UNMIK/PR/534
PRISTINA--- The Kosovo Transitional Council today discussed the problems facing Kosovo in the town of Mitrovica. The Principal Deputy to the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Mr. Gary Matthews said that Mitrovica had been the topic in the meetings with Kosovo Serb leaders two days ago and with Kosovo Albanian leaders yesterday. He reiterated the stance that only KFOR, UNMIK Police and the Kosovo Police Service are responsible for providing security in Kosovo.
The UNMIK Regional Administrator for Mitrovica, Mr. Anthony Welch said Mitrovica was a stage where many of the problems in Kosovo are played out, both between and within different ethnic communities.
Mr. Welch then referred to the declaration agreed to by UNMIK, KFOR and the Kosovo Albanian political leaders on 1 February this year to solve the problems in Mitrovica. He said UNMIK was now in talks with the Kosovo Serb representatives in order to get that agreement endorsed, but that ‘this can’t be done over a night.’ He expressed the need for a dialogue, and expressed his regret that both communities had declined to participate in meetings in London earlier this year.
Mr. Welch continued saying that every day more than 1,500 people travel from the southern part of the town to the north, calling Mitrovica ‘a multiethnic city.’ He expressed the need for expanding the confidence zone also in the northern part of the city, but that such an area of confidence wasn’t made with ‘barb wire, bricks and soldiers on each corner.’ He stated that if Mitrovica is to be reunited, it is crucial to give the people in the north the feeling of security.
An intensive discussion followed the statements made by Welch and Matthews. The need for a dialogue was emphasised by several parties. Some had critical remarks on the functioning of the municipal assembly in the town, whilst others raised the issue of the presence of the bridge watchers.
Gary Matthews told the members of the SRSG Hans Haekkerup’s trip to New York, where he is to address the UN Security Council. The PDSRSG also expressed his satisfaction over the recent release of 148 Albanian prisoners held in Serbian jails, and reiterated that UNMIK will continue its efforts to get all the prisoners released.
The Deputy Commander of KFOR, General Georges Ladeveze briefed the Council on the latest events on the border to FYROM and boundary to Serbia proper. He mentioned the cease-fire agreement between the Albanian and Serb side in the Presevo valley through the efforts of NATO and KFOR, and the reduction of the Ground Safety Zone in a 5X5 kilometres area on the border between Serbia and FYROM. General Ladeveze said that KFOR, through its Joint Implementation Commission was in close contact with the FRY forces to ensure that the entry of the Serb troops happened in an acceptable manner.
The general said that everything was done to contain the situation on the border between Kosovo and FYROM, and that KFOR used helicopter and aerial recognisance assets to monitor a terrain with steep hills and dense forests.
Many of the Albanian council members called the return of Serb forces to the Ground Safety Zone a ‘provocation’ and a ‘dangerous experiment,’ whilst the Serb representative was pleased by the initiative. The cease-fire agreement was welcomed by many of the members.