YouSaid · the spoken record

Annabi

lines on the record: 845
first: 1999-12-22
most recent: 2009-09-09
sittings or episodes: 45
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“On 29 August Kosovo Serb woodcutters in the Pec region reported being attacked and shot at by unidentified gunmen. UNMIK police and the Kosovo Police Service responded and were forced to call for KFOR reinforcements as the situation escalated and the firing continued. It is suspected that the situation occurred as part of ongoing protests in the area by Kosovo Albanians regarding the amount of timber being collected by Kosovo Serbs. One of the greatest obstacles to the implementation of returns-related projects is the lack of funding. In order to address this, UNMIK had extensive contact with the donor community in Kosovo during the past month and took representatives of donor countries and organizations on a visit to potential return sites. I would like to say a word on relations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“There cannot be artificial mass return. UNMIK's return policy is based on the right of individual return in an organized way so that it can be sustainable. This requires careful preparation on the ground to ensure that the physical infrastructure - meaning houses, employment and access to public services - is in place to welcome the returnees. It also requires a careful handling of relations with the neighbouring Kosovo Albanian communities to diminish the potential for return-related security incidents. The incident in Klokot illustrates the fragility of the reconciliation and confidence-building process and underlines the importance of inter-communal dialogue. There were several other incidents against Kosovo Serbs during the period under review that have also caused concern.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“On 31 July, there was a series of five explosions in an area primarily inhabited by Kosovo Serbs, in which two KFOR soldiers were injured. UNMIK has established a fund to support inter-ethnic community improvement projects in the affected village and is working to establish a mechanism to handle spontaneous returns more effectively. In this context, recent statements by Kosovo Serb internally displaced persons that they are planning to block the crossing points on the administrative boundary line with Kosovo later this month if they are not allowed to return en masse are cause for concern. Although the impatience of internally displaced persons is understandable, given the still delicate state of inter-communal relations, any action along those lines would only be counterproductive and would be harmful to the returns process.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“In August, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) arranged the first go-and-see visit, as they are called, of Kosovo Serb internally displaced persons in Serbia proper to the town of Pristina. The group was given a warm reception by the Kosovo Albanian Vice- President of the Pristina Municipal Assembly, among others. There are plans to continue such visits to Pristina on a regular basis. The anilane region has seen a considerable increase in spontaneous returns over the summer. While return is of course welcome, unorganized return can have adverse consequences. This was unfortunately seen in Klokot, in the anilane region, the day after Mr. Steiner briefed the Council at the end of July.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“Of these entities, 21 are Kosovo Albanian, 26 are Kosovo Serb, five are Roma, Egyptian or Ashkali, five are Bosniac or Gorani, and one is from Kosovo's Turkish community. The electoral campaign is scheduled to begin on 10 September. Despite divisions in opinion regarding the recent arrests, political leaders from all communities have called for the elections to be inclusive and to take place in a peaceful and calm environment. The Serbian authorities have requested that Kosovo Serbs in Kosovo be enabled to vote in the Serbian presidential elections, which are scheduled for 29 September. As was the case with the federal and Serbian elections in September and December 2000, respectively, UNMIK will not stand in the way of the Kosovo Serbs' exercising their right to vote. I now wish to turn to the return of internally displaced persons.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“Although this number may appear low, it is partly attributable to the fact that for last year's Assembly elections, approximately 104,000 people registered to vote in person from outside Kosovo. An important aspect of this year's voter service operation was the transfer of electoral responsibilities to local institutions. The municipal election commissions have had an expanded role and taken the lead in carrying out voter service activities. As of the end of August, the Central Election Commission had certified 500 out of a total of 5,500 candidates from all communities, with the remaining candidates slated for certification by the end of this week. The candidates come from a broad range of political entities, including 25 political parties, 23 citizens' initiatives, nine independent candidates and one coalition.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“The Senior Public Appointments Committee has approved the appointment of Permanent Secretaries to five of the 11 ministries. Efforts are under way to complete the recruitment to these important positions. Seventy thousand people have now applied for, and 21,000 beneficiaries from all communities have started to receive, a basic pension, following the promulgation by Mr. Steiner of the law on basic pensions passed by the Kosovo Assembly at the end of June. Turning to the municipal elections, preparations for them are proceeding smoothly. The voter service operation, which is the process of updating the voters list, came to a close on 23 August. By that date, around 3,400 new voters had registered in Serbia proper and in Montenegro.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“Steiner convened a special panel, headed by an international legal expert, to consider Kosovo Serb objections to the higher education bill adopted by the Assembly in July. This was the first time that this mechanism, which is provided for by the Constitutional Framework to protect the rights of minority communities, has been invoked. On 9 August the special panel recommended the licensing of the University of Northern Mitrovica and urged the Kosovo Serb community to take measures to integrate its establishment into a unified education structure. These recommendations will be presented for the Assembly's consideration when it reconvenes after its summer recess. Work has continued on building a professional civil service.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“Steiner on 1 September he reaffirmed the Government's commitment to continued cooperation with UNMIK. The leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, has also spoken against the use of violence, and stated that immunity did not apply automatically to all who participated in the war. The head of the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), Mr. Ceku, predictably condemned the arrests of former KLA and KPC members, but also advocated peaceful debate and discussion as the way forward. The protests that have continued - with a few hundred demonstrators on average - have been well controlled. I would like to turn now to developments in other priority areas, including the building of functioning democratic institutions and the preparation of the upcoming municipal elections. On 8 August, Mr.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“Charles Brayshaw, together with the commander of KFOR, Lieutenant-General Valentin, explained the details behind the arrests to Prime Minister Rexhepi, to President of the Kosovo Assembly Nexhet Daci, and to members of the Kosovo Serb Return Coalition. During these discussions, UNMIK emphasized the independence of the judiciary in Kosovo, which has full authority to act on crimes committed prior to the adoption of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999). Since then, the reaction of Kosovo Albanian leaders and the media has been toned down. Prime Minister Rexhepi called for the immediate cessation of protests against the international community, intimating that the response should be an institutional one rather than street protests, and in a meeting with Mr.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“The Kosovo Serb community in Kosovo and the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia also characterized the indictment against Milan Ivanovic as political in nature, and there have been protests in the northern part of Mitrovica. UNMIK has acted to calm down emotions and to dispel the idea that it was intentionally targeting former KLA members. It issued a measured statement, focusing on its commitment to the rule of law. It also briefed representatives of Member States in Pristina, and statements in support of UNMIK were subsequently made by the United States, the Russian Federation and the European Union. The Principal Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“In Decani, on 15 August, around 150 demonstrators had to be dispersed with tear gas by UNMIK police and a number of injuries were incurred by both UNMIK police and the demonstrators. President Rugova spoke out immediately against this violence against the international community, and used his influence to calm down the situation. Reflecting the sentiment in some Kosovo Albanian quarters, Mr. Rexhepi issued a statement on 19 August, calling on UNMIK to stop the arrests, characterizing those arrested or indicted as "political prisoners and hostages to the political process". The statement also questioned UNMIK's jurisdiction over crimes committed prior to its establishment in June 1999.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“At the beginning of August, KFOR also arrested three Algerian nationals on charges of photographing KFOR installations in the anilane region; two more were arrested on 16 August. The Algerian Embassy in Belgrade has been informed of the arrests. Prime Minister Rexhepi expressed full support for KFOR's actions, and reiterated that violence in Kosovo or against the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia could not be tolerated. The reaction to UNMIK's arrests of former KLA members was, however, predictably more adverse. A number of organized public demonstrations were held in different locations to protest the arrests. These demonstrations largely occurred without incident. One protest, however, turned violent.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“KFOR carried out several arrests of its own during the period under review. On 8 August, KFOR arrested 19 Kosovo Albanians in the anilane region in the context of its efforts to prevent armed extremist activities along the border with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Three days later, 17 of those 19 Kosovo Albanians were subsequently released due to lack of evidence. On 12 August, KFOR arrested three Kosovo Albanians in Pristina on suspicion of recruiting other Kosovo Albanians for armed activities in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Three more were arrested the following day. KFOR has said that most individuals thought to be seeking to recruit for, or organize, any armed activity related to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will be kept in detention until the elections, scheduled for 15 September, are over.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“Rrustem Mustafa remains in custody after an international judge ordered his detention for a further 30 days on 13 August. During the same period, on 8 August, UNMIK police and KFOR attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to arrest Milan Ivanovic, the leader of the Serb National Council of Mitrovica, on charges of attempted murder during the violent demonstrations of 8 April in Mitrovica in which 22 UNMIK police officers were injured. On 20 August, UNMIK requested the Serbian Ministry of the Interior to take the necessary steps to arrest Mr. Ivanovic, who is still at large, should he be found in Serbia proper. We understand that Mr. Ivanovic has demanded certain guarantees from UNMIK and the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia regarding the judicial handling of his case as a condition for submitting to the Kosovo judiciary.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“Several days later, five of the suspects were indicted on additional but separate charges of endangering public safety during an incident in which gunfire was exchanged in July 2000. That indictment also covered Ramush Haradinaj. Due to the relatively minor nature of the charges against him, however, Mr. Haradinaj has not been arrested. He has said that he will answer the charges against him in a court of law. On the 11 of August, United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) police arrested Rrustem Mustafa, also known as Commander Remi, a former high-ranking officer of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), on suspicion of illegally detaining, torturing and murdering five Kosovo Albanians in 1998 and 1999. This indictment stemmed from an investigation that led to the arrest of three former KLA members in January this year.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“Last month, investigations that had been under way for some time led to the issuance of indictments and to the arrest by UNMIK Police of several former members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) - including some prominent ones ~ on charges of crimes committed against fellow Kosovo Albanians in 1999. On 8 August, an international prosecutor indicted seven former KLA members held in detention since their arrest on 18 June on charges of unlawful detention and inflicting grievous bodily harm against Kosovo Albanians in the Pec region back in l999. In addition to these charges, one suspect was charged with murder. Those indicted included Daut Haradinaj, the suspended Chief of General Staff of the Kosovo Protection Corps and brother of Ramush Haradinaj, leader of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“Mr. Annabi: I am pleased to have this opportunity, as you requested, Sir, to provide the Security Council with a briefing on developments which have occurred in Kosovo since Mr. Michael Steiner, the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, last briefed the Council on 30 July. During this period, the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) has continued its efforts to uphold the rule of law. It has moved forward in its preparations for the municipal elections to be held on 26 October and has also continued to work on creating conditions conducive to the return of minority communities. I will now deal with each of these aspects successively. As regards efforts to uphold the rule of law, I should like to begin by recalling UNMIK's efforts in this regard over the past few weeks.”
2002-09-05 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4605 (2002) · source
“Mr. Annabi: My colleagues and I have taken careful note of the words of appreciation regarding the work of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) and of Sergio Vieira de Mello on behalf of the people of East Timor. I will gladly convey them to Mr. Vieira de Mello. I am also very grateful for the support expressed by all members of the Council and other Member States for the Secretary-General's report and for his proposals regarding the establishment of a follow-on mission to UNTAET. That support is very much appreciated and will, I am sure, facilitate the timely establishment of the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor Council has thus concluded the present stage of its before the independence of East Timor on 20 May. consideration of the item on its agenda.”
2002-04-29 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522Resumption1 (2002) · source
“Our deep gratitude also goes to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, for his admirable leadership of UNTAET and for his dedication and hard work alongside the East Timorese people during the past two and a half years. Finally, last but not least, I would like to pay special tribute to all the staff of UNTAET and its partner organizations for their outstanding contribution in helping East Timor to overcome its tragic past and enabling it to join the community of nations and, soon, the United Nations Organization as a full member.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“That will ensure that the international community can maximize the benefits of its collective resources and will enable the United Nations gradually to transition from UNMISET into a role of traditional development assistance, over the two-year period proposed in the report. In closing, and with the permission of the Secretary-General, I would like to pay tribute to all those who have been instrumental in allowing us to make the progress that has been achieved so far. Foremost in our minds, of course, are the East Timorese and their unflagging commitment and cooperation. In particular, I should recognize the extremely able leadership of President-elect Xanana Gusmao and Chief Minister Mari Alkatiri and their colleagues in the Government and Constituent Assembly.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“Considerable emphasis has been placed on coordinating the activities of the wider United Nations system, bilateral donors, civil society and the national development plan of the East Timor Government itself. As indicated in the Secretary-General's report, the implementation plan for UNMISET provides for close coordination of the United Nations family, including the Bretton Woods institutions, as well as bilateral donors, non-governmental organizations and the private sector. To facilitate this coordination, it is envisaged that the Resident Coordinator will be appointed Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General - as has been done with some success elsewhere, such as in Sierra Leone, for example.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“While the proposed Mission will focus its efforts on consolidating a stable environment in East Timor, there will be a continuing need for other United Nations entities, as well as bilateral and other donors, to assist the people of East Timor in developing a sustainable economy. The commitments made by Member States at the next donor conference, which is to be held in Dili on 14 and 15 May, will be essential to sustain and develop the existing basic administrative structures. We urge Member States to channel their assistance to support the 200 priority posts for social and economic development and poverty reduction, which will rely on voluntary contributions.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“While training and governance mechanisms will be put in place with the support of the Mission, there Will be a need to ensure that the police and military institutions of East Timor are adequately equipped and resourced through generous bilateral contributions. It must be understood that the timely implementation of the hand-over to the East Timorese police is linked to the logistical capabilities of the Timorese police and that increased donor support could allow the reduction to occur at a more rapid pace. The same logic of course applies to the ETDF. In addition to assistance to police and military forces, there is a need for continued bilateral support to East Timor to strengthen the institutions and structures of Government and to put into effect the programme for the medium- and long-term development of the country.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“Annex IV of the report shows the projected timeline according to which each phase will occur, subject to the attainment of certain predetermined benchmarks. In that regard, the timely conclusion of an agreement on the border between East Timor and Indonesia will be critical. Should such an agreement be reached, as we hope it will, before the end of 2002, it may even become possible to accelerate the downsizing of the force in the border area, as well as to accelerate the reduction of its overall strength. However, I cannot emphasize enough that the material and financial support of bilateral donors for the full establishment of the East Timorese police and military are essential, and that they require urgent action.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“An agreement specifying the modalities for coordination between the United Nations peacekeeping forces and the East Timor Defence Force (ETDF) is in preparation and is also expected to be signed by the Government and the United Nations at the time of independence. As the East Timor Defence Force develops its operational capability, it will gradually take on responsibility for external security. However, it is expected that in the meantime United Nations and East Timorese military forces will operate under separate chains of command and areas of operation. The Secretary-General's report provides a detailed plan to downsize the peacekeeping force in four phases, over a period of two years.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“This will ensure a coherent police service, combining East Timorese and international police working side by side, that is able to operate smoothly and to discharge effectively its responsibilities for the maintenance of law and order. The third area in which support will continue to be needed after independence is external security. The East Timor Defence Force is still in its early stages of development and subject to sustained bilateral support, it is not expected to attain full operational capability until January 2004. In the meantime, as requested by the East Timorese leadership, the United Nations will continue to be responsible for the maintenance of the external security and territorial integrity of East Timor.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“These arrangements, which are currently being discussed with the Transitional Government, provide for the gradual handover of day- to-day policing responsibilities in the districts - subject, of course, to clearly defined criteria. The first handover is scheduled to take place on Independence Day, on 20 May 2002, when an East Timorese district commander will assume responsibility for Aileu district. The final handover is expected to occur in January 2004, when the headquarters structure will be fully commanded by the East Timor Police Service. Until all 13 districts are handed over, all police officers, including East Timorese commanders at the district and unit level, will operate as a joint service under the command of the United Nations Police Commissioner, who will report to the Special Representative of the Secretary- General.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“Regarding law and order, progress in the development of the East Timor Police Service has been impressive, and a total of 1,800 Timorese police officers have received basic training and are now working alongside their United Nations counterparts. Another 1,030 police officers are to be trained to reach the target strength of 2,830. As requested by the East Timorese leadership, the United Nations police will continue to provide executive policing and to support the development of the East Timor Police Service. At independence, the United Nations plans to enter into a formal agreement with the Government on the operational arrangements for the police forces.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“It is foreseen that the mission would phase out this assistance in essential services and to the legal system by November 2003 and in financial and central services, as well as internal systems, by May 2004. Continued civilian assistance will also be provided to bring to justice the perpetrators of serious crimes committed in 1999. Investigations into the priority cases are expected to be concluded by the end of the year, and the number of international investigators will be downsized accordingly. Prosecutors, however, will need to continue to be available as these cases proceed through the judicial system.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“As the Secretary-General has noted, the follow-on mission would support three areas that are critical for the stability and viability of an independent East Timor, namely public administration, law and order, and external security. The follow-on mission would be gradually withdrawn as East Timorese institutions develop the capability to carry the burden alone. The details of how this support is to be provided are included in the implementation plan presented in the report. In the area of public administration, the mission would support critical Government functions through the provision of 100 international experts under the assessed budget.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“Similarly, with respect to the police, we identified the requirements to develop a police structure based on the law enforcement needs and budgetary realities of East Timor, and we agreed with the Timorese leadership on a development plan that is linked to specific benchmarks and provides for a progressive reduction of United Nations police personnel. As members of the Council are aware, President- elect Xanana Gusmao and Chief Minister Alkatiri recently wrote to you, Mr. President, requesting the establishment ofa follow-on mission in East Timor and expressing their concurrence with the plan presented by the Secretary-General in his report.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“The plan for an integrated peacekeeping mission post-independence, to be known as the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET), was developed over the past 12 months and draws on lessons learned from UNTAET and other missions. The most fundamental lesson is that, in order to have a lasting impact which makes the best use of limited resources, there must be a comprehensive benchmark- based strategy that must be implemented in a coherent manner and with a close partnership among the United Nations, Member States and our Timorese colleagues. With this in mind, UNTAET, together with the East Timorese, identified the requirements for 100 core functions to support the Government after independence, defined an exit strategy and took measures to enable recruitment against these functions by independence.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“Recruitment authority was eventually delegated to UNTAET, which allowed for direct consultations with senior Government officials on the recruitment of appropriate international staff. Notwithstanding the significant progress made, certain elements set out in UNTAET's mandate have not yet been fully achieved. Government structures are not yet fully functional or financially sustainable. Significant benefits from the Timor Sea are projected to flow into the economy, but not until about three years from now. Until then, it is imperative that the international community continue to provide budgetary support to the young Timorese public Administration.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“In short, there are now in East Timor the basic elements - although they are still fragile - of State and public administration. To implement UNTAET's mandate, the United Nations had to adjust its way of doing business. We are grateful, in particular, for the flexibility that the General Assembly and its Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions have shown in allowing for the provision of central support services for government, such as information technology, telecommunications and district services. Our procedures for recruiting international staff had to be changed in order to obtain personnel with the technical expertise and experience required to run a public administration. This has not been easy. There were initial shortcomings.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“As Council members may recall, United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) administration of East Timor started with an almost exclusively international staff in October 1999. UNTAET then progressively transitioned into a shared international East Timorese Cabinet and Administration during the first Transitional Government. The Government of East Timor has been run for the past eight months by an all-Timorese Council of Ministers. The executive, legislative and judicial branches of Government are beginning to function, and East Timorese civil servants and line managers are now serving in all sectors. East Timorese police officers continue to be trained and to serve side by side with their United Nations counterparts.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“Mr. Annabi: Mr. President, at the outset I wish to join the Secretary-General in welcoming President- elect Xanana Gusmao and the Chief Minister of the East Timorese Government, Mari Alkatiri, who are here with us today to participate in this important meeting. The Secretary-General has highlighted some of the achievements of the last two and a half years and the requirement for a United Nations role post- independence to the ensure the security and stability of the young Timorese Administration. I would like to elaborate further on the development and objectives of the plan for the successor mission that is presented in the Secretary-General's report dated 17 April 2002, which Council members have before them.”
2002-04-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4522 (2002) · source
“We hope that the resolution of this matter in a way that upholds the rule of law, together with UNMIK's continued commitment to determining the fate of the missing persons, will boost inter-communal cooperation as Kosovo's Government gets down to the hard work of provisional self-government.”
2002-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4498 (2002) · source
“Steiner arrived in Kosovo on 14 February have been rather busy. His familiarization with the mission and the main local actors on the ground has led him to conclude that, in order for the nascent Provisional Institutions of Self- Government to focus on the tasks ahead and for UNMIK to have a clear road-map for itself, a joint set of benchmarks is needed to act as a set of target objectives in key areas. Work is under way to identify what realistic benchmarks can be set, and we will keep the Council informed of progress. I am sure that the Council will join UNMIK in welcoming in particular the news that the Kosovo Albanian detainees have now been transferred to Kosovo. This has been an emotionally charged issue that has been an obstacle to reconciliation since UNMIK was established in Kosovo.”
2002-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4498 (2002) · source
“The first related to the establishment of a joint expert committee to address the practical situation on the ground resulting from the border demarcation Agreement between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Government of Kosovo has lent its full support to Mr. Steiner's efforts to reduce tensions in the border area by addressing these practical problems, and expressed a willingness to participate in the plannedjoint expert committee. Secondly, agreement was reached on the need to initiate police cooperation with the objective of establishing a memorandum of understanding to deal with overall crime prevention and the fight against organized crime. In conclusion, I would like to say that, as Council members can see, the six weeks since Mr.”
2002-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4498 (2002) · source
“The case files for the remaining detainees were incomplete, and those detainees will continue to be held until their records are located or until a determination can be made that their records cannot be found. A further step forward in cooperation was the first joint visit - on 13 March - to an alleged illegal detention centre in Kosovo, pursuant to the Protocol on Joint Verification Teams on Hidden Prisons. The visit confirmed that the site was, in fact, a mental institute administered by the Department of Health. Turning to relations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Steiner met with President Trajkovski in Skopje on 18 March. The visit yielded two important agreements.”
2002-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4498 (2002) · source
“The transfer was preceded by the handing over by the Serbian authorities of the court files relating to the majority ofthe remaining detainees. Those files were reviewed by officials in UNMIK's Department of Justice, including by international judges. The judicial review determined that a significant number of detainees had convictions that were legally invalid, and this information was communicated to the Serbian authorities. Accordingly, the majority of the prisoners, most of whom had convictions relating to activities during the Kosovo conflict, were released within 24 hours of their return to Kosovo. A smaller number of detainees were found to have valid convictions, and they will serve out their sentences in Kosovo.”
2002-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4498 (2002) · source
“The Special Representative has stressed that cooperation with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will continue to be defined by the Common Document through the High-Ranking Working Group. The past month has seen a great deal of activity in the two sub- groups of the High-Ranking Working Group dealing with police and judicial cooperation respectively. Lengthy negotiations between UNMIK and Mr. Covic' culminated, happily, yesterday, in the transfer to Kosovo of 146 Kosovo Albanian detainees from Serbia. The initial figure stated was 153, but during the process of preparing the transfer it was learned that 7 of them had previously been released. Mr. Steiner is very satisfied that all known Albanian detainees who wanted to return to Kosovo have now been able to do so.”
2002-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4498 (2002) · source
“The institution-building pillar of UNMIK has also brought together Kosovo Albanian civil society representatives and non-governmental organizations from Serbia to develop civic dialogue and build trust. A similar exercise was carried out by bringing Kosovo Albanian journalists to visit Belgrade media outlets with a view to promoting understanding and cooperation. A comprehensive returns package includes not only preparing the ground for returns, but creating effective mechanisms to allow the concerned communities to participate in the process. Mr. Steiner hopes that this inclusive approach that he has offered the Kosovo Serbs will be accepted, as the active participation of all communities is key to a successful returns process.”
2002-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4498 (2002) · source
“Local and regional working groups are meeting regularly throughout Kosovo to develop consensus among all stakeholders - including the majority Kosovo Albanian community - regarding returns, and to plan specific projects. A comprehensive damage assessment of 66 potential return locations has now been completed. Damage to property and related infrastructure was found to be severe and will require considerable financial assistance for reconstruction efforts. An important part of the planning process for returns is, of course, confidence-building measures aimed at promoting reconciliation and a climate conducive to return. Several reconciliation projects are under way in mixed municipalities, such as Kamenica, where a multi-ethnic youth project has been launched, and in Strpce.”
2002-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4498 (2002) · source
“Progress has been made in the fight against organized crime through the promulgation on 18 March of Regulation 2002/6, on Covert and Technical Measures of Surveillance and Investigation. This regulation is designed to enhance the investigative and prosecutorial capacity with regard to organized crime cases by enabling the police and prosecutors to use various types of covert activity. Another important step forward was the establishment at the end of February of a unit within the Department of Justice to deal with sensitive information and operations. One of the important functions of this unit will be to transform intelligence into evidence that can be used in a court of law. On returns, UNMIK's Office of Returns and Communities is currently planning returns to 25 different locations throughout Kosovo.”
2002-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4498 (2002) · source
“Feller, as members of the Council may know, is no newcomer to the Mission - he served as Deputy Police Commissioner until May of last year. We welcome the continuity of experience that his appointment will bring to the Mission. An important initiative under way at the moment is the second weapons amnesty, which began on 15 March and will continue until 15 April. This is the second weapons amnesty that KFOR and UNMIK police have run. The Council may recall that the first was last June, just before Regulation 2001/7, on the Authorization of Possession of Weapons in Kosovo, entered into force. This second amnesty coincides with the formation of the Government, which, in its first official meeting on 15 March, lent its full support to the effort to reduce the number of weapons in circulation in Kosovo.”
2002-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4498 (2002) · source
“If that rate - although it is still high - continues, UNMIK police expect the number of murders this year to be lower than in the last two years, when, in comparison, we had, unfortunately, 250 murders in 2000 and 136 in 2001. Attacks on minority communities continued, however, although less frequently in some regions than in previous months. A heavy police presence, curfews in trouble spots and several arrests have had an impact on the crime situation. Overall, UNMIK considers that freedom of movement has improved, particularly in the anilane area, where there appeared to be more independent movement of Kosovo Serbs throughout the region. The new UNMIK Police Commissioner, Mr. Stefan Feller from Germany, took up his duties on 15 March. Mr.”
2002-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4498 (2002) · source
“On 7 March key non- governmental organization (NGO) leaders agreed to work with the institution-building pillar to establish an advisory board of NGO leaders to strengthen the NGO role in the legislative and policy-making process. A key priority in the economic sector is the creation of jobs. The high level of unemployment, particularly among young people - it still stands at 50 per cent - constitutes a potential threat to the stability of Kosovo. Privatization is seen as an important means of generating economic development, and UNMIK is working hard to establish a favourable environment in which this can go forward. The overall security situation has improved over the last month, and the murder rate is declining. Between l January and ll March of this year, there were 16 murders in Kosovo.”
2002-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4498 (2002) · source
“Steiner and the Commander of KFOR, General Valentin, had lunch with the President of Kosovo, the Prime Minister and the President of the Assembly. It was agreed that this format, which has been dubbed the "2+3", will be used on a regular basis to address policy issues and to solve problems in an informal manner. Members of the Kosovo Assembly are being trained through the Assembly Support Initiative, set up by the institution-building pillar of UNMIK, to provide training in areas such as legislative ethics and oversight of the executive. UNMIK is also encouraging the strong interest shown by members of Kosovo's civil society in starting a dialogue with the provisional institutions of self-government.”
2002-03-27 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4498 (2002) · source