POLITICAL DECLARATION OF THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT OF KOSOVAPrishtina, August 2, 1999 (MIP) - The Interim Government of Kosova is closely following the political developments in Kosova and expresses concern on several negative trends:
1. The security of the citizens, their property and of the territorial integrity of Kosova, despite being far better compared to the previous situation, is nevertheless worrying. The city of Mitrovica, a treasure of minerals in Kosova, continues to be divided into two parts: the part where people have returned to their homes and are now organizing their lives and the other part where the law is made by Serbian paramilitary gangs which continue to move into the territory of Kosova from Serbia. As it is known, KFOR is obliged by the resolution 2244 adopted by the UN Security Council to secure the territorial integrity of Kosova and to prevent the Serbian gangs to gent into Kosova, whereas UNMIK is obliged by the same resolution not to allow the division of the cities into separate governments.
2. In opposition to the resolution 2244, the Serbian and Yugoslav government did not withdraw their ground forces five kilometers away from the border with Kosova and this has triggered the ethnic cleansing of Albanian villages bordering with Kosova (Medvegja, Bujanoc and Presheva). KFOR is obliged to fulfill this obligation by the UN Security Council as well.
3. In spite of the pullout of Serbian and Yugoslav forces from Kosova, a great number of Serbian paramilitary forces have remained in Kosova, disguised as farmers and civilians, and the Serbian Secret Service is still widely active in Kosova. KFOR should take every measure to eliminate these secret forces and disarm the civilians. The cooperation in this respect with the Interim Government of Kosova and the KLA General Staff would restore the normality in Kosova more rapidly.
4. The Interim Government of Kosova expresses indignation at the killing of civilians in Kosova independent of the nationality of the victims. These crimes have become a hostage of the political clauses regarding the fate of the KLA and the police of Kosova. In case they would have free hands to operate, the IGK and the KLA Police would act efficiently in the prevention of crime in Kosova. The Interim Government of Kosova calls again on the citizens of Kosova to put aside the hostilities and turn to the reconstruction of Kosova and to just and political solutions of political issues.
5. The Interim Government of Kosova expresses concern at the misusing of KFOR uniforms and signs by Serbian and Russian individuals and gangs, which from time to time dressed in these uniforms, harass the citizens of Kosova. There are cases when Russian soldiers of the Russian contingent of KFOR, operate with masks on their faces. Within these forces, there are disguised persons who have taken parts in war crimes in Kosova.
6. The stopping and the attempt to arrest the KLA Chief of Staff, general Agim Çeku, by Russian KFOR troops, is an offense of the dignity of the heroic war fought by the KLA and the Interim Government of Kosova will not tolerate such acts.
7. The Interim Government of Kosova is especially concerned with the way the property and the laws are treated by UNMIK. Serbia was an occupying force in Kosova and had imposed its undemocratic laws and had usurped the property of Kosova and its citizens. Any attempt to legitimize these savage laws and this appropriation will be doomed to failure.
8. The Interim Government of Kosova expresses the readiness to cooperate with KFOR, UNMIK and the OSCE towards finding a solution to these problems, being convinced that the future of Kosova depends on the citizens of Kosova proper and on the assistance by the international community.
Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Kosova
Hashim Thaçi
senden