UNMIK/PR/685
PRISTINA – The Interim Administrative Council (IAC) was told today that UNMIK hoped that all Kosovo Albanian detainees being held in prisons in Serbia would be transferred to Kosovo, possibly as early as the end of March.
DSRSG Jean-Christian Cady, head of Pillar I, informed IAC members that the authorities in Belgrade had already handed over files of a large number of theses detainees to UNMIK. There are presently 162 Kosovo Albanian detainees in the Serbian prisons. “We shall quickly translate and study these files to see which detainees have to serve out their detention in Kosovo and which detainees are political prisoners and have therefore to be released once they are transferred to UNMIK’s authority”, Mr. Cady said, adding that the Serb approach in these talks had been very positive.
Andrew Whitley, head of the Office of Returns and Communities (ORC) in the SRSG’s office, briefed IAC about the ORC and its responsibilities for the development of strategic policy on returns and integration of minorities in Kosovo. He outlined the major objective of the returns programme as follows: encouraging returns on voluntary and sustainable basis, irrespective of the ethnicity of the people, retention and stabilization of the situation of those who are living in small communities and coordinate efforts aimed at reintegration of returnees, as well as the reintegration of minority communities into mainstream life in Kosovo, with all relevant stakeholders, including the majority community.
He emphasized that the returns programme was entirely voluntary and UNMIK will not set any artificial targets or numbers. “The pace and dynamics of the return would be dictated by local conditions”, Mr. Whitley said. He added that economic prospects for the returnees were an important aspect of the programme. He urged all Kosovo political leaders to support the returns programme.
AAK member Bujar Dugolli, welcomed the returns programme, but added that this programme should be implemented in consultation with the Provisional Institutions of Self-government for it to be successful. He expressed apprehension over rumours that UNMIK would take over houses that were sold by those who had left, which would then be reassigned to those who return. He also said that no new enclaves should be created in the process of bringing people back.
Acting SRSG Charles Brayshaw, who chaired the IAC meeting, responded to Mr. Bugolli, saying it was not UNMIK’s intention to create new enclaves, but UNMIK has to recognize that those who return have concerns for their safety and they feel safe living in groups. “But this does not take us away from the overall objective that people should be able to live anywhere in Kosovo”. Mr. Whitley told Mr. Bugolli that UNMIK had no plan to reassigning houses that have already been sold to the returnees.
IAC was also briefed about two draft regulations, on Civil Emergency Preparedness in Kosovo and on Broadcasting through Establishment of the Independent Media Commission and the Media Appeals Board.
KFOR also gave an update on the security situation in Kosovo in the last two weeks.
