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UNMIK, Kosovo interim institutions responsible for violence in the province
Belgrade,
22 March 2004
Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and Russian Minister for Emergency Situations Sergei Shoigu agreed today that UNMIK and Kosovo interim institutions of self-government bear the responsibility for ethnic violence against Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija and destruction of cultural and historical monuments in the province.
Sergei Shoigu and Vojislav Kostunica
After the meeting with Shoigu, who is the special envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kostunica said that ethnic cleansing in Kosovo-Metohija did not begin on March 17 but much earlier. That can be confirmed by the fact that only a third of Serbs and other non-Albanians returned to the province after they had been expelled in the wake of the 1999 conflict.
The Prime Minister said that many crimes have been committed in Kosovo-Metohija, including those that fall within the jurisdiction of the Hague tribunal.
Kostunica stressed that at the beginning of the 21st century, Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija are fighting for bear life and the right to have a home.
Shoigu said that individuals in the international community now try to diminish the fact that ethnic cleansing took place in the province last week. He said that representatives of the international community in Kosovo have not been fulfilling their obligations stipulated by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, which led to tragic events in the province.
On March 23, Russian experts and representatives of the Serbian government will select locations for two shelters which will take up to 1,000 people expelled from Kosovo, Shoigu said. The shelters will have all necessary equipment and a field hospital with a capacity for providing medical assistance to 600 persons per day.
Shoigu added that he arrived with businessmen from Russia, who will visit the expelled and decide on the form of assistance that will be provided.
The Prime Minister said that many crimes have been committed in Kosovo-Metohija, including those that fall within the jurisdiction of the Hague tribunal.
Kostunica stressed that at the beginning of the 21st century, Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija are fighting for bear life and the right to have a home.
Shoigu said that individuals in the international community now try to diminish the fact that ethnic cleansing took place in the province last week. He said that representatives of the international community in Kosovo have not been fulfilling their obligations stipulated by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, which led to tragic events in the province.
On March 23, Russian experts and representatives of the Serbian government will select locations for two shelters which will take up to 1,000 people expelled from Kosovo, Shoigu said. The shelters will have all necessary equipment and a field hospital with a capacity for providing medical assistance to 600 persons per day.
Shoigu added that he arrived with businessmen from Russia, who will visit the expelled and decide on the form of assistance that will be provided.
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