UNMIK/PR/231
PRISTINA--At a press conference concluding a two-and-a-half day tour of Kosovo, the leader of the delegation of United Nations Security Council members said they would return to New York to tell their colleagues that UNMIK is "doing a wonderful job under very serious constraints," but that the mission needs more police and civilian staff.
The group of eight led by Ambassador Anwarul Karim Chowdhury of Bangladesh departed Kosovo this morning, following a visit which took them throughout the territory and exposed them to leaders and members of every major community. The group's goal had been to see from the ground the challenges facing the UN in Kosovo in implementing its mandate under Security Council Resolution 1244 and to exhort residents of Kosovo to cease violence and support UN efforts to rebuild and reconcile.
At the press briefing, Ambassador Chowdhury said the delegation would recommend that Security Council Resolution 1244 defining UNMIK's mandate be renewed in June without changes. "UNMIK should continue its operations, and that will be our recommendation," he said.
Ambassador Chowdhury noted that this was only the second such tour recently by Security Council members to a UN mission area, the first being an excursion to East Timor. The result has been an appreciation of the size and complexity of the UN's role in Kosovo, he said.
"I am sure that when the Security Council passed Resolution 1244, it had no idea how big the task would be, how involved and engaged UNMIK would be in running the day to day affairs of Kosovo," he said. "The most important aspect that struck me was the effort UNMIK is making to build the capacity-building of institutions in Kosovo, and I think that will be the final mark that UNMIK will leave here."
Ambassador Chowdhury said the delegation's message endorsing non-violence was shared by "all the communities we met." "They seemed generally interested in living together and finding a way for peaceful co-existence. Of course bitterness and agony are there, but I think they want to look ahead, and that is what we emphasized."
The delegation was impressed with improvements in law and order and with the Kosovo Police Academy's work at building a local police force, Ambassador Chowdhury said. However, "we found a serious constraint with regard both to civilian police and civilian administrative staff. We have to address this point when we are back in New York."
The question of missing and detained persons is "something which needs our immediate attention," the delegation leader went on. "In Djakova, it was really heart-rending to see the anguish of the families, and the way they tried to convey to us the need to do something very quick and positive so that they can know the fate of their loved ones."
On the return of refugees and displaced people, the delegation encouraged the return of all to their homes, but "we should also be able to receive them properly: the question of security, accommodation and livelihood is very important."
At the same press briefing UNMIK SRSG Bernard Kouchner announced the formation of a Joint Committee on Returns, which he will head together with Bishop Artemije of the Serb National Council and KFOR Commander General Joun Ortuno. Members include UNHCR, the OSCE, UNMIK International Police; international project donors and Serb leaders of various regions of Kosovo.