UNMIK/PR/704
Pristina--Kosovo Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi today opened the first official meeting of his cabinet, laying out the priorities for the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government.
PDSRSG Charles Brayshaw was invited to address the meeting. (SRSG Michael Steiner was in Moscow today.)
Nine of 10 cabinet ministers which comprise the provisional self-government elected on 4 March attended: the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, who will be a Kosovo Serb, has yet to be appointed.
Mr. Brayshaw noted to Dr. Rexhepi and ministers that “the people of Kosovo and the international community look to you to uphold respect for and compliance with the rule of law. Under the rule of law, the people will exercise their freedom and their right to build a prosperous and stable Kosovo for the benefit of all.”
“The first challenge you face is creating an impartial, efficient and effective administration that serves all the people of Kosovo, and in which, all of Kosovo’s communities can place their faith and trust. This will in turn create the environment in which Kosovo’s future will be determined. Surely there is a desire to link Kosovo’s destiny to the rest of Europe. Achieving that goal depends on meeting the expectations of Europe for respect of the rights of all citizens.”
PDSRSG Brayshaw went on to talk about the process of appointing a “qualified and apolitical civil service.” Prime Minister Rexhepi will chair a Senior Public Appointments Committee that will appoint permanent secretaries in the ministries, in order to guarantee an apolitical interim administration. Until they are appointed, the principal international officers provided by UNMIK will perform those functions, Mr. Brayshaw said.
The SRSG and his staff will focus on policy guidance and oversight functions, in addition to continuing their responsibilities under the mandate of UN Security Council resolution 1244, in the name of the international community, Mr. Brayshaw said: “You focus should be on how that community judges your effectiveness..”
In conducting international relations, a power reserved for UNMIK, the SRSG “fully intends to include the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers,” Mr. Brayshaw said. “You will soon be engaged in building the relations throughout this region on which Kosovo’s future prosperity and stability depend.”
UNMIK also maintains responsibility for law enforcement: However, Mr. Brayshaw asked that members of the Kosovo Government support UNMIK’s efforts in law enforcement and communicate to the public its critical importance.
Dr. Rexhepi opened the meeting by outlining the directions he wants the provisional self-government to take, beginning with the full establishment of democratic institutions.
He said the process of recruiting key staff, i.e. the five advisors for each minister stipulated by the regulation setting up the executive structures, would go on through May. He said his office would particularly encourage applications from minorities.
He promised a government of “full transparency,” working in cooperation with UNMIK and KFOR.
“Every member will be held personally accountable for his work.”
As priorities he said the government would focus on economic development; reforms in education; the integration of minorities; completing the legislative infrastructure; encouraging small and medium enterprises; seeking investment from abroad; improving the quality of health care and increasing public services.
“The Government of Kosovo will be responsible for its people,” Prime Minister Rexhepi concluded. “But also asks the people to show accountability themselves.”
