PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL’S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR KOSOVO

The general support received from the Security Council this morning for the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) had been very encouraging, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Kosovo, Michael Steiner, told correspondents this afternoon during a press conference at Headquarters.

Mr. Steiner had briefed the Council this morning for the last time as he would be leaving next week.  He said that when he arrived there in the beginning of last year, there was no government, there were still prisoners of war, and there were no mechanisms to deal with the “old monsters” of socially owned companies.  Now, a multi-ethnic government in place, there were no prisoners to be transferred, and in Mitrovica there was a mixed police force.  A privatization campaign had also been launched.  The public discourse in Kosovo was now much more rational and future-oriented.

In all of the eight “benchmarks” that had been established to measure progress in Kosovo, the groundwork had been laid for a new phase.  There were functioning institutions, including a multi-ethnic police with a crime-solving rate of 17 per cent.  Multinational security force (KFOR) checkpoints around ethnic enclaves had been removed because they were no longer necessary, and minorities felt greater freedom of movement because they now had licence plates that did not show their origin.  The pace of return of displaced persons was still slow, with 1,100 returns over the last period, but there were structures in place to improve that.  Also, the Albanian majority had accepted returns, and Albanian leaders had published a document urging all displaced people to return with the offer of providing the necessary facilities.

The unemployment rate of 57 per cent was the main economic problem, he continued, particularly for young people.  However, a modern economic legislative framework had been provided; privatization was ongoing; and a process of subregional free-trade agreements had been launched, which was important for attracting outside investments.  Property rights were also being addressed.  The direct dialogue with Belgrade on practical issues was now finally on track.  The Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), an institution in which former Kosovo Liberation Army members had been included after disarmament of the “freedom fighters”, had been restructured and had been reduced to 3,000 members, including minorities.  Procedures were under way to eliminate those members who were close to crime and extremism.

He said it was clear that in all eight areas, the groundwork was laid for the next phase on which his successor could build and concentrate on further improvement of the standards and also on the issue of the relationship with Belgrade.

Asked about criticism from the representative of Serbia and Montenegro, he said it was essential to have a productive relationship with Belgrade.  As an example of problems, he cited the case where an agreement on UN licence plates for minorities had been reached, but where Belgrade refused to sign it out of fear of recognizing Kosovo.  “This is frankly nonsense”, he said.  Cooperation was needed in police matters and for energy transport.  In particular, cooperation was needed

for the return of people from Serbia.  Leaders needed to instil confidence with their people to go back, and not paint a black picture.

He did not have any advice to give to the Authority in Iraq, he said in answer to another question, as that country was very different and had 10 times more people.  It would be completely wrong to transport the experience from Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina to Iraq.  However, some experiences were of a more general nature.  For instance, it was clear from experience that a clear mandate was needed.  Also, peacekeeping must be done correctly from the beginning, as mistakes would haunt the peacekeepers later on.  The lesson learned from Bosnia was that order must be established before democracy could be introduced.  Also, the job of peacekeeping had to be taken to the end.  It was an obligation one took on, the moment one decided to interfere.  Peace must be planned and must have as much legitimacy as possible.

In answer to a question about trafficking in people, he said many bars in Kosovo where such trafficking took place had been shut down, and a special police corps had been established to deal with the problem.  Safe houses had been erected, and Kosovo had one of the strongest legislative frameworks in Europe regarding trafficking.  The phenomenon of trafficking was, however, not Kosovo-specific but a regional one, which should be addressed regionally, also in cooperation with the countries of origin.  In cases where UN personnel were involved, the immunity of those involved would be lifted and they would go to court.

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