Press Releases

On 26 March 2002, the last known Kosovo Albanians held in Serbia since Yugoslav forces moved approximately 2,000 prisoners from Kosovo to other facilities in Serbia in June 1999, were transferred back to Kosovo. Following the transfer, 80 of those prisoners were released, based on a review of their…

UNMIK/PR/738 SRSG Michael Steiner, during a visit today to the homes of recently–returned Kosovo Ashkali families, launched his Concept Paper on the Right to Sustainable Returns. The Concept paper lays out the basic principles that are to guide returns of displaced persons and refugees to Kosovo in…

UNMIK/PR/737 In response to media questions regarding today’s decision by the Presidency to present to the Assembly of Kosovo a draft resolution on the FRY/FYROM Border Agreement and the situation in North Kosovo, the SRSG Michael Steiner draws attention to article 9.1.26 (a) of the Constitutional…

UNMIK/PR/736 SRSG Michael Steiner noted today that on the first anniversary of its promulgation, the Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self-government in Kosovo has been “a great success.” “We have had elections; we have an Assembly, provisional institutions and a Government. None of this…

UNMIK/PR/735 Media coverage of remarks apparently made by the Kosovo Ombudsman, Marek Nowicki, in Serbia has created a distorted picture of the environment for return of Serbs to Kosovo. Mr. Nowicki is free to reach his own conclusions. However, the view from UNMIK as well as UNHCR is that he is not…

UNMIK/PR/733 Pristina – Representatives from countries across South-East Europe joined Kosovo’s SRSG Michael Steiner in Pristina today to define a strategy for combating cigarette smuggling in the region. The representatives were from the governments of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Romania…

UNMIK/PR/733 Today SRSG Michael Steiner visited the site of an archaeological dig near Brenica, outside of Pristina, where he examined 5,500-year-old dwarf terracotta figures recently discovered in a remarkable state of preservation. The artifacts were unearthed two weeks ago, as a lime pit was…

UNMIK/PR/732 Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Presidency of the assembly has been composed. The committees have been composed, and I want to congratulate the Assembly for that What we should focus on is that we need to get ready to work. Please remember the joy, the relief and the pride…

UNMIK/PR/731 Pristina – Following his meeting with European Member of Parliament Doris Pack, SRSG Michael Steiner shared a “Europe Day” message with the people of Kosovo. “The European Union was created 52 years ago today, founded on the basic principles of respect for democratic institutions, human…

UNMIK/PR/729 SRSG Michael Steiner announced today that municipal elections will be held across Kosovo on 26 October, 2002. He explained that a delay in passage of the OSCE elections budget, which was approved on 19 April, caused a delay in beginning operational procedures for the elections and…