Security Council delegation appeals to Kosovo leaders to shun violence. 28 April 2000

Source: http://www.un.org/peace/kosovo/news/kosovo2.htm#Anchor22
Accessed 02 May 2000

Security Council delegation appeals to Kosovo leaders to shun violence

APRIL 28 -- The leader of the Security Council delegation visiting Kosovo, Ambassador Anwarul Karim Chowdhury of Bangladesh, today made a strong appeal to the leaders of the various communities to shun violence for the sake of the territory's future.

Speaking during the second day of the delegation's visit to Kosovo at a special session of the Kosovo Transitional Council, Ambassador Chowdhury urged the leaders to take a pledge "in our honour and for yourselves to reject violence, to promote peace and security in Kosovo," according to a press release issued by the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK). For their part, the leaders urged the Security Council to support UNMIK and its activities.

Welcoming the delegation, the head of UNMIK, Dr. Bernard Kouchner, said that elections, which are to be held in October, would be the "first step in giving stability to a society that has a lot of fresh and deep wounds."

Earlier, the delegation visited Prizren where they met with leaders of the Turkish, Roma and Bosniac communities and heard their concerns, particularly the issues of the return of refugees and education in their own languages.

Later, the delegation visited Mitrovica where they met with the local Kosovo Albanian leader, Bahjram Rexhepi, and leader of the Serb National Council in Mitrovica, Oliver Ivanovic, as well as representatives of other national minorities living in the Mitrovica region. Topics at the meeting included the need to return members of both Serbian and Albanian communities to their homes on either side of the Ibar river, the need to unite the city, and the need for involvement to generate employment.

In a visit to Gracanica, the delegation met with meet Bishop Artemije of the Serbian Orthodox Church and other Serb leaders, where they discussed the security problems for the Serb community.

Encouraging Bishop Artemije to continue his assistance to Dr. Kouchner and his efforts to navigate an extremely complicated situation, Ambassador Chowdhury said that while developments were not perfect he was encouraged to see progress.

The meeting agreed that the return of Kosovo Serbs must begin, but in an orderly fashion, to ensure their security and the presence of basic conditions for livelihood.

Yesterday, Ambassador Chowdhury and Ambassador Duval of Canada, whose country currently holds the Security Council presidency for April, met with leaders of the demonstrations that have been taking place this week on missing persons and detainees held in Serbian jails.