UNMIK/PR/372
PRISTINA---The Kosovo Transitional Council today dispatched a three- member delegation, along with Mr. Eric Chevallier, senior advisor to the SRSG, to the Dubrava prison to meet hunger strikers demanding the release of Albanians in Serbian prisons. A medical assessment team from UNMIK also accompanied this group.
PDSRSG Mr. Jock Covey, who chaired the KTC today, informed the members that SRSG Dr. Bernard Kouchner had signed the ‘Rexhep Luci Regulation on Construction’ before leaving for New York on 25 September. He said with this legal instrument in hand and the explicit support of the IAC and the KTC, UNMIK will continue addressing this issue energetically.
DSRSG Mr. Daan Everts, who briefed the KTC about the conduct of the parties during the electoral campaign, said that the Election Complaints and Appeals Commission, had penalized the PDK in two cases and the AAK in one case, for unacceptable behaviour of their supporters at election rallies. He said if the penalties, ranging from 500 to 1000 DM, are not paid the Commission will strike the party candidates off the lists. Eight other complaints against various parties are being investigated, he said. The money would go into the fund to support resource-poor parties in their election campaign.
Mr. Everts said only 25 per cent of the election rallies had been notified the CEC. He urged political leaders to notify all election rallies, failing which the parties would be fined.
The Temporary Media Commissioner, Mr. Simon Haselock, also briefed the KTC about the activities of his unit. He said the code of conduct for the print media mirrors the ethics and self-regulatory codes of conduct in Western countries. He emphasised that it was a temporary measure, until such time as some self-regulatory mechanisms emerge. He said the independent Media Appeals Board had upheld UNMIK’s authority to regulate the media, though it had held due process should be followed in such cases. Mr. Haselock told the members that the Central Election Commission rules govern media behaviour during the election, especially on issues related to equitable access and advertising. If they had any complaint against any media, they could file it with the commission.