UNMIK/PR/337
The Interim Administrative Council today endorsed a draft regulation establishing the Department of Trade and Industry.
They were briefed by Mr. Pajazit Nushi of the Council for Human Rights and Freedoms on preparations for the 9 September "Day Against Violence," which will be organized in seven towns and cities around Kosovo. In Pristina, SRSG Bernard Kouchner and local leaders will lead a march at 12 noon on Saturday, starting with speeches in front of the National Theater. A round-table discussion on the event's theme--"Kosovo Without Violence-Our Future" will be broadcast Friday evening on RTK, and event organizers will describe further activities in a press conference at UNMIK tomorrow at 11 a.m.
The IAC also discussed the recent escape of detainees from the Mitrovica Detention Center. SRSG Kouchner said an investigation into the circumstances would be completed soon and shared with the IAC.
The discussion on a proposed agreement between the Kosovo Electric Company and the Serbian power company was to be revived at the next IAC meeting, when the parameters of the Kosovo Consolidated Budget for 2001 will also be on the agenda.
In other business the IAC discussed the FRY elections scheduled for 24 September.
Following the IAC meeting, Dr. Kouchner met briefly with media to clarify his earlier remarks on the FRY elections: "I have never been asked to organize elections," Kouchner said. "Secondly, I refuse to organize them, as in 15-20 days, a free, fair and democratic election is not possible. In addition, one of the candidates is an accused war criminal; the voting list is not ready; they intend to count ballots in Serbia, and so on. We are not organizing (FRY) elections here. But I am in charge of security, and we will provide security for people, to protect human lives and communities, as we do every day here."
He added that FRY election activities would be barred from public buildings in Kosovo.
Dr. Kouchner said that several thousand additional KFOR troops would come to Kosovo for the 28 October municipal elections.