UNMIK/PR/338
PRISTINA—The Kosovo Transitional Council was briefed today on the SRSG Bernard Kouchner’s policy statement on the FRY elections and the escape of detainees from the Mitrovica detention centre on 2 September.
Several Albanian members said that the Yugoslav government should be told that it couldn’t hold the 24 September elections in Kosovo, as Kosovo is now administered by the international community under Security Council Resolution 1244. They said any attempt to hold elections in Kosovo by Belgrade authorities would destabilise the situation here.
The Serbian members of the KTC supported SRSG’s statement, saying the FRY elections would indeed be a farce.
SRSG Kouchner said he was making this statement (issued separately) to clarify UNMIK’s stand on this issue, as well as that of the international community,. Under Security Council Resolution 1244, UNMIK could not prevent anyone from voting in the FRY election, he said, adding however that such elections could not be held in Kosovo under the present circumstances.
Deputy UNMIK police commissioner Stefan Feller described the escape of 13 detainees from the Mitrovica Detention Centre, which he called shameful and regrettably not the first incident of this kind. He said the detention center was the responsibility of UNMIK Police, which lacks officers trained for prison duties. An internal investigation is to be completed by the end of the week.
KTC members expressed their unhappiness and grave disappointment over the incident.
SRSG Kouchner also introduced Mr. Andy Bearpark, the new DSRSG for Economic Recovery, Reconstruction and Development. And he announced a new KTC working group on gender and urged members to participate in it.
Pajazit Nushi, main organizer of the Day Against Violence, explained various activities to be carried out across Kosovo before and during 9 September.