UNMIK/PR/1660
PRISTINA - “Monday of this week was a turning point in the history of the status process,” said SRSG Joachim Rücker today in Gjakovë/Ðakovica. The SRSG was addressing a full auditorium of citizens in a town hall meeting, together with President Fatmir Sejdiu and a representative of KFOR Multi-National Task Force West. The panel was chaired by Aqif Shehu, Municipal Assembly President.
Noting that the proposal of Special envoy Martti Ahtisaari had finally become known in both its elements, Rücker said: “Until Monday we hadn’t known Mr. Ahtisaari’s recommendation and his recommendation is independence, initially supervised.”
Calling it “good news which provides long awaited clarity,” Mr. Rücker stressed that the UN Secretary-General fully supports the proposal.
Commenting on various elements of the package he said the provisions related to decentralisation, cultural heritage protection and protection of minority rights are in line with international standards. He also stressed that the package contained provisions to ensure that the Kosovo Property Agency (KPA) and the privatisation process continue, as well as ensuring a proper separation of assets and liabilities with Serbia.
On privatisation he recalled that two years ago there wasn’t one single privatisation in Gjakovë/Ðakovica and that now more than ten had been carried out successfully, with more to come. He mentioned the example of the recently privatized Hotel Pashtriku.
The SRSG also addressed the issue of Missing Persons, which he called “a particularly difficult issue for Gjakovë/Ðakovica” and said: “No one can possibly know the pain you feel, unless they share your tragedy.”
The meeting was part of a series of such sessions the SRSG has attended in an outreach programme aimed at touching base with as many members of the Kosovo society as possible.
