UNMIK/PR/128
PRISTINA--The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Bernard Kouchner, had an Orthodox Christmas meal today hosted by Bishop Artemije of Raska and Prizren, as well as other monks and nuns living in the Orthodox Monastery of Gracanica, a largely Serbian community near Pristina.
Following the lunch, Dr. Kouchner told journalists that he hoped that Bishop Artemije would join the Interim Administrative Council, which held its fifth meeting this morning. Of the four seats for Kosovars on the IAC, one is reserved for the Serb minority, who have yet to nominate a representative. Artemije told Kouchner that an answer at this time would be premature.
"It is my deep concern that we must have the Serbs to work on a realistic plan for the future of Kosovo," Dr. Kouchner said.
Asked whether he would support Serb enclaves governed by Serbs, Dr. Kouchner that security for Serbs and other minorities remained a major, if not the major concern for UNMIK. That was why he introduced recently an 'Agenda for Co-existence' which would ensure that utilities, transport, security and other services be available in or near communities at risk. He echoed Bishop Artemije's response that democracy would in the end be the best solution to the problem of insecurity, but that building a true democracy would take years. In the meantime, steps were being taken to improve the situation for Serbs, Dr. Kouchner said, citing the growing Serb interest in the Kosovo Police Service Academy where 30 Serb cadets are among the second class to attend.
Asked why the Kosovo Protection Corps was headed by General Agim Ceku, the former KLA commander, Kouchner responded that in every situation where the United Nations is mandated to restore peace to a war-torn country, it must transform fighters into civilians and armies into civil agencies, which was the role of the KPC, the emergency response agency designed to absorb many of the former KLA members.
Kouchner re-iterated the need for money to ensure the protection of all people in Kosovo and noted that of 6,000 international police he has requested, less than 2,000 have been deployed to Kosovo.
"People all over the world think Kosovo is over, and it's quiet," Kouchner said. "We must make people more aware. We must change the spirit of people. But we can't protect anyone with our bare hands."