UNMIK/PR/346
PRISTINA— SRSG Dr. Bernard Kouchner warned the members of the Kosovo Transitional Council that the conspiracy of silence surrounding the recent and earlier killings in Kosovo would undermine what the international community and the Kosovars are trying to achieve. He told the KTC members to urge Kosovars to come forward with information about the perpetrators of crimes in Kosovo.
Dr. Kouchner said that those behind the killing were against freedom of expression, inter- and intra-ethnic tolerance and all that UNMIK was trying to achieve in Kosovo. The violence would send a negative message to the international community, he stated.
Most of the time of the KTC was spent discussing the recent killings and what needed to be done. Several members expressed their disappointment at the continuing violence and the lack of effectiveness of the UNMIK Police in dealing with it.
While agreeing with the members that the police has not effectively dealt with the problem of violence, Dr. Kouchner said that since the beginning of the mission he had been asking for more and specialised policemen, which he hadn’t got from the international community. However, he said it was not enough to complain. Every time such a crime was committed, no one was willing to come forward with any information. He reminded the KTC members that last year when a Bulgarian UNMIK employee was killed, a large number of people saw those killers. But there was no information available on the issue. The Kosovars must come forward and help the international community to effectively counter the problem of violence. Because of their linkages within the community, Kosovars are better informed than KFOR or UNMIK Police about who is involved in what crimes. “We cannot be internationals and Kosovars at the same time”, he said.
He said it would be Belgrade’s victory if Kosovo does not have fair and peaceful elections. He welcomed the idea of establishing a committee to cooperate with KFOR and Police to bring perpetrators of crimes to justice.