25 November
UNMIK Administration - Mitrovica was set up in northern Mitrovica in
the premises formerly occupied by the parallel administration. The SRSG
issued an Administrative Direction designed to streamline the exercise
of administrative responsibilities and powers by UNMIK in the northern
part of the Municipality of Mitrovica. The Direction, on "Implementing
UNMIK Regulation 2000/45 on Self-government of municipalities in Kosovo",
states that "as of the date on which the present Administrative
Direction enters into force, all responsibilities and powers accorded
to municipalities and municipal administrative authorities under UNMIK
Regulation No. 2000/45 shall be exercised provisionally in respect of
the northern part of the Municipality of Mitrovica under the authority
of the Municipal Administrator for Mitrovica". The UNMIK Administration
- Mitrovica will be the sole structure providing all local government
services in the northern part of Mitrovica. The office is headed by
Ramesh Abhishek, who is deputy to Municipal Administrator John Rogers.
He will have a staff of about 120 people.
UNMIK told the Ministerial
Conference on Organised Crime in South Eastern Europe that it would
seek greater co-operation in the region, build local capacity to fight
crime, improve infrastructure and the regulatory framework and implement
a comprehensive anti-corruption strategy to combat organised crime in
Kosovo and the region. UNMIK was represented at the Brussels conference
by PDSRSG Charles Brayshaw. The conference, organised by the UK government,
was attended by representatives from the UN, EU states, OSCE, US, Canada
and Japan. Representatives of Kosovo’s neighbours also took part.
UNMIK presented a paper entitled Areas for Priority Action. This stressed
the importance of building on the Declaration on Cigarette Smuggling,
seeking greater co-operation with neighbouring police and customs services
and seeking the establishment of a regional witness protection programme.
The day-long conference concluded with a “London Statement on
defeating organised crime in South Eastern Europe”.
27 November
UNMIK and FYROM signed a protocol on police cooperation during SRSG
Michael Steiner's visit to Skopje. Mr Steiner and FYROM leaders discussed
issues of mutual interest and cooperation. The agreement on police cooperation,
similar to those already signed with the authorities in Tirana and Belgrade,
involves exchange of information and co-operation in fighting organised
crime, terrorism, trafficking of women, drugs and money laundering.
During his first visit since the election of the new government, Mr
Steiner met President Boris Trajkovski, Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski,
Deputy Prime Minister Musa Xhaferi and Foreign Minister Mrs Ilinka Mitreva.
The SRSG told a press conference he had gone to Skopje to establish
"good neighbourly relations with the newly-elected government".
He added: "We have a regional approach and I think we have common
issues. We all agree that fighting against organised crime requires
co-operation in the region. We all agree that we have mutual interest
in further fostering trade in the region and we agree that we have to
foster freedom of movement."
29 November
DSRSG Andy Bearpark opened the headquarters of the KTA advance team
in northern Mitrovica. The new offices are located in the UNMIK Administration
- Mitrovica building until permanent premises are ready. An advance
team of KTA staff is in place and the rest of the staff will move when
office accommodation is ready. Refurbishment is underway to make the
new HQ operational. It is expected that these offices will be ready
during the first quarter of 2003
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