UNMIK/PR/1551
PRISTINA – Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Kosovo (SRSG) Søren Jessen-Petersen, accompanied by Prime Minister Agim Ceku and COMKFOR Lt. Gen. Giuseppe Valotto, today visited Decan/Decani municipality where they met Municipal Assembly President Nazmi Selmanaj and other municipal officials. This was followed by a Town Hall meeting involving frank and open discussions with the public on issues of concern to the municipality, including economic development, property issues, returns, freedom of movement and the Special Zoning Area for Decan/Decani canyon.
The SRSG stressed the unique significance of Decan/Decani as Kosovo evolves in the course of the status process. “This is a place where different communities live and [therefore] a place where the leadership can show, and is showing, that the people of Kosovo are committed to build a democratic and multi-ethnic society,” he said, and added: “The economic situation in Decan/Decani is very difficult. However, with status, investments will be coming and Decan/Decani could be a key area in the region.”
He explained the purpose of declaring the Decan/Decani canyon a Special Zoning Area. The SRSG said, “A beautiful valley, a lot of natural treasures and the Visoki Monastery, all this belongs to everybody. Everybody needs to be in a position to use the assets of the valley. But it has to be done on the basis of the laws in place. That is the only thing that the Special Zoning arrangements are about. It simply says: Let us promote all the necessary economic activities there and at the same time protect all the assets including the Monastery. So this is to the benefit of each and every citizen.”
The SRSG noted the public relief at the relaxation of security restrictions around the Monastery. “In response to the way the municipality and the people have handled the situation, KFOR has decided a couple of weeks ago to ease the protection measures around the Monastery,” he said, “And we all see now improvement in freedom of movement, which is the goal of everybody.”
One of the issues discussed was the concerns of the War Veterans Associations on the recently promulgated law on the status and rights of the war veterans. The SRSG said, “The law recognises the contribution of the war veterans to bringing Kosovo to where we are today. It is a law that aims at addressing the social needs of the families and of the veterans. All the other discussions and issues should not miss these two points. The Prime Minister and I have agreed to look at ways to accommodate some of the concerns in consultation with the United Nations in New York.”
