The Kosovo Transitional Council today welcomed the return of Serb representatives, as Mr. Randel Nojkie, Mr. Dragan Velic and Dr. Rada Trajkovic joined as observers. We are now hoping the Romas will be the next to join. Then the KTC would represent all communities of Kosovo. They described Mitrovica as calm, with 180 Kosovo Albanians having returned to the north part of town and 12 Kosovo Serbs to the south side. The second phase of the strategy for co-existence was being implemented, and the confidence zone was being expanded on both sides of the river to eventually encompass the entire city center, creating an area where people can move, live and work safely.
Data indicate that one major crime is committed each hour in Kosovo, and one murder per day.
The KTC also discussed the issue of missing persons, detainees and kidnapped persons, and they condemned the practice of demanding payment for the release of prisoners from Serbian jails. SRSG Kouchner briefed the KTC on his efforts to appoint a special envoy for missing persons, and he suggested the work of the Sub-commission on Detainees and Missing Persons be reinforced. Governments agreed to slow down the repatriation from the 250,000 envisioned for this year to a maximum of 100,000 to 150,000. Representatives of the Serb community raised the issue of some 200,000 Serb internally displaced people and asked for a program for their return, while acknowledging that most do not want to return at this moment due to the security situation.