UNMIK/PR/108
PRISTINA - On the last leg of his visit to neighbouring countries, SRSG Bernard Kouchner met yesterday afternoon in Tirana, Albania, with the President of the Republic, Rexhep Meidani, Prime Minister I. Meta and Deputy Foreign Minister B. Blushi, all of whom stressed that stability in Kosovo meant stability in Albania. They also expressed their appreciation for the work that the Special Representative was doing under difficult circumstances, as well as their support for democracy and tolerance in Kosovo. With the President of the Republic, Dr. Kouchner discussed the situation in Mitrovica, the importance of holding local elections as soon as possible and the fate of missing persons and detainees.
They also reviewed the political situation in Kosovo, and the SRSG briefed the President on the progress of establishing a mixed administrative structure with the participation of Kosovar political parties.
The Prime Minister and SRSG agreed on the need for a regular exchange of visits by UNMIK economic advisers, UNMIK Police and other technical experts. Prime Minister Meta raised the issue of opening a representational office in Pristina to support the work of UNMIK, staffed by experts in education, law and finance. The question of holding early elections as well as cooperation in fighting illegal trafficking and other crimes was also discussed.
At a press conference following his meeting with the Prime Minister, the SRSG noted that Mitrovica was a difficult problem and that UNMIK was doing its best to re-establish confidence between the two communities. “Our challenge in Mitrovica is to establish, step by step, multi-ethnic initiatives and to try to build confidence between Serbs and Albanian Kosovars,” Dr. Kouchner said.
This morning, before returning to Pristina, Dr. Kouchner met with the Minister of Health to discuss possible cooperation and joint projects to improve hospital management in Kosovo. They talked about the difficult situation faced by minorities in Kosovo, particularly Serbs and Romas, in obtaining treatment in hospitals in Kosovo. Both agreed on the need to substitute revenge for tolerance in the medical field.
