UNMIK/PR/1514
PRISTINA – Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) Søren Jessen-Petersen today welcomed the announcement by Prime Minister Agim Ceku of the full opening of the Pristina-Skopje highway that had been blocked by a landslide in the Kacanik area in January. The Prime Minister, accompanied by the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Interior, today visited the site of the landslide together with COMKFOR Lt. Gen. Giuseppe Valotto and the KPC Commander Maj.-Gen. Sylejman Selimi.
The SRSG said: “The massive landslide in Kacanik was an act of nature that severely tested the emergency response capability of the Kosovo institutions, together with their international partners. We had all initially underestimated the enormity of the problem. However, as its true magnitude was realized, the Provisional Institutions of Self Government (PISG) were quick to adapt their approach to meet the requirements of the challenge. In this they had very good support from KFOR, the Kosovo Protection Corps and UNMIK.
Now, the opening of this vital road link between Pristina and Skopje, which has happened within a very reasonable timeframe by any expert standards, is truly an achievement that the Kosovo institutions can be proud of. Of course, the longer term stabilization measures for the mountainside will continue, but I am happy to know that the earth-clearance and restoration of safety measures have so speedily progressed to a degree as to enable the full operation of traffic on the highway.”
