UNMIK/PR/532
The Interim Administrative Council today issued the following statement on the border closing with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia:
“The Interim Administrative Council expresses its concern over the negative consequences for the people of Kosovo of the closure of the border between FYROM and Kosovo.
“The IAC is also gravely concerned at the social and economic consequences of this situation.
“The IAC requests the FYROM authorities to re-open the border crossing points to normal traffic immediately.”
The bulk of today’s IAC meeting was spent with members of the Working Group on the Legal Framework. IAC members offered their full support for the task taken up by the group, which had met three times before today.
The Kosovo Albanian members of the Working Group expressed their disagreement over a few issues including the title of the document. However SRSG Hans Haekkerup advised that since the Working Group is the body responsible for drafting the Legal Framework, they should proceed now with the more technical aspects to the legal framework and revert to the questions in contention at a later period.
Mr. Haekkerup reminded them that the United Nations Security Council was the final arbiter on the interpretation of Security Council Resolution 1244 and that the current work should stay within the parameters of 1244, while not excluding proposals from outside sources, in addition to UNMIK’s input, which has been the starting point for the group’s work.
In the regular session of the IAC, COMKFOR General Cabigiosu noted the ceasefire agreement signed yesterday regarding the Presevo Valley and the agreement with the FRY government and Yugoslav army regarding changes in the Ground Safety Zone. He said KFOR was controlling the border with FYROM in the area of conflict, and that the FYROM authorities had no reason to continue the closure of the international border crossing points.
SRSG Haekkerup described his meeting yesterday with representatives of the Kosovo Serb community in northern Mitrovica and Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic, saying that while no agreement had been reached, the dialogue would continue on the how to ensure security to the Serb community in the northern side of the city at the same time as free access to the area by Kosovo Albanians.
Finally, IAC member Hashim Thaci raised concerns over the pending demobilization of the reserve contingent of the Kosovo Protection Corps, and Mr. Haekkerup agreed that the issue should be on the agenda of an upcoming IAC meeting.