UNMIK/PR/1606
UNMIK Countdown #1
In June 1999, following a 78 day-long NATO campaign, the United Nations was tasked to govern Kosovo through its Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), with an unprecedented sweeping mandate to provide Kosovo with a “transitional administration while establishing and overseeing the development of provisional democratic self-governing institutions to ensure conditions for a peaceful and normal life for all inhabitants in Kosovo”.
In accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244, UNMIK established an international presence in Kosovo. Over the seven years since, as Kosovo’s Provisional Institutions of Self Government (PISG) were established and gained capacity to assume more responsibilities, UNMIK has moved back from an executive role to one of monitoring and support to local institutions. UNMIK, in its present form, is now into its final chapter before status resolution.
The transformation in UNMIK’s role is reflected in winding up of the UN’s two substantive Pillars dealing with the Rule of Law and Civil Administration, with these functions now assimilated within the Office of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG). Under the leadership of SRSG Joachim Rücker, UNMIK’s structure currently comprises the Democratization and Institution Building Pillar (OSCE) and the Reconstruction and Economic Development Pillar (European Union). Amb. Werner Wnendt heads the OSCE Pillar and Head of the EU Pillar is Acting Deputy SRSG Paul Acda.
Mandated to facilitate economic development in Kosovo, the EU Pillar includes the Central Banking Authority of Kosovo (CBAK), the Fiscal Affairs Office (FAO), the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA) and the UNMIK Customs Service. The OSCE mission in Kosovo, currently the largest OSCE field operation, is mandated to promote institution- and democracy-building, human rights and the rule of law through its specialised Departments and a field presence across Kosovo.
As of 31 October 2006, UNMIK has 2,001 national and 506 international staff (not including the EU and OSCE staff), down from a peak of 3,626 national and 1,174 international staff in the early years of the Mission (for more UNMIK staff figures see attachment). In addition there are 1,895 UNMIK Civilian Police personnel including 500 from the Special Police Units. The UNMIK budget for fiscal year 2005-06 (until 30 June 2006) was US$ 239,889,800. For 2006-07 the budget stands at US$ 217,962,000.
Note to Editors: With UNMIK in its final phase before status resolution, the Division of Public Information senses an increasing historical focus by local and international media on Kosovo. Therefore, in this special series of weekly press releases starting today, we offer news and information about the UN Mission in Kosovo during the past seven years. The press releases will seek to provide useful information about UNMIK, including quotes from officials as well as photos and web links.