UNMIK/PR/807
Since its arrival in Kosovo and under UNSC 1244, UNMIK has been mandated with establishing the rule of law.
Not only the Security Council and the international community, but also the people of Kosovo have demanded that we do so.
Creating a society that respects the rule of law is a benchmark which Kosovo must achieve before any discussions on final status can take place.
We regret today’s statement after the Government’s meeting, which imputes a political motivation to recent arrests.
Recent arrests were the results of long and complex investigations, some begun as early as 1999, by UNMIK Police.
The judicial process is being followed as set out in the applicable law as established by UNMIK regulation in late 1999. This law is the law applicable in Kosovo in March 1989, unless superceded by UNMIK regulation.
There is no political aspect or motivation to any of the arrests. The arrests have been conducted against individuals suspected of serious crimes, not against any group or organization to which they belong or may have belonged in the past.
Independent prosecutors must prove their cases in courts, before independent judges. UNMIK officials have not and will not intervene in the judicial process.
The law will also be carried out regardless of ethnic, national or political affiliation of the suspects.
As the responsible judicial authority here, the Kosovo judicial system has the mandate to prosecute all crimes past and present for which the statute of limitations has not expired.
Several Kosovo Serbs are also imprisoned for crimes committed during the war period.
All those suspects arrested will receive all rights accorded them under law and their cases will be processed as quickly as possible, with fair and objective justice.
We appreciate the Government's commitment to realize its Programme and remind its members that authority over law and order rests with UNMIK.
