UNMIK/PR/894
The following statement was made at today’s press conference by Simon Haselock on behalf of SRSG Michael Steiner.
The UNMIK Legal Advisor has examined the certifications for 24 municipalities, found them to be in order, and authorized Pillar IV to confirm this together with the Ministry of Finance.
The SRSG, Michael Steiner, recognizes this important step, which is an essential precondition for the transfer of financial functions from UNMIK to the municipalities. On this basis, the SRSG intends to transfer these competencies to the municipalities concerned.
At the same time, the SRSG will monitor the certified municipalities to ensure that they comply with their obligations under the Constitutional Framework, including the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of all communities, such as fair-share financing.
Municipalities that fail to meet these obligations will face measures, including the withholding or reallocation of resources. The SRSG hopes there will be little need to resort to such measures, but this will depend on the municipalities themselves.
The devolution of authority, in line with the general policy of transferring competencies from UNMIK to local government, will give municipalities the opportunity to fulfill their important responsibilities to their constituents more effectively.
