UNMIK/PR/562
PRISTINA---SRSG Hans Haekkerup told the member of the Interim Administrative Council today that the Joint Working Group on the Legal Framework was still working on the final draft and its translations into the three languages.
He assured IAC that this work should finish in a week or two, adding that there was agreement on 99 per cent of the document though the last one per cent would involve very tough negotiations. He said participation of the Kosvo Serbs was politically very useful.
The Albanian members of IAC presented their views on some of the pending issues that have remained unresolved by the Joint Working Group, such as the official name of the document, the Presidency, the constitutional court and the right to hold a referendum.
While welcoming the work done on the document, the Kosovo Serb member said Serbs should have been present in the meetings of the Joint Working group right from the beginning. He said the legal framework would help facilitate creation of self-governing institutions in Kosovo, but it should be called the provisional legal framework.
SRSG emphasised that the legal framework was only for the interim period and, while it was clear that it was not a final settlement, it would be useful in getting there.
Later responding to a question by journalists on the unresolved issues, Mr. Haekkerup said that if there is no agreement on those issues, he will have to take it up with the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, for a final decision. To another question about the election date, he said he hoped to announce one soon but it depended on the finalisation of the Legal Framework.
Mr. Haekerup also briefed the members about the Contact Group meeting in Paris last week and welcomed the Russian stand at the Paris meeting, in which they had supported holding elections, for the first time, without any conditions.
During the IAC meeting, Mr. Haekkerup also mentioned the problems in the northern municipalities of Kosovo over the tax collection points on the boundary with Serbia. He said it should be clear that revenue was needed for the Kosovo Consolidated Budget, but it should be done in a way that no extra burden is put on any community.
SRSG also briefed IAC about his trip to Albania, where he met the President, the Prime Minister and the foreign minister.
IAC endorsed the draft regulation on the Social Assistance Scheme in Kosovo, under which certain individuals and families falling within the categories in the regulation will be provided financial assistance.
IAC also unanimously issued a statement condemning the killing of the Russian KFOR soldier last week. The statement said:
“IAC is appalled at the shooting of the KFOR soldier on 11th April while serving to provide a safe and secure environment in Kosovo. IAC members strongly condemn the shooting and denounce any targeting of international peacekeepers. IAC appeals to the people of Kosovo to respect the presence of the international security force and to provide support in finding the perpetrators of this unacceptable act. IAC expresses its condolences to COMKFOR, the Russian Military contingent and the family of the soldier”.