UNMIK/PR/263
PRISTINA---The European Parliamentary delegation today attended an extraordinary session of the Kosovo Transitional Council, where it had a free exchange of views on a wide range of issues with KTC members on the situation in Kosovo and ways to improve it. They told Kosovar leaders that every citizen had a right to live in peace and harmony, irrespective of religion or ethnicity and that the politics of revenge was not acceptable.
In her introductory remarks, leader of the delegation, Ms. Doris Pack, told the members that the European Parliament was one of the first bodies to discuss the developing situation in Kosovo. “We represent a body which has cared about Kosovo for 10 years. We have the right and the willingness to help you to co-exist and help you build institutions to co-exist. Kosovo should be a place where everyone can live”. She said that the delegation was in Kosovo to ascertain how much money was needed to help in building its institutions.
Another member, Mr. Terence Wynn, in his comments urged the KTC members not to dwell on the past but to look to the future. He said they had met Kosovar leaders who had all told them about the problems in the past. “We are well aware of that. We would appreciate it if you could suggest ways to solve the problems”.
Another parliamentarian said that they had heard a lot of complaints about the failure of KFOR and UNMIK Police to stop or control violence. “It is impossible for KFOR and the police to prevent all these incidents. You as Kosovar leaders have a role to play. You have not only to condemn it but also to show your compassion”, he said.
Serb members of the KTC complained about the recent spate of violence against the Serb community in Kosovo, which they termed as “classic terrorism, based on ethnic discrimination of the worst kind”. They said it was the responsibility of the European Union and parliament to stop it, “since you have the means” of doing so, and that if the violence continues, the future participation of the Serbs in the joint bodies would be doubtful.
The Albanian members of the KTC raised the issue of the missing and detained persons. Several members disagreed with the assessment that UNMIK and KFOR had failed to perform their function properly. They urged the parliamentarians to help build Kosovo economically and socially.
The Turkish member said the Turkish community was boycotting registration because registration forms in Turkish were not available. He said Turkish should also be recognised as an official language of Kosovo along with Albanian and Serbian.
KFOR Maj. General Jean Philipe Wirth discussed the security situation and the recent attacks on the Russian KFOR soldiers, which he said KFOR considered an attack on the whole of KFOR. Asked about the rules of engagement of national contingents, he said that each had it own “limitations” and was free to define its commitments, within NATO doctrine and standard operating procedures.