UNMIK/PR/218
Condemning the rocket attack in the vicinity of the house of Ms. Sonja Nikolic, a Serbian representative to the Kosovo Transitional Council, on 17 April in Pristina, Mr. Javier Solana, European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, said today that this kind of violence cannot be tolerated. He appealed to the political leaders of Kosovo to “make all efforts” to stop this kind of violence.
Addressing a joint press conference this afternoon, with the SRSG, Dr. Bernard Kouchner, and Mr. Christopher Patten, European Commissioner for External Affairs, Mr. Solana said there are things which are going on very well in Kosovo, but there were things which were not “going on so well. In particular, I would like to mention the violence. There is too much violence in Kosovo and the incidents like yesterday should not be repeated”. He said Ms. Nikolic had been “working very hard to create a Kosovo in which everybody can live. This is something that cannot be tolerated or accepted”. Paying a personal tribute to Ms. Nikolic, he said she is a person with “tremendous guts”.
Mr. Solana also urged the people of Kosovo to make an extra effort in cooperation with the international community and UNMIK to ensure that the elections are held by the end of the year. He also hailed the decision of the Serbian leaders in Kosovo to participate in the international administration and added that everyone must make sure that this process didn’t slide back.
Responding to a question, Dr. Kouchner said that frequently there were allegations of involvement in criminal activities against members of the Kosovo Protection Corps. He said these cases have always been investigated and no member of the KPC has been found to be involved in these activities. Answering another question on the return of the Serbian refugees, Dr.Kouchner, said that everyone agrees on the issue of their return but “the problem is how and when”.
Earlier Dr. Kouchner had a meeting with Mr. Solana and Mr. Patten over lunch. The SRSG also attended the ceremony marking the KFOR change of command from General Klaus Reinhardt to Lieutenant-General Juan Ortuno of EUROCORPS. He also had a meeting in the afternoon with foreign minister Kukan of Slovakia and Special Envoy of the Secretary General to the Balkans. Dr. Kouchner will resume his discussions with Mr. Solana and Mr. Patten over dinner.