UNMIK/PR/154
PRISTINA – The members of the Interim Administrative Council today had an in-depth discussion on the violence in Mitrovica and agreed to develop a strategy to improve the security situation there.
“We came together to deal with this crisis and come up with a common position on the re-establishment of law and order, to quiet down the situation and then to start a real discussion next week on a strategy for Mitrovica,” Bernard Kouchner, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, told reporters following the meeting.
“Certainly, behind the scenes, some people are putting oil on the fire. Certainly, we know that extremism exists on both sides,” Dr. Kouchner said. “I am confident that we will be able to work together to solve this serious crisis.”
The Council also assessed the dissolution of parallel structures and the status of the Bukoshi funds. KFOR briefed on the dissolution of the parallel security forces in the region and the SRSG spoke about the status of the different Serb structures in Kosovo.
Dr. Kouchner told reporters after the meeting that he would meet with Mr. Bukoshi when he returns from a trip outside of Kosovo.
“I plan to offer him to put the money belonging to the people of Kosovo in the budget for the people of Kosovo,” Dr Kouchner said. “It will take some discussion, but we were all in agreement on that.”
Work continued on finalizing the first four Administrative Departments – Local Administration, the Central Fiscal Authority, Education & Science and Health & Social Security.
Agreement was also reached on the rotation of Co-Chairs within the IAC. Hashim Thaci will serve as the first Co-Chair, followed by Ibrahim Rugova and Rexhep Qosja. PDSRSG Jock Covey will serve as the UNMIK Co-Chair within the IAC.
An agreement was reached on the payment to members of the Kosovo Protection Corps. Approximately 11 million Deutsche marks has been budgeted for the salaries of full-time KPC members and approximately one million Deutsche marks has been set aside for part-time members.
“We established the payment of the KPC members. We have the money,” the SRSG told the journalists. “Already we have spent a lot of money to rebuild barracks and other buildings.”
The SRSG was asked to comment on the official representative from Belgrade Zoran Andjelkovic’s planned move to Mitrovica. Dr. Kouchner replied that he is free to relocate where he wishes, however, UNMIK will not tolerate any parallel structures from operating.
Dr. Kouchner was also asked if a lack of money in the Kosovo budget was responsible for some of the problems in Mitrovica. Although he said a lack of money was not the main reason for the violence in Mitrovica, the SRSG said that money was needed to reopen the rest of the Trepca mine complex and other industry so that people in Mitrovica could get back to work.
“We now need to rebuild and fix the places to find the people the opportunity to work,” he said. “Reconciliation is my main long-term goal. In the meantime, I want them to work together during the day, to be protected at night, all of them. That is what we are working for.”
On Wednesday, 9 February the newly enlarged KTC will meet for the first time at 10 a.m. The IAC members, who are also members of the KTC, will also take part. The next meeting of the IAC will take place Friday, 11 February at 10 a.m.