UNMIK/PR/1570
PRISTINA – Principal Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kosovo (PDSRSG), Steven Schook, today visited Peja/Pec where he had meetings with the municipal leadership including the Municipal Assembly President, Mr. Ali Lajçi, the Deputy President Mr. Smajl Shala, and the Additional Deputy Mr. Rustem Nurkovic. The PDSRSG also met with the CEO, Mr. Ramiz Zeka, and with Mr. Nexhat Kastrati, Municipal Returns Officer.
Addressing the media after the meetings, the PDSRSG said: “I was really happy to hear about the successes on education and returns. We need to work a little harder on allowing the minority community to move around more freely and to use all of the public services.”
The PDSRSG also met with representatives of the business community with whom he had friendly conversations on the economic situation. They agreed on a follow up meeting in the near future.
He then paid a courtesy visit to the Mother Superior of the Patriarchate, Mother Fevronija.
The PDSRSG also met with representatives of Serb returnees in Siga/ë and Brestovik and commented: “If I look back two years, I would have never imagined that I would be sitting in a room with participants of a successful return story praising the KPS, the municipal President and the Assembly for their support.” He added: “Once again the more important issues I have picked up are jobs, jobs and jobs.”
At a press point later in the afternoon, the PDSRSG reacted to press reports about the upcoming visit of the President of Kosovo to New York and said: “I want to make sure that everyone understands how important this visit is. Although it is an offsite meeting he meets every member, and every principal representative of the Security Council. He is speaking to them without UNMIK presence. So, for anyone to minimize the importance of what he is doing there means no understanding of what is going on.”