UNMIK/PR/742
PRISTINA – SRSG Michael Steiner and head of the FRY Coordination Centre for Kosovo Nebojsa Covic met today and discussed the issues of Mitrovica and returns. Dr. Covic had requested the meeting.
SRSG Michael Steiner conveyed to Dr. Covic what he sees as the necessary conditions to address the situation in Mitrovica. He stressed the need to extend UNMIK’s authority throughout Kosovo, which means unhindered international presence everywhere, including the northern municipalities. This also means providing policing, judicial and municipal services, dismantling all parallel structures and the importance of having legitimate structures in place.
SRSG Michael Steiner also reiterated UNMIK’s commitment to the recently presented concept paper on ‘Right to Sustainable Return’, which focuses on voluntary, individual choice and sustainability. He stressed that returns should not be engineered but should take place to the returnees place of origin. SRSG Michael Steiner further emphasized the importance of all communities cooperating and political leaders supporting the returns process and sending encouraging messages to their populations.
