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UN envoy praises town in Kosovo as model of multiethnic democracy

UN envoy praises town in Kosovo as model of multiethnic democracy

Søren Jesen-Petersen
The senior United Nations envoy to Kosovo today visited Decan/Decani, which he hailed for demonstrating that the people of the province are committed to building a democratic and multi-ethnic society.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative, Søren Jessen-Petersen, accompanied by Prime Minister Agim Ceku, met local leaders in the city and held a public town hall meeting to discuss issues of concern to the municipality, including economic development, property, returns and freedom of movement.

Mr. Jessen-Petersen stressed the unique significance of Decan/Decani as Kosovo evolves in the course of the status process. “This is a place where different communities live and [therefore] a place where the leadership can show, and is showing, that the people of Kosovo are committed to build a democratic and multi-ethnic society,” he said.

“The economic situation in Decan/Decani is very difficult. However, with status, investments will be coming and Decan/Decani could be a key area in the region,” he said.

The SRSG noted the public relief at the relaxation of security restrictions around the Visoki Monastery. “In response to the way the municipality and the people have handled the situation, KFOR (the international force) has decided a couple of weeks ago to ease the protection measures around the Monastery,” he said, “And we all see now improvement in freedom of movement, which is the goal of everybody.”

One of the issues discussed was the concerns of the War Veterans Associations on the recently promulgated law on the status and rights of the war veterans.

“The law recognizes the contribution of the war veterans to bringing Kosovo to where we are today. It is a law that aims at addressing the social needs of the families and of the veterans. All the other discussions and issues should not miss these two points,” said Mr. Jessen-Petersen.

“The Prime Minister and I have agreed to look at ways to accommodate some of the concerns in consultation with the United Nations in New York,” he added.

The UN has administered the Albanian-majority Serbian province ever since the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO) drove out Yugoslav troops in 1999 amid grave rights abuses in ethnic fighting.