UNMIK/PR/113
PRISTINA – Bernard Kouchner, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, visited Partes and Gnjilane today where he encouraged the local Serbian and Albanian population to condemn violence and focus on the future.
Kouchner’s first stop was to the Serbian village of Partes where community leaders voiced their concerns over insufficient security. They also complained of a lack of income generating activities.
“For the moment there is a lack of security. UNMIK and KFOR are doing their best to provide protection, but it is not enough,” Kouchner said. “On Monday, I will inaugurate an action plan for law and order in Kosovo. Our goal is to protect the community – Serbs, Romas, Bosniacs, Albanians – all the people of Kosovo.”
Kouchner also described UNMIK’s efforts to reincorporate the Serbian workforce into local industries. In addition, municipal officers will begin distributing Emergency Financial Assistance valued at 120,000 Deutsche mark beginning next week.
The SRSG then traveled to Gnjilane where hundreds of enthusiastic well-wishers swarmed around his convoy. Dr. Kouchner met again with local leaders in Gnjilane and then walked through both an Albanian and a Serbian sector of the city.
He then hosted a town meeting, answering local residents’ questions on issues concerning them. The SRSG urged them to work closely with UNMIK and the international community to rebuild Kosovo.
“We must work together for peaceful coexistence,” Kouchner told those assembled. “This is KFOR and UNMIK’s common view – security and peaceful coexistence. Reconciliation is the goal, but it will take time.”
