UNMIK/PR/523
The Working Group on the Legal Framework of the Provisional Self-Government in Kosovo held its inaugural session on Tuesday, 6 March 2001. In his opening remarks, the Special Representative of the Secretary General thanked the members for having accepted their nomination and underscored the importance of the work which lay ahead. The SRSG stated that the Group was charged with drafting the regulations which would form the backbone of the Legal Framework on Provisional Self-Government. He stressed that these regulations must remain firmly within the parameters set out in SCR 1244 and that they could in no way prejudge a final political settlement.
The SRSG noted that a draft input from UNMIK had been circulated to members of the Working Group, but stressed that this input was only one contribution to the process and that UNMIK fully expected and indeed encouraged all members of the Joint Working Group to bring their own inputs to the table.
After the opening remarks of the SRSG, the Chair asked the members for their preliminary comments on the draft input which had been distributed to them. Members of the group acknowledged the input as a starting point for Working Group. They felt that the first step would be to reach an agreement on a set of basic principles which would respect Security Council Resolution 1244 and the powers of the SRSG. Members also noted that any final texts should be a joint product and should set out the political structures of a pluralistic and democratic society.
The Chair expressed his appreciation for the constructive attitude displayed by the members of the Working Group, who acknowledged the importance of the task ahead. He encouraged all members of the Working Group to submit their input regarding the set of basic principles as soon as possible. The Working Group will next meet on Friday morning at which point input from members of the group would be reviewed.