SRSG Lamberto Zannier responds to the release of a briefing paper titled: “UNMIK Administration for Mitrovica” by the Office for the Coordination of the Implementation for the Strategy for the North of Kosovo.
As is widely known, UAM was established in 2002 as an interim solution until such time as an agreement is reached on the municipal administration of northern Mitrovica that is acceptable to all communities.Since such agreement has not yet been reached, UAM is still performing its functions, operating on Kosovo budget funds, which are used to fund the administration of northern Mitrovica.All disbursements of Kosovo budget funds are effected through the Municipality of Mitrovica (south) and cleared by the Ministry of Finance as well as subject to normal auditing procedures.
UAM has always been sensitive to the needs of the minority communities and for this purpose has a dedicated Municipal Communities Office (MCO) staffed by non - Serbs. UAM, within its limited financial resources, also implements projects specifically for the benefit of the minority communities. Currently, there are three projects under implementation that will specifically benefit the minority communities.
The briefing paper “UNMIK Administration for Mitrovica” released by the Office for the Coordination of the Implementation for the Strategy for the North of Kosovo contains many factual inaccuracies and makes a number of unsubstantiated claims.I regret that the authors did not consult me or the appropriate UN officials during the preparation of this paper, as in doing so they would have had the opportunity to issue an accurate report.
