UNMIK/PR/1317
PRISTINA – On his first visit to Belgrade, the new DSRSG Joachim Ruecker today met Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus, other senior officials of the Serbian government and representatives of the international community.
DSRSG Ruecker said at a press conference that he had gone to Belgrade to hear the views of the Serbian government on the Kosovo economy. “It is very important to talk to each other and establish a direct, personal link. This is why I scheduled this trip to Belgrade at an early stage.”
Ruecker emphasised that the continuation of the privatisation process is essential for the economic development in Kosovo. “We cannot afford assets of enterprises to remain idle. Privatising them means that all communities will benefit – Kosovo Albanians, Kosovo Serbs and all others”, he said, stressing that the process of determining ownership is non-discriminatory.
DSRSG Ruecker asked during the meetings with senior Serbian officials for access to cadastral and other property-related records. “This will accelerate the process of determination of ownership which is in the interest of all communities.”
Referring to electricity, he called on Kosovo Serbs to recognise KEK as the power supplier and to sign contracts with the electricity company. Ruecker said that UNMIK is concerned about communities being without power. “At the moment 42 Kosovo Albanian villages and four Kosovo Serb villages are without electricity”, he said. KEK’s policies applied to everybody living in Kosovo regardless of their ethnic background.
In the context of economic development, DSRSG Ruecker asked Kosovo Serbs to take part in the institutions. “This is the best way to improve the living conditions of everybody in Kosovo.” He will continue his visit tomorrow, meeting the Head of the Coordination Center for Kosovo, Dr. Nebojsa Covic, and the EU ambassadors, among others.