UNMIK/PR/937
PRISTINA – SRSG Michael Steiner today told members of the Klina Municipal Assembly that he was willing to transfer as much power as possible by the end of the year. But “to hand over power, you need a hand to receive it and the receiving hand must be able to take the weight. If you want competencies, you must be competent,” he said.
Mr. Steiner who visited the Klina municipality today, also met members of the civil society over lunch and later visited the plastering cement factory, Citadella, located on the outskirts of Klina town.
Addressing the Municipal Assembly at the start of his visit, Mr. Steiner said there are those who say that standards are obstacles on the road. “I want to tell them that they are the road”.
“Some say status before standards, as they think standards will follow automatically,” SRSG Michael Steiner said. “My question to you is: What society gets better status – A society where things don’t function or a society where things do function? So let’s first make things function in Kosovo”.
Referring to the global and regional situations, with the world attention currently on Iraq and the assassination of the Serbian Prime Minister, Mr. Steiner said “the only conclusion to draw from all this is to concentrate on our work. This is not the time for rhetoric, but the time for work, work on bread and butter issues. The issues all over Kosovo are economy, jobs and dignity and respect for all,” he said. He also urged the Assembly to support the Municipal Working Group on Returns. He said that he did not think we have to fear any direct repercussions except that the world attention is somewhere else”.
Mr. Steiner also responded to questions from the Assembly members on issues such as the missing persons, security, economy and jobs.
Mr. Steiner was visibly impressed during his visit to the Citadella factory which produces plastering cement. He told journalists that it was “private investment, very new, very modern and compatible with European standards. If the company continues like this, it would make money and employ more people”.
The President of the Klina Municipal Assembly Rame Manaj, welcomed the SRSG. He informed the SRSG about the problems of the municipality such as the high rate of unemployment. He sought more economic support for the municipality.