life', he concluded.
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