NOTE: THIS IS ONLY A  selection of comments regarding UNMIK Police duties from UNMIK AND KFOR  Press Briefing (NOT THE WHOLE SUMMARY)

Press Briefing of 22 March 2000

UNMIK Spokeswoman Ms Angela Walker

Vehicle Registration

Starting on 31 March, UNMIK Police will conduct traffic controls to check vehicles for their registration papers in Pristina. We would like to call on those drivers who haven't done so to register their vehicles. To date, more than 10,000 vehicles have been registered at centres in Pristina and in Prizren. Three additional registration centres will be opened next month in Ferizaj, Gjakova and Gjilane.

We would like to reiterate that drivers need the following for the registration process: a document verifying the payment of customs fees for recently imported vehicles and proof of insurance coverage for the vehicle. UNMIK has ordered that the fee to obtain customs clearance documents be reduced from 100 to 30 deutsche mark, as of today. With these two documents drivers will be proceed to safety inspection and pay the registration fee after which they will be issued the new license plates and receive vehicle registration papers.

There are now two insurance companies operating in Kosovo which have been authorized by UNMIK. Insurance policies can be purchased at the registration sites. Drivers who registered their vehicles before 5 March must obtain registration papers for their vehicles.

UNMIK Police

There were two murders reported by UNMIK Police, one in the Pec Region, another in the Pristina Region. On Monday at 1800 hrs, UNMIK Police and KFOR responded to a shooting in Gjakova where they found the body of an Albanian male inside his Mercedes. The victim had been shot four times with a handgun.

Yesterday at 1500 hrs, witnesses found the body of an Albanian male near Stimlje. The victim was shot with a handgun. The initial investigation revealed that the victim had been shot at another location.

In Mitrovica, a body was discovered near Vucitrn by two KPC members. UNMIK Police are investigating.

KFOR Spokesman Mr. Philip Anido

An important thing happened this morning. On the main railway line from Mitrovica to Lesac, the was a bridge that was damaged by a set explosion, the rubble fell on to the highway below the main highway going north-south, and KFOR are right now clearing that rubble. We have explosive ordnance disposal experts at the scene and military police, as well as UNMIK Police. They are investigating what the situation was there. Right now there are no further details to pass on. But it has blocked the railway line up north to Lesac.

In Multinational Brigade Centre, KFOR troops have commenced its operation to close Gate 2 which is one of the gates going directly north out of Podujevo. And all other unofficial crossings between Kosovo and Serbia will be closed. The purpose of this operation is to prevent Kosovo being used as a base for the export of violence. KFOR will carry out strict ID checks of people crossing the boundary at Gates 3 and 4. These gates will be the main gates for people crossing between Serbia and Kosovo. Individuals found crossing the boundary at any other point will be turned back, and anyone attempting to conduct illegal activities will be arrested.

There are some interesting incidents and weapons searches over the past 24 hours listed in the press update outside.

Question and answers

Q: Is it true that a number of trials of Serbs accused of crimes, including murders and war crimes, which were supposed to be held this week and next week, have been cancelled because KFOR is unwilling or unable to provide the security that would be necessary for these trials, including the movements of witnesses, defendants, judges and prosecutors, translators, legal secretaries between the northern and southern parts? If there are security concerns that are sufficient enough to prevent a trial such as that, I would think they would also pertain to the visit by the two high-ranking members of NATO…

PA: To be honest, I don't know about the trials. I have to say that KFOR is robust enough. We will do anything and everything we will need to do to make an important event happen. We are able and willing to make happen what we want to happen, and we will. We want to do that with persuasion, with the support of the people. But we are capable of doing it with more force, if necessary. I can't talk about the trials, I don't have information on that.

AW: With regard to the trials, two trials had been scheduled--the first one for Monday. And the defendant in that first trial was a Serb charged with murder. The defendants in the second trial are two Albanians charged with murder. That trial was scheduled for Thursday, 23 March. The presiding judges in both cases are Albanian. All these trials have not been cancelled, they have been postponed. We are concerned about the security situation. We are addressing that issue at this point. We'll see, if the situation is resolved, we will then give you the dates for these trials.