UNMIK/PR/1383
PRISTINA - SRSG Søren Jessen-Petersen and COMKFOR Lieutenant-General Yves de Kermabon this afternoon co-chaired a meeting of the Kosovo Protection Corps Development Group (KPC DG), in order to review progress made by the KPC. The Prime Minister and representatives of the Quint, EU, EC and Dutch Liaison Offices were also present.
The Group were overall much encouraged by the further progress made by the KPC since the last meeting in implementing Standard 8. Of particular note were the continued efforts to recruit and train ethnic minorities, the reduction in disciplinary cases by over 50% in the last 2 years, KPC Demining teams assuming Explosive Ordnance Disposal tasks from KFOR, and the formation of the Civil Protection Brigade on the 6th Jun. They agreed that the KPC must maintain the momentum of this good progress in the months ahead.
However at the meeting, SRSG, COMKFOR and the representatives of the International Community expressed their disappointment at the continued public statements by the KPC in regard to their future. It was agreed that these statements constitute engagement in political affairs, which is contrary to both UNMIK Regulation 1999/8 and the KPC Disciplinary Code, which, in line with practice in other public services, prohibit the KPC from making unauthorised statements and involvement in political affairs. SRSG and COMKFOR also agreed that these statements are not helpful in the continued implementation of Standards, and in the ongoing and impartial Internal Security Sector Reform process.
The increasing KPC speculation about the future has coincided with the unveiling of the Ceremonial Unit. COMKFOR informed the KPC DG that he had decided, in consultation with the SRSG, to suspend ceremonies performed by the Honour Guard for at least three months with immediate effect and to review its future at the end of the period. Furthermore SRSG and COMKFOR expect the KPC to continue to abide fully with its regulations, in particular those that relate to public and media statements, which if of a political nature must be approved by the SRSG and COMKFOR.