Info

Press Briefing held on 23 January 2002 at the NATO Press Centre in Skopje Statement by Craig Ratcliff: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to today’s press briefing. As most of you are aware, of course, a great deal of activity in the political process has taken place in the last week. I will not attempt to steal the limelight from my comrades, or their comments on the issues concerning their agencies or their efforts. Most of the focus is on them today, anyway. There has been a lot of interest recently in border issues. We are working on coordination with KFOR Main to keep you better informed on situation in areas not monitored by OSCE or EUMM. One of the more interesting stories over the weekend has been the incident with the three armed men. The incident was covered professionally and properly by the Army Spokesperson and we applaud his efforts in communicating the information to you on timely basis. We get quite often queries from the public and the media about criminal activities. I won’t comment on speculative and gossip involving NATO or KFOR. If, in the future, there is a query about criminal activity, that may or may not involve NATO or KFOR, I will ask that you provide proof so we can investigate it, but I will not entertain queries without substantial evidence or indicators that there is something going on. If you’ll assist me on that, we will not only keep the public better informed, but we will eliminate any rumours or speculations surrounding those activities and also deal with it if there is something going on. Then, to echo comments made by NATO Headquarters in Brussels in reference to Coordinating Body and CMC, they applaud their efforts in appointing a new leader for the Coordinating Body and their efforts to retain the CMC as a form for the international community and the local government to resolve issues surrounding any crisis in the country. With that I will turn it over to Florin. Statement by Florin Pasnicu: Thank you Craig. Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Let me start with a quick review of the situation of the police redeployment. You may be aware that redeployment was completed in eight villages, and other six villages are nearing completion. Following the removal of the checkpoint near the village of Ropaljce, this village is currently considered as an advanced stage of the matrix plan, and following intense confidence building work done by people in the field, there are hopes that police will soon enter the villages of Matejce, Celopek and Miletino. I am not anticipating anything, but if we keep in touch today, we may have some good news about Celopek and Miletino by the end of this day. There has been a lot of talk recently about the revision of the main plan. We are now in a position of saying that there is agreement on the substance of the amended plan, which comes with two main changes, which are actually familiar to you as of last week. First, there is this idea of clustering the villages, so you’ll have primary villages where the police stations will be located, and the police will patrol the villages in the neighbouring areas, some six or seven villages for each cluster. And then the second significant change is that dismantling of the checkpoints is foreseen at a later stage of the matrix plan than before. And this dismantling of the checkpoints is related to police being able to conduct patrolling during day and night at any time. The idea is to make sure that there is no security vacuum in those villages, and that freedom of movement is secured to all citizens. As agreement was reached, again, over the substance of the plan, discussions will continue on a technical level, with more ground reconnaissance activities, which means that teams of local representatives of the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence, international community, local administration will assess the situation in the villages mainly in the primary villages, and look to other issues, like the situation of mines – see if de-mining is necessary. They will also assess the condition of the roads, and the impact on freedom of movement of any checkpoints being located in the area. This kind of ground assessment has already been conducted, and we see it as important in terms of preparing in a proper manner the next stage of police redeployment. And then, let me remind you that while discussion focused a lot on technical issues related to the revision of the plan, the main goal of the plan is, actually, to consolidate peace in this country, and to create conditions for other significant developments. And I would just name here distribution of humanitarian aid improvement of living conditions. So, let us not lose track of the overall significance of police redeployment – it’s not only a technical process. It is, actually, an instrument for improving the overall situation and climate in the country, which may facilitate progress in the economic and social field. Except for the situation with the police redeployment, I would like just to give other two brief notes. You may be aware that this morning the bus line, which connects Kumanovo with Aracinovo and Skopje started functioning today. Your colleagues in Kumanovo have been covering the event this morning. We are pleased that the OSCE field office in Kumanovo in co-operation with other international organizations and with the local administration played a major role in this event, which provides greater freedom of movement of all citizens in the area, which has great contribution in building confidence among villagers from different villages in the area, and which provides, again, the connection of that area with the large cities, and, hopefully, with the new job opportunities and with other economic ties that were cut during the conflict. And, on a last note, the OSCE mission deplores the burning of houses in the villages of Varvara and Jedoarce. You know the villages are not inhabited now, and access in those villages is quite difficult, and that makes ensuring protection in those villages, protection of property quite difficult before spring comes. Nevertheless, we regret the damages inflicted on property and the knowledge, the negative impact that any gesture of this kind is having on building confidence. Statement by Irena Guzelova: Yesterday, the leaders of the four main parties, and President Boris Trajkovski agreed on the revised law on local self-government. The law will reinforce powers of local elected officials and substantially enlarge their competence, and we hope that Parliament will adopt this law some time this week. For us, the law is a considerable breakthrough, it will open the door to a donors’ meeting, and the drafting of other laws foreseen in the Framework Agreement. Once Parliament adopts the law, we will phone Brussels, and they will begin to send out invitations for the donors’ meeting. Much of the preparations of the donors’ meeting is already in place. As you now, there was supposed to be a donors’ meeting back in December, so this means that it will take about 15 to 20 days after Parliament adopts the law for the donors’ meeting to take place. And the donors’ meeting will address some of the financial implications this law of local self-government brings. As you know, in fact enhancing the powers of the local municipality will incur a certain amount of cost, and we think that these costs will be covered by the donors’ meeting. We’ve also asked party leaders to come up with their priorities regarding the passage of other laws foreseen in the Framework Agreement. And we hope to receive a reply some time next week. I think, again, I want to emphasize that we must make rapid progress, but we are already three months behind. In principle, the laws should be adopted before the elections, but we do not regard their adoption as a sufficient reason to delay the elections. And, as you know, that one of the laws foreseen in the Framework Agreement will be a law on local government financing, and this will enable local governments to fulfil their new responsibilities. I think that the details of the law by now are fairly clear to you. But if you want, I can run through some of the main points. I’ve also prepared some photocopies here of some of the amendments, so afterwards I can explain them to anyone who wants to have a look at them. And, I mean, I think that you already know basic principles of the law, but I’ll run though them. The law will enhance the powers of the local municipalities in these specific areas: local health care, public services, urban and rural planning, local economic development, environmental protection, education, culture, local finances, social welfare. And, as you know, these negotiations were very long and protracted, they took a long time. And the central point of, let’s say disagreement, was the amount of power that should be handed over from central to local government. During the discussions, particularly during the end, there was some concern about the public accountability and surveillance over the health insurance fund, in particular the methods used for procurement of medicines and other purchases. And there was an agreement that this will require deep reform of the existing institutions. And if you have any more questions, please ask. Ratcliff: OK. Thank you Florin and Irena. We’re open for general questions. Question 1: There are some announcements that Javier Solana is arriving tomorrow. So, can we get any more details about this visit? Guzelova: You are right, Solana will be arriving tomorrow afternoon, he is staying until Friday, we are not exactly sure about his departure time yet on Friday. But, it’s very much a working visit. He hasn’t been here for a number of weeks and he wants to see for himself what’s happening. He’ll be meeting with the main party leaders, and also with Trajkovski. But the timetable changes, I mean, we don’t know what time exactly he is going to be meeting who, when, why, these things are very fluid. Question 2: Prime Minister Georgievski assessed few days ago that the patrolling of the mixed police units are only ‘cosmetics’. Do you think that the new changes concerning the redeployment plan are also ‘cosmetics’? The question is directed to OSCE representative Florin Pasnicu. Pasnicu: No, I don’t think that the changes are ‘cosmetics’. I think that the changes provide good basis for improving the activity of the police, for consolidating the presence of the police, and for encouraging the police to assume the normal police duties. Ratcliff: Another thing about the mixed police patrols. That’s one of the better ways to open communications between the police and the local citizens. It’s a very common practice in most western countries, in most developed countries, it increases communication and confidence among not only the citizens, but also the police in application of local laws in those areas. So, although some people may consider that to be ‘cosmetic’, it’s a very serious effort for confidence building and equal application of the laws, so it’s a common sense practice. Question 3: A question for Mr. Ratcliff. Do you think that the security situation in Macedonia can be jeopardized, since a few days ago the German Minister of Defence said that he was concerned about the situation in Macedonia and Kosovo, but in Macedonia in particular, and he expressed hope that the situation would improve. However, he stated that there were some signs that Albanian extremists may again jeopardize the situation, so what is your assessment? Ratcliff: I am actually not aware of what the German Minister has said recently; if you point that out I will certainly go back and read that. The security situation generally in Macedonia is relatively stable, at least those are the implications that we get from the overall picture we get from the monitors and the people that are out on the field. It is obvious there is work that needs to be done, otherwise we wouldn’t have redeployment plan for the police and security forces back in the crisis affected areas. It is obviously something that everyone is concerned about, and will be until the complete situation is resolved. But there have been great efforts and progress made in stabilizing the areas, the return of the police, confidence is increasing and the situation – I can’t really comment on Kosovo or Albania, or the extremists, or anyone in those areas – it’s promoting some sort of instability. But, I can say that when I drive into the crisis affected areas that I can see progress being made. I go out almost every weekend to go check with people and go through the areas, but there is still a lot of work that need to be done in resolving the entire situation. Question 4: A question directed to Mr. Pasnicu. Concerning the redeployment plan for the return of the police in the crisis areas, what is your comment on the statement given by Minister of Interior that he doesn’t consider withdrawing the “Lions” from the crisis areas? Pasnicu: Can you be more specific, please. Journalist: I am trying to quote Mr. Boskovski. He said that the issue about withdrawing the “Lions” from the crisis areas has not even be considered, it is not going to be done. So, do you have any comment to that? Pasnicu: In many press conferences, and in many public statements of the principles of our organization this issue has been discussed. There are many instances when the principles of our organization referred to the impact of the presence of the “Lions” in the field. From our side, there is no change in our position. Thank you. Question 5: The question is directed to Mr. Pasnicu. Do you think that there are realistic possibilities that these mixed police units, as we know they have received support at yesterday’s meeting, and government spokesman Trendafilov confirmed it, that apart from building confidence in the area they will also be allowed to react if there are some incidents. So, do you think there are realistic possibilities for this? Pasnicu: Realistic possibilities for what? Journalist: For reacting in case there are some incidents. Pasnicu: Again, can you be more specific? Journalist: In case of breaking the law and order or possessing illegal weapons, or some kind of incidents, can those patrols react in such cases? Pasnicu: So, let me read your question again. Do you expect me to say whether something that a policeman would do in the fields, something that we could not anticipate would be realistic or not? Or, should I read that it would be realistic for us to expect that police does something in the field. What actually is your question? Journalist: I was thinking, is there real capacity, real capability that those patrols can react in that case? Pasnicu: Possibility related to what? Journalist: In case of arresting persons, who have violated the law and order? Pasnicu: To my knowledge, police has the duty of observing law. If police can do this in any possible situation and we cannot anticipate situations as of talking now, then I cannot answer. But to my knowledge it is police role to prevent crime, and to make possible that crime doesn’t happen. Ratcliff: It appears that that’s the end of the questions. Thank you for attending.