UNMIK/PR/249
While several dozen war veterans and invalids demonstrated outside the UNMIK Government building today, SRSG Bernard Kouchner met with their representatives to plan ways to improve their access to medical care and living conditions.
Hashim Thaci, member of the Interim Administrative Council and Hanna Vuori, co-head of the Department of Health and Social Security, also participated in the meeting.
Several quick measures were suggested, including the waiver of hospital fees for veterans and their families and the possibility of free treatment at Kosovo's two rehabilitation centers. Dr. Kouchner said he would also seek resources to send the most severely damaged veterans abroad for treatment.
The group also discussed the demand for pensions, which the Kosovo Consolidated Budget currently has no funds to pay.
It was also agreed that a working group of Health & Social Security department co-heads and war veterans would be established with the aim of full re-integration of all veterans into Kosovo society