UNMIK/PR/566
PRISTINA---The chairman of the Joint Working Group on the Legal Framework, Mr. Alexander Borg-Olivier, issued the following statement today:
“The Joint Working Group, which has been meeting since 6 March, has produced a draft of the document, which would provide the legal framework for the provisional institutions of self-government in Kosovo. The draft document reflects the work of the Group as of 17 April. On behalf of the Joint Working Group, I have forwarded a copy of this draft document to the SRSG for his review. The draft will be made available to the media in the next few days and the KTC with a view to promoting wider discussion.
“We will welcome reactions which we expect this draft document to elicit. We hope that such reactions will be expressed in the same spirit which guided the work of the Joint Working Group – one of constructive compromise, with the common goal of seeking consensus on the legal basis for meaningful provisional self-government for all the people in Kosovo in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1244.
“Unfortunately, unofficial versions of the draft document have prematurely appeared without authorization in the press. These documents do not accurately reflect the work of the Group. Nor do these unauthorized publications reflect the seriousness with which all the members have participated in the work of the Working Group for so long. The legal framework for self-government is too important for all the people in Kosovo to be subject to such actions which have caused unnecessary confusion for the public.
“Finally, I wish to thank all the members, particularly the local members, of the Joint Working Group for the dedication, commitment and high level of professionalism which they have displayed throughout the process to date.”