In Kosovo, senior UN official speaks out against violence

Visiting a local community in Kosovo today, a senior United Nations official spoke out against violence in the province, which the world body has administered since western forces drove out Yugoslav troops in 1999.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Principal Deputy Special Representative, Steven Schook, met with leaders in Peja/Pec and condemned a recent bombing attack which was carried out against a returnee property in Shtuple village.

“I ask the citizens in Peja/Pec and surrounding communities to spread the message that it is not the time and it is never the time to take this kind of threat in action. Whoever is behind serves no interest of the people of Kosovo; they can only serve the interest of some evil, despicable thought processes,” he said.

Following meetings with local officials, he said finances figured high on the agenda. “We talked a lot about the reality of the Kosovo Consolidated Budget; how it is going to get smaller next year,” he said. “We talked about what resources we have and how we can apply more efficiently to help all the communities here.”

The top UN envoy to Kosovo was in New York yesterday where he briefed the Security Council, voicing support for Mr. Annan’s call for more progress in the talks on the province’s future. “Kosovo needs to be rid of this uncertainty, and to move on,” said Joachim Rücker.