Official slams UNMIK, paints grim Kosovo picture

After commenting on EULEX, Milivoje Mihajlovic has taken on another international mission in Kosovo, UNMIK. The Government Media Office chief said today that the UN mission in the province has "failed to fulfilled the tasks" set before it. Official slams UNMIK, paints grim Kosovo picture Speaking for International Radio Serbia, Mihajlovic clarified that this was not simply his personal appraisal, but something that can also be found in official UN conclusions, "which still insist all the time that some progress has occurred". "However, this progress is marked by references to an earlier state of affairs. Essential reasons because of which the peace mission has been sent to Kosovo are to establish peace, freedom of movement, return of refugees and internally displaced persons, and return of property. None of these have been achieved," he said. According to him, the UNHCR data shows that out of some 235,000 mostly Serb IDPs from Kosovo driven out since 1999, only 7,100 have returned since 2000. Mihajlovic stated that there can be no talk of UNMIK's success when it is known that there is still limited freedom of movement and great fear among the non-Albanian population in the province. "Kosovo is an arsenal of illegal arms. According to the UNDP, there are between 330,000 and 450,000 rifles illegally owned in Kosovo, and that is an arsenal that can set the entire Balkans on fire. Another piece of data shows, according to the UNDP, that one in five Albanian language elementary and secondary school students is armed," the government official continued. He also described privatizations in Kosovo as being conducted "in a trivial manner, without ascertaining ownership" of the companies, and that some of them were sold "for next to nothing". "The result is that there is no production in Kosovo, the main export item is scrap metal, while two thirds of its residents live on 90 cents a day," Mihajlovic said. He also confirmed that the government's position on the EU mission, EULEX, will not change, and that Belgrade will accept it only with a UN Security Council resolution attached. "A change can occur only in case the UN approves EULEX, if it is in line with Resolution 1244 for EULEX to be a part of the UN [mission]. This is not up to us, it's up to the UN. As far as Serbia is concerned, Kosovo is a part of Serbia under international protectorate and that is how we will act in the future," he added. Mihajlovic also said that the government will seek to strenghten the position of the Serb community in the province by channeling "a good deal of funds toward the Serbs's sustainable survival in Kosovo, and toward the return of the IDPs".

Official slams UNMIK, paints grim Kosovo picture

Speaking for International Radio Serbia, Mihajlović clarified that this was not simply his personal appraisal, but something that can also be found in official UN conclusions, "which still insist all the time that some progress has occurred".

"However, this progress is marked by references to an earlier state of affairs. Essential reasons because of which the peace mission has been sent to Kosovo are to establish peace, freedom of movement, return of refugees and internally displaced persons, and return of property. None of these have been achieved," he said.

According to him, the UNHCR data shows that out of some 235,000 mostly Serb IDPs from Kosovo driven out since 1999, only 7,100 have returned since 2000.

Mihajlović stated that there can be no talk of UNMIK's success when it is known that there is still limited freedom of movement and great fear among the non-Albanian population in the province.

"Kosovo is an arsenal of illegal arms. According to the UNDP, there are between 330,000 and 450,000 rifles illegally owned in Kosovo, and that is an arsenal that can set the entire Balkans on fire. Another piece of data shows, according to the UNDP, that one in five Albanian language elementary and secondary school students is armed," the government official continued.

He also described privatizations in Kosovo as being conducted "in a trivial manner, without ascertaining ownership" of the companies, and that some of them were sold "for next to nothing".

"The result is that there is no production in Kosovo, the main export item is scrap metal, while two thirds of its residents live on 90 cents a day," Mihajlović said.

He also confirmed that the government's position on the EU mission, EULEX, will not change, and that Belgrade will accept it only with a UN Security Council resolution attached.

"A change can occur only in case the UN approves EULEX, if it is in line with Resolution 1244 for EULEX to be a part of the UN [mission]. This is not up to us, it's up to the UN. As far as Serbia is concerned, Kosovo is a part of Serbia under international protectorate and that is how we will act in the future," he added.

Mihajlović also said that the government will seek to strenghten the position of the Serb community in the province by channeling "a good deal of funds toward the Serbs's sustainable survival in Kosovo, and toward the return of the IDPs".